"Never say never" is the common refrain, but BlizzCon revealed a bit more about the future of Blizzard's games on console than perhaps you might expect.

BlizzCon 2026 was pretty amazing. We got new trailers for Diablo V and the revival of StarCraft, as well as a revival for Warcraft 3, Heroes of the Storm, and WoW Classic in the form of World of Warcraft: Forever.

Blizzard also revealed Diablo 4 for Nintendo Switch 2 for the first time, and World of Warcraft also includes native Xbox controller support on PC as well — eliminating the need to use addons like Console Port.

When I asked Xbox customers on my Patreon and on X (Twitter) for questions to serve up at BlizzCon 2026, the top ask was always about potential Xbox ports.

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So to honor your requests, I put the questions to the teams across Heroes of the Storm, Warcraft 3, and World of Warcraft about the potential for the games to hit Xbox or other traditional gaming consoles.

All of them offered variations on the same response ... Here's what they said.

"Never say never."

Warcraft 3 had a big moment at BlizzCon when it revealed Forsaken Kingdom, the first expansion pack in over two decades. I asked Warcraft 3 Project Lead Brad Chan if we could eventually see the RTS emerge on Xbox and other consoles, given that games like Halo Wars and Age of Empires have been successfully adapted for controller.

"You know, we're going to talk about it," Chan said, "Maybe, maybe not, I don't know. Many things are possible, but right now we're focused [on PC]."

Echoing that sentiment was World of Warcraft Game Director Ion Hazzikostas, when I asked if we could eventually see World of Warcraft itself emerge on Xbox and other consoles. World of Warcraft: Forever is launching in November, and will be the first version of WoW with native Xbox controller support on PC. Is that a hint at a console version down the line?

RELATED: Speaking with WoW's Ion Hazzikostas on the future of Retail vs. Forever

"Our focus remains PC," Hazzikostas said, referring to World of Warcraft Forever's new Xbox gamepad controllers. "It's not just Xbox, it's just gamepad in general. Right? I think we've seen tons of people in the community use addons like Console Port over the years, and jump through a lot of hoops to get WoW playable on gamepad — we want to make that easier."

Hazzikostas said the Classic and Forever eras of WoW are potentially better suited to Xbox, given the slower, more methodical pace of combat before the Haste stat was added, for example. "Our focus remains [on PC], but many possibilities exist in the future, and we'll see where that leads us."

Well then, what about Heroes of the Storm? Heroes of the Storm also had a big BlizzCon moment when they revealed the game is well and truly back, starting with new hero Xal'atath. I have a bigger review with the team there coming shortly as well.

Speaking to Heroes lead developer James Yen, I asked if the game might find new audiences and growth were it ported to Xbox, consoles, or even mobile, given the popularity of things like Pokémon Unite. Yen quite rightly noted that their focus today is mostly about getting Heroes of the Storm back on its feet.

"We think about all avenues for where [Heroes of the Storm] could go, but that kind of distracts us right now ... from 'we just came back, let's make sure that the players that have been here for so long — let's take care of them, let's keep building content for them.'

We do have long-term goals, but you know those are more like stars, as you know. Our stars were like, 'Hey, let's come back. BlizzCon, that was just perfect timing,' but we are driving towards thinking about other things. But right now, the focus is, ' Let's give something to the players."

I think it's inevitable, at least for World of Warcraft

World of Warcraft: Forever is already poised to be a huge hit, taking the top spot on Twitch despite being weeks out from launch and rocking in closed beta. The fact that it has native Xbox controller support will open up the game to new audiences across PCs, potentially among users who prefer playing MMORPGs in that format. Naturally, bringing it to consoles across Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch would also vastly open it up to new players, particularly among aging millennials who moved to console from PC through the past two generations. The fact that WoW: Forever is based on classic graphics also means it'll run on practically any modern device at 60 FPS, including the Nintendo Switch 2 and the Steam Deck.

It gets a bit trickier for Heroes of the Storm and Warcraft 3, potentially, though. Warcraft 3 is very much a PC game all up, and RTS has never really found a big audience on Xbox consoles. The Age of Empires 2 Xbox controls are very well realized, but there's probably not an audience big enough to justify the work.

