BlizzCon, Blizzard's annual get-together for fans of their games, was halted by the pandemic in 2020 and only returned as a physical event last year. One year later, it is cancelled again, Blizzard have announced.
]]>We may be well into pandemic act two, but cancellations of in-person events are probably going to keep rolling in for a while yet. To that tune, Blizzard have announced that, as with last year, they won't be hosting an in-person BlizzCon event. Also like last year—or rather this year—they're planning to replace it with the internet-only BlizzConline in early 2022.
]]>Of course, I'm excited that Overwatch 2 features some new hero looks inspired by "technical wear" and "techy fabrics", like cowboy McCree for example, who's serape looks waterproof now. But what I'm really into are Blizzard's plans to shake up the tank role in PvP, by transforming them from beefy damage sponges into aggressive brawlers.
]]>After announcing Diablo 2: Resurrected during BlizzCon, over the weekend Blizzard revealed more titbits about the remaster of their 21-year-old excellent action-RPG. Such as: unlike the recent Warcraft 3 remaster, this will be a separate game and won't update or replace the original Diablo 2. And: yep, it will support mods. I'm wary after the mess of Warcraft 3: Reforged but god, I want so badly for this to be good.
]]>While Diablo II: Resurrected isn't trying to precisely duplicate the original's look, the newly-announced remaster is making an impressive effort to match some parts. Watching a panel at BlizzCon today, I was delighted to hear about how they dug up ancient Blizzard assets to recreate and even reuse in the remaster. My favourite titbit: the new Tyrael reuses the angelic wings from the actual 3D model used to create his 2D sprite in the original game.
]]>While Blizzard did not announce a release date for Overwatch 2 at BlizzConline today, they did show some of what they've working on since the FPS's big showing at BlizzCon 2019. New maps! New sounds! New skills! New singleplayer! And most importantly, new fashion.
]]>The next Hearthstone expansion is off to the land of trolls - no, not Darkspear Isle, it's The Barrens. Due to launch this spring, Forged In The Barrens will send Hearthstone players to World Of Warcraft's infamous haven of inane chat spam. But rather than badger opponents into submission with trade scams and questions about Mankrik's wife, you'll be battering 'em with frenzied minions and mercenaries.
]]>Blizzard today confirmed the fourth class for Diablo 4, a familiar scarred face. After a few years away, rogues return to the action-RPG to pling arrows, fling caltrops, and swing daggers. Certainly looking a lot livelier than she did in Diablo 1. Here, see her in action in the ha-ha-hilariously edgy new trailer.
]]>In celebration of their 30th year, Blizzard today announced they're re-releasing three of their oldest games: Rock N Roll Racing, The Lost Vikings, and Blackthorne. These are coming fancied-up a bit in the Blizzard Arcade Collection, with features variously including rewinding and extra levels, plus a 'museum' of old development assets and interviews. It's out now on PC, though currently only if you buy Blizzard's big bundle of BlizzCon goodies.
]]>After years of rumours and wishes, Blizzard have announced a remaster of the wonderful Diablo II is coming this year. Just as I was heaping scorn on a BlizzCon fuelled primarily by nostalgia, they announced Diablo II: Resurrected and tbh I'm flipping my tits over here. Hell yeah. They've redone it with new 3D art and other technical polish, and it'll support cross-platform progression between PC and consoles. See the new old look in the trailer below.
]]>Seems like BlizzCon has arrived early for World Of Warcraft fans, thanks to a leak from, err, Blizzard themselves? Turns out that World Of Warcraft Classic is getting an expansion, in the form of Burning Crusade Classic. Plus, we now know World Of Warcraft: Shadowland's upcoming 9.1 patch is called Chains Of Domination, which will bring a new area, mega-dungeon, and raid.
Update: Yep, Burning Crusade Classic and Chains Of Domination are now official.
]]>The slightly delayed and entirely online BlizzCon Online is just over a week away now, so Blizzard have gone and released the full schedule of talks and events that you'll be able to watch. As expected, there are plans to talk Overwatch 2, Diablo, Hearthstone, World Of Warcraft, and more.
