The BlizzCon 2021 will take place in February under the name “BlizzConline” and will be completely free for everyone. But what will there be to see?
Update from February 5: We have updated this article with new information about BlizzCon 2021. Among other things, we already know, that Diablo 4 will not be released in 2021.
Original announcement – This is what the boss says: In the Fireside Chat on November 2, 2020, Blizzard President J. Allen Brack revealed that BlizzConline 2021 will be free. The event is the replacement for the BlizzCon 2020 that was canceled due to Covid-19.
According to Brack, the BlizzConline will be completely free:
We want it to be a big, virtual celebration. That’s why the BlizzConline will be free to watch and participate.
When is BlizzCon 2021? The BlizzConline will take place on February 19 and 20, 2021. The community is already heavily discussing what they might expect at the event. In a new introduction video, the organizers have already revealed something about the schedule:
- On Friday, there will be the opening ceremony and new information about the games. In addition, there will be “Deep Dives” on specific topics
- On Saturday, various community activities such as Q&As or competitions will take place
The streams will start on Friday at 11:00 PM German time, on Saturday at 9:00 PM.
BlizzCon 2021 – Tickets, Mount and Streams
What does BlizzCon 2021 cost? So far, there have been virtual tickets for BlizzCon every year, allowing interested parties to watch and see the various panels. This year, however, no one is expected to have to pay anything.
The BlizzCon itself will be completely free. Instead, you can optionally purchase various goodies for BlizzCon:
- for up to 60 € there is the anniversary collection for the 30th anniversary
- it also includes the BlizzCon mount Blizzard for WoW
- in the store, there is for nearly $300 the Helm of the Lich King
Where can I watch? According to the new information, BlizzCon 2021 will be shown via various streams. These correspond to the stages that are usually seen at the physical BlizzCon.
So far, these streams cannot yet be accessed, but you will probably find them on the official BlizzCon website. Between the streams, you can switch back and forth.
Afterwards, all streams will be made available as “video on demand”. Keep an eye on the official YouTube channel of Blizzard.
- Here is the website of BlizzCon
- Here you can find the YouTube channel of Blizzard
BlizzConline 2021 – What will there be to see?
What’s already confirmed: In the first video as well as in the official announcement, Blizzard has already revealed some community competitions and events. So there will definitely be:
- Competitions in cosplay, art, and digital storytelling, as well as a talent contest
- the cosplay show
- the march of the Murlocs, an event about everything related to the little fish creatures
The registration deadline for participation in the competitions, however, has already passed.
Possible announcements at BlizzConline
What else is coming? Otherwise, there is no specific information about the games and what will be shown at BlizzConline. However, some information and hints already allow us to infer things that you will get to see:
World of Warcraft – Preview of the first major patch for Shadowlands, which according to early rumors will only be a mini-update. Shadowlands had a strong launch, and Blizzard will probably build on that.
Furthermore, it is now known that Blizzard is working on several mobile titles for Warcraft. It is highly likely that some of these titles will be presented at BlizzConline.
WoW Classic – Brack mentioned Naxxramas as the last major patch for Classic. There may be an announcement for Classic Burning Crusade.
Blizzard has been gauging players’ interest in a Classic version of the first expansion for a while now. A release date for BC Classic has already been leaked.
Overwatch – Throughout the video, the melody of Overwatch played in the background, and gameplay from the new co-op mode was shown. Like Diablo 4, Overwatch 2 will not be released in 2021. Nevertheless, there may be new information about the state of development.
Diablo – Diablo Immortal has completed its first alpha and