Heroes of the Storm is a bit different in my view. I feel as though Heroes and other MOBAs would control great with a gamepad; Pokémon Unite and Smite proved that it's possible. Heroes of the Storm would be virtually without competition on Xbox and PlayStation, and including heroes and characters from franchises beyond Blizzard would also potentially help it find new audiences Fortnite-style. But it's like James Yen said ... it's still early days for the Heroes' revival.

What do you think? Would you like to see any of these games hit Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo Switch? Hit the comments, let us know.

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I've been an advocate for Microsoft Flight Simulator for a while now, encouraging more newcomers to take to the skies. However, the game's casual collection of fighter jets doesn't dabble in all-out dogfights, so there's a separate desire for more military-centric flight sticks and HOTAS sim bundles.

Whenever I'd dip my toes into aerial combat hardware, one name would consistently appear: Thrustmaster's Warthog, and now it's upgrading itself with a previously announced Mk. II model of the A-10C's flight stick and throttle, still carrying that genuine U.S. Air Force licensing. I had to try it.

Thrustmaster provided a sample but did not see, nor did it have any input on, the contents of my article before publishing.

How much does the WARTHOG MKII cost?

Thrustmaster launched the HOTAS Warthog Mk. II on its official storefront for $599.99; it's also available in the United Kingdom for £449.99 and in broader regions of Europe for €549.99. Alternatively, you can pick it up for $599.99 on Amazon US since it was released on September 16, 2026, or for £449.99 on Amazon UK to take advantage of Prime membership delivery perks.

Is the WARTHOG MKII a good flight stick?

It's immediately obvious the Warthog Mk II is legit, given its sheer heft when I unboxed the all-metal behemoth. The throttle unit alone is 9.4 lbs (4.3 kg), which makes up much of its overall ~16.5 lbs (~7.5 kg) weight that sits on my nervous desk. Now I understand firsthand why hardcore flight sim fans opt for separate mounts, though it still feels incredibly sturdy with the metal plate.

First up, Thrustmaster has switched from a 5-pin flight stick connector to an upgraded 6-pin replacement on the Warthog Mk II, giving it backward compatibility with branded grips, like the F/A-18C Hornet for more dogfights, SOL-R 3 for spacefaring, or Airbus for some overengineered passenger flights. It's up to you, though I imagine many would stick with the (included) Viper.

Assembly is fine, though aligning the base with the metal plate is a little awkward; a simple cushion lifted the grip up safely and got the job done. Again, the Warthog Mk II isn't fragile, but at almost $600, I'm still careful with it. Thrustmaster included a single hex key in the box, but it was no good for the Phillips screws on the underside, so consider having a screwdriver ready.

Stickers on the base and grip feature bold yellow arrows that make it as clear as possible how to safely attach them without risking damage to the pins inside, and the grip still uses a metallic screw thread to hold everything in place. It's as easy as it can be, at least for a lifelike flight stick, and the throttle unit needs no physical setup beyond putting the switches in place.

I had heard complaints about the slew stick in older versions of the HOTAS Warthog's throttle unit, but it only needed around a 25% dead zone to keep the axes moving where they were supposed to. Without that, it is a little erratic around the center point, but it certainly doesn't feel stiff or problematic after a small amount of tweaking in the setup phase.

Otherwise, a metallic mechanism locks the two engine levers together, with a strong switch on the rear side that feels impossible to dislodge by accident. I can also use the included hex key to access an afterburner stopper, reversing its direction so it stops the throttles before physically lifting past the max point; the opposite works for moving down past idle and switching the engines off.

It's mind-boggling to move from the realism-centric hardware I'm used to, like Thrustmaster's TCA X Airbus Edition, to going hands-on with an intimidating HOTAS unit like the Warthog Mk II. However, it followed the same themes as other sticks; I spent time experimenting, practicing, and figuring it all out. The end result is always the same: the Warthog Mk II is fun as hell.

Does the WARTHOG MKII have any issues?

Any downsides I found with the Warthog Mk II were generally offset by the same argument: it's a faithful, realistic recreation of the Fairchild Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II's controls; most notably, the grip lacks a Z-axis twist, just like the real thing. If I absolutely needed analog rudder controls, I'd have to buy a different grip or some pedals, like Thrustmaster's $129.99 T.Flight set.