]]>Like all of last year's physical gaming events, BlizzCon didn't actually happen as usual in November. Blizzard chose to move the convention to an online format and bumped BlizzCon 2020 to BlizzConline this month. Would you look at that? It's nearly upon us, so Blizzard have pushed out a trailer and some starter details on what to expect on February 19th and 20th.
]]>In a new virtual 'fireside chat', Blizzard head honcho J. Allen Brack has given an update on the success of their anti-toxicity systems. They've been using machine learning to help combat abusive chat and bad behaviour in Overwatch and Heroes Of The Storm for a while, and recently brought the system to World Of Warcraft's public channels. It sounds like a success there too. Brack also announced that the next BlizzCon, which is online-only, will be free for everyone to watch.
]]>As with most other physical conventions this year, BlizzCon 2020 is cancelled due to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. Blizzard said that they wanted to take the con online but didn't think they'd be able to squeeze it into this calendar year. They were right on that front, but you won't be waiting until next November for the con to return. Honorary BlizzCon 2020 will now officially take place in February 2021, they've announced.
]]>The game event cancellations are pushing even deeper into the year now, as Blizzard have announced BlizzCon 2020 is a no-go. The event usually takes right at the beginning of November, but due to ongoing concerns about the Covid-19 pandemic they've made the decision to cancel it.
"We've talked about different paths we could take, and how each one could be complicated by fluctuations in national and local health guidelines in the months ahead," they said. "Ultimately, after considering our options, we've come to the very difficult decision to not have BlizzCon this year."
]]>Sticks and stones may break on bones, but fists will never fail me. Now that Diablo 4 has emerged from its crypt, soaked in the blood of countless demons and undead ne'er-do-wells, we're starting to get more glimpses into the Action-RPG's grimdark fourth offering. Fitting, then, that our first extended look at the next dungeon-looter isn't some cowardly archer or wimpy wizard, but a brutal 24-minute look at a house-sized slab of beef knocking down skeletons with a whopping great stick.
]]>Blizzard announced the next Hearthstone expansion, Descent Of Dragons, today at BlizzCon. It'll add new cards with new abilities - the usual expansion stuff. More curiously, Blizzard also announced Hearthstone: Battlegrounds, a new mode they say is inspired by the Auto Chess. Y'know, the burgeoning genre which began as the Dota 2 mod Dota Auto Chess and has already spawned Valve's Dota Underlords and the League Of Legends mode Teamfight Tactics. That is not what I expected when I first heard the word "Battlegrounds" on the stream.
]]>Blizzard could announce Diablo IV, Overwatch 2, a new WoW expansion, and Hearthstone Auto Chess live on stage at BlizzCon--and they did--but none of that would sit right if they didn't address the cloud over this year's fanfest. Their decision to harshly punish a Hearthstone pro player for declaring "Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our age!" in a post-match interview has upset many over the past month, including players, employees, commentators, and members of the US Congress. Even Blizzard's attempt to explain themselves only dug the hole deeper. They couldn't avoid the issue. So at BlizzCon opening ceremony today, Blizzard president J. Allen Brack began with an apology.
]]>After a run of leaks and rumours, Blizzard today announced Overwatch 2 at BlizzCon. The FPS sequel will feature "a ton" of PvE and story bits, director Jeff Kaplan said in stage at BlizzCon, including "highly replayable" cooperative missions. A new core PvP mode is in too, along with new maps, new characters, and new looks for old characters. It'll feature cross-game multiplayer with the first Overwatch and, my god, cosmetic doodads unlocked and bought in the first will actually carry over into the sequel. Come watch the announcement cinematic and first wee gamevid.
]]>After a world's been trashed enough, how can you further raise the stakes (and the ruckus)? Mate, stuff it, tear open a route into the afterlife and give the already-dead a kicking. Blizzard today announced Shadowlands, the eighth World Of Warcraft expansion, where Sylvanas Windrunner will do just that. Off we'll go into heck, exploring, murdering, and meeting new people.
