While Blizzard had resurrected the
BlizzCon in 2023, the American studio has just announced that the physical event will not be organized in 2024. Despite the 30th anniversary of Warcraft and the 20th anniversary of WoW, the American giant considers that it will be more relevant to celebrate this in various conventions and trade shows such as Gamescom. Thus, information concerning the next expansion of WoW, The War Within but also around the first expansion of Diablo IV, Vessel of Hatred, will be presented during other festivities or via smaller events.
BlizzCon 2024 replaced by trade shows and conventions
Canceled several times during the covid years, the physical convention made in Blizzard finally made its return in 2023 under the leadership of the president at the time, Mike Yberra. However, just one year after its return, BlizzCon seems to be going back into the closet following this announcement.
If Blizzard communicates that this is not a farewell and that the event is close to its heart, the annual aspect of the ceremony now seems very distant.
However, the studio wishes to continue to communicate via physical events, hence the mention of several trade shows, conventions and competitions. Thus, Gamescom is listed as an important meeting of the year for Blizzard, which could present the first expansion of Diablo IV, Vessel of Hatred. In addition, Overwatch competitions will be present in different stages of DreamHack around the world.
Specific events to celebrate 30 years of Warcraft
What is surprising about this announcement is the fact that 2024 marks the 30th anniversary of the Warcraft universe but also the 20th anniversary of World of Warcraft. You would have thought that these two dates would have been the heart of BlizzCon 2024.
However, Blizzard is communicating the idea of organizing multiple physical and virtual events around the world to celebrate these dates. A rather strange choice, which perhaps suggests that the 2023 edition of BlizzCon did not live up to expectations.