Alternatively, I can re-bind one of the digital buttons or switches on the grip or throttle to act as a rudder, or set up a yaw-into-roll function within a particular game. Beyond that, I could script a solution within Thrustmaster's T.A.R.G.E.T. Command Center app if my particular favorite game doesn't offer it by default, but T.A.R.G.E.T. comes with its own steep learning curve.

In that, any point of contention will be argued among the most seasoned, die-hard flight simulator fans with the strongest opinions, shaped by literal decades of gameplay. The Mk II is still functionally compatible with ready-made profiles, but I know many enthusiasts will opt to create their own anyway, with bindings they trust only themselves to build (or ones they built years ago).

Unless I wanted to play a much older game that didn't recognize separate input devices and had to combine them in the T.A.R.G.E.T. app, I would use it as little as possible (after I'd chosen my preferred throttle backlight brightness level). Instead, I'd find the strange enjoyment of spending my first evening testing a game's settings and matching each switch, button, and axis individually.

Should you buy the WARTHOG MKII?

You should buy this if ...

✅ You're a serious combat sim enthusiast craving an ultra-authentic experience

✅ You have the patience to bind, check, and test each input

You should not buy this if ...

❌ You already own the original (or AVA Edition) HOTAS Warthog

I don't think there's any danger of a novice accidentally buying the Warthog Mk II and becoming overwhelmed by its wealth of metal switches and realistic design, especially since Thrustmaster markets the package to experts. For the same reason, it'll be scrutinized at every inch because of its price point, fighting against long-term rivals for a place among the best flight sticks.

Still, it feels as sturdy and smooth as Thrustmaster claims, with a lifelike feel (presumably, I'm not a fighter pilot) in its flight stick and heavy-duty throttle unit. You'll spend hours fine-tuning its axes and assigning switches in your games, unless you opt for community-made profiles for specific titles; but frankly, that's all part of the fun for some of us.

The 2026 Tokyo Game Show rolls on as PC Gamer prepares to unleash a tidal wave of PC gaming announcements during its PC Gaming Show Tokyo Direct livestream, which will commence on September 20, 2026.

This event will feature new gameplay trailers, developer interviews, and release date information on over 35 upcoming PC games. Plus, the livestream will premiere 10 unannounced titles, shadowdrop some games, and announce new DLC content.

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Here's everything you need to know about how, where, and when you can watch all the announcements at PC Gamer's PC Gaming Show Tokyo Direct.

PC Gaming Show Tokyo Direct 2026: Watch times and platforms

The PC Gaming Show Tokyo Direct will start on Sunday, September 20, 2026, at 1:00 am (JST) / 9:00 am (PT) / 12:00 pm (ET) / 5:00 pm (BST).

The show will be broadcast live on the following platforms:

• YouTube
• Twitch
• X
• GamesRadar+
• Steam
• Bilibili
• eCLUTCH
• Ginx.tv
• ESR Network
• Kuaishou

PC Gaming Show Tokyo Direct 2026: What to expect

The show will be 90 minutes long and feature games by the following studios: Arcane Ermine, Caldera Interactive, Chorus Worldwide, City From Naught, Clear River Games, Devolver Digital, Firefly Studios, Fireshine Games, HABBY.FUN, KO_OP, Loftia, Megabit, New Tales, Skystone Games, The Game Bakers, Total Mayhem Games, Veewo Games, and WuselFaktory.

In addition to the aforementioned 10 world premieres, the show will also feature:

• A new trailer for a management simulator called Let's Build a Dungeon.
• An exclusive release date reveal for an atmospheric action game called Virtue and a Sledgehammer.
• A new trailer for a real-time strategy game called Stronghold 4,
• A deep dive into a retro-inspired survival game with live-action cutscenes called Tenebris Somnia.

🗨️ Over to you

Are there any games you're hoping to see more info on at the PC Gaming Show Tokyo Direct? What do you think these surprise world premieres could be?

If you have any predictions, please let us know in the comments section or through our Reddit page linked below.

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