]]>After a number of reported false starts, Blizzard were today finally ready to announce Diablo 4. Oh dear oh dear, someone's only gone and released another ancient evil, so once again it's up to us to click on monsters until their bellies burst with a blast of gold and swords. Lilith, the Daughter of Hatred, is the big nasty this time. She created the world of humans, so you know she's a wrong'un. After the softer Diablo III, Blizzard say they're going dark again with this one. Watch the action-RPG's cinematic announcement trailer and a wee gamevid below.
]]>As BlizzCon approaches, like a dark storm cloud full of cosplay, earnest fan questions, and rumour stomping announcements, there’s at least one thing we know that's guaran-damn-teed. Warcraft III: Reforged’s beta will finally be starting this week in the lead-up to the convention, bringing the newly remade RTS to the two thousand and nineteens. Waves of keys will soon be going out very soon to those who pre-ordered the game.
]]>There's still a little oil left to be thrown onto the burning inferno of Diablo Immortal hot takes. According to Kotaku's sources - "two people familiar with Blizzard's plans" - there were plans to quietly announce Diablo 4 at the show, but the studio opted not to as there wasn't much to show so soon into production. For whatever reason, Blizzard decided to run purely with the NetEase co-developed mobile spinoff Diablo Immortal, which I think looks decent, but judging by the internet's general response is now apparently the worst thing since sliced plague.
Update: Kotaku have clarified that while a video announcing a new Diablo video was produced, Blizzard deny that they planned to show it at BlizzCon.
]]>One detail I'd missed in Friday's announcement of Warcraft III: Reforged is that Blizzard's upcoming remaster should be able to play all the original's player-created maps and modes. Which is great news. WC3 has one of the great forgotten modding scenes, growing so many genres beyond the obvious MOBAs like DotA. Every night for months, my pals and I would play random 'custom games' and always discover something new, surprising, delightful, or just plain weird (the 'sexy' tower defence games were...). So good, great, lovely, hopefully this rebirth of WC3 will introduce more people to its treasures.
]]>Blizzard have repeated that they have multiple teams work on multiple Diablo things, keeping hope alive for Diablo 4, following Friday's announcement of unexciting mobile game Diablo Immortal. Blizzard had warned beforehand that they weren't ready to talk about all their Diablo projects and that BlizzCon's Diablo news would not be "what many of you are hoping for", and indeed it was not. I don't want to play a Diablo mobile game so I simply shan't play Diablo Immortal, though going by some people's reactions I might have missed Blizzard vowing to kick my dad's teeth out and force-feed me them if I don't play it for five hours every day. I hope they won't do that.
]]>Ahead of BlizzCon, Blizzard had hinted that they were announcing something Diablo-related but clarified it would not be "what many of you are hoping for". Yeah, but they would say it wasn't Diablo 4 even if it was going to be Diablo 4, wouldn't they? Reader, it was not Diablo 4. Blizzard last night announced Diablo Immortal, a new entry in the action-RPG series... for pocket telephones. Hey, they did make clear it wouldn't be what you wanted.
]]>Having remastered StarCraft last year, Blizzard are now updating another of their classic real-time strategy games: Warcraft III. During BlizzCon today they announced Warcraft III: Reforged, a revamped release of WC3 with redone artwork, UI improvements, and other such modern fancying-up. Wait. Hang on. Warcraft III first came out on 2002? That can't be right. That would mean... oh god, this is a lot to take in. While I wrestle with my own mortality, here, you watch the announcement trailer showing off the new look.
]]>Hearthstone's next expansion is putting on its best faux-Jamaican accent for a big blue throwdown. Launching in December and unveiled at BlizzCon today, Rastakhan's Rumble tells the story (through the act of card-battling) of a once-in-a-generation tribal contest. Trolls from around Azeroth are assembling to beat each other black and (more) blue in order to impress the Loa spirits and King Rastakhan in a big arena rumble. It'll also feature its own new solo campaign mode. Check out the cheerful musical trailer below - a staple for new Hearthstone announcements.
]]>While I bounced off it back in the day, the original incarnation of World Of Warcraft remains beloved by many. Some are even nostalgic for the days of chunky character models and grinding werewolves for a pittance of gold. That, and Barrens chat, although anyone hungry for that is just weird. Today, Blizzard announced that their retro MMO throwback - World Of Warcraft Classic - will be launching next summer. Better still, the polished-up legacy version of the game will be free to all existing World Of Warcraft subscribers.
]]>The next character coming to Overwatch is a female gunslinger named Ashe, Blizzard announced during BlizzCon today. The leader of the Deadlock Gang and an old acquaintance of McCree, she's armed with a lever-action rifle, carries a double-barrelled shotgun she can 'rocket-jump' with, tosses dynamite-shaped explosives, and summons a honking great robo bandit as her Ultimate ability. I'm always up for gunslinging and rocket-jumping so yes, please, let's do this. Come meet Ashe in new videos fresh out of BlizzCon.
]]>After smooshing decades of Blizzard history into mega-crossover MOBA Heroes Of The Storm, the studio have announced that a brand-new, original, never-been-seen character is joining the fight. Orphea, whose title I believe is "Heir of Raven Court and daughter of the Raven Lord", hasn't been in any Blizzard game before, which is... weird? Perhaps they wanted to create a specific type of character and, with so much of Blizzard history mined out, the closest they could find within the lore was a wizard whose most notable deed was selling Jaina bubblebath once. Here, come meet Orphea.
]]>Activision are giving Destiny 2 away for free right now, yours to keep if you grab it before November 18th. This is the base edition of Bungie's multiplayer looter-shooter, not including its expansions, but that's still a huge hunk of game. And I suppose handy as a demo to see if you want to keep up to speed by buying the DLC. I never played the first Destiny on console so I wasn't interested when the series debuted on PC with the sequel; now, yeah, go on, I'll give that a go. I hear it has good dancing. And people mutter eerily about "gunfeel." What's up with that.
]]>This year's BlizzCon will run November 2-3, Blizzard have confirmed, and the first round of tickets will go on sale on May 9th. BlizzCon is their annual fan convention in California, with panels, tournaments, and events for all their big games. It always brings some big announcements too, setting up the year of Blizzard to come. For people who can't get there, Blizzard will also sell 'Virtual Tickets' to access livestreams of anything as well as the customary in-game goodies, and the main presentation livestreams tend to be to everyone for free.
]]>One of the biggest tournaments so far of Overwatch [official site] is happening this week, with a total prize pool of $300,000. We told you about it a couple of months ago but, silly you, you’ve forgotten. The Overwatch Open has already seen one day of North American regionals, kicking off yesterday, with the second day of games happening right now. But Europe and the grand final itself is yet to come. Here's the schedule and details of how to watch it.
]]>StarCraft II: Legacy Of The Void [official site] is the third and final installment of the StarCraft II trilogy and it's out this coming week - November 10, to be exact. Naturally, you might've assumed this would mark the end of StarCraft for the time being, that after this one we'd have to wait a while for the next, if there was to be another one at all. Right? Wrong: Blizzard have announced a three-part mission pack named Nova Covert Ops that'll launch in Spring 2016 to keep all you StarCraftians going. We've got the Legacy Of The Void launch trailer AND the Nova Covert Ops trailer below to suit your needs.
]]>BlizzCon 2015 has been good to Heroes Of The Storm [official site], it seems. Not only will it soon receive three brand new characters, an Arena mode and a new battleground, the Heroes Of The Storm Global Championship Circuit will run in 2016 playing host to three competitive events throughout the year. Oh, and Blizzard are also working to replace the game's matchmaking system in response to recent player criticism. Trailers and deets after the drop.
]]>After being announced in August, Legion - the upcoming World Of Warcraft [official site] expansion - has received a launch trailer ahead of its summer release next year. It's pretty and shiny and so CGI-infused that it could give the series' real-life movie cinematic that dropped on Friday a run for its money.
Check it out in all its four and a bit minutes-long glory below.
]]>Calling all you creative card configuratorists: a new single-player Hearthstone [official site] expansion is on its way. Announced at BlizzCon 2015 this very weekend, The League Of Explorers will bring with it 45 new cards and will launch its first wing on November 12. That's next week! Hop below for more details and a trailer.
]]>So in among the anniversary congrats and the esports chat of the opening BlizzCon ceremony Blizzard has unveiled the trailer for its Warcraft movie, Warcraft: The Beginning.
You can watch it after the jump:
]]>Looking For Group, a new World of Warcraft documentary, is as earnest as the late Jim Varney. It's a sixty minute reflection on the first ten years of the giant of MMORPGs and as it was created in-house at Blizzard, it's all about the good times. Creators and players alike fondly reminisce and the whole thing almost collapses into a blackhole of backslapping self-aggrandisement around the forty minute mark, when a kung fu panda is held up as an example of the maturing narratives tastes of the WOW audience. But despite the fluff, I found my cynicism thawing as I watched. The whole thing is embedded below.
]]>Blizzard Convention Two Thousand And Thirteen Anno Domini Year Of Our Metzen is upon us. Shortened to "BlizzCon" despite the svelte elegance of its full name, the show is Blizzard's favorite place for new announcements. I am sitting in a very prickly chair in gaming's most cavernous convention hall, and I'll be writing about and recording what happens all weekend. First up, Blizzard's repeatedly reinvented MOBA Heroes of the Storm.
]]>Even though no-one plays games with a keyboard and mouse anymore, Blizzard's annual fan-con somehow attracts huge crowds and helps the Activision-owned developer to earn All The Money from PC games. They've just announced the 2013 (and seventh annual) Blizzcon, due this November in Anaheim, California, the United States of America, Land of the Free, Home of the Brave, origin of sausage and chocolate chip pancake on a stick. What will be there? VIDEOGAMES.
]]>You probably noticed the brouhaha that emerged last week, after GayGamer and, in turn, RPS reported on a very strange decision by Blizzard, to include an outburst many could only interpret as homophobic, during BlizzCon. After one of the less pleasant comments thread RPS has witnessed, and much discussion internet-wide, Blizzard have issued a proper apology. (This happened a few days ago, but we've realised we've not mentioned it here, so it's only reasonable to post it.) You can read it below.
]]>It's an uphill struggle to convince those outside the games industry that it is, in some ways, a mature medium for mature, thoughtful people. Clearly the most difficult element of that hill is the incredible immaturity and thoughtless nature of so much of the games industry. You need not look far in any direction to see examples of sexism (the PC has yet to be blessed with Arkham City's delightful attitude toward female characters), misogyny, racism, and of course homophobia. Something, for reasons inexplicable, Blizzard chose to feature on the main stage of their World Of Warcraft-based celebrations at this year's BlizzCon. Via whoever's extraordinary decision, edited clips from a homophobic diatribe were broadcast to the crowds (albeit loosely bleeped out) which encouraged those who play Alliance characters to kill themselves. Followed by a song.
]]>It seems like only last week that I found myself watching men playing Countertstrike and wondering how they came to be so good at man-shooting and here I am today watching two people playing Starcraft 2, which makes me realise how bad I am at mouse-clicking. These people though? Very good at mouse-clicking. They're playing in the Grand Final of Blizzcon's Starcraft 2 tournament and the winner scoops $50,000, which is probably half of America's forecast GDP for 2012. I don't follow the competitive Starcraft community, but I believe the two fellows playing have what the kids call 'beef' with one another. Enjoy
]]>In case anyone's confused, when I say "dated" I don't mean "Taken out for a meal and a movie with the sole intention of getting inside their flowery undergarments" but "the dates of when they'll be available to buy has been released". There's two blocks being released, on June 2nd and June 5th, at 7pm and 10am respectively. They'll cost - gasp - $150 dollars each, and the event will take place on October 22 and 23 in Anaheim, California. More details on the site, obviously. Anyone planning on going? Will you be Zerg-rushing to get them, or not really give a Protoss? I covered the first, and found it enormously heart-warming. And, really, this whole post is just a big excuse to re-link to Alec's piece about the 2008 Worldwide Invitational which is one of my fave things he's ever written for the site. Press release follows!
]]>Man, I'm totally stealing this story from videogaming247. Hell, I've even stole the image from videogaming247. But at least I've given a working link back Warcry, who covered the press conference where the following was revealed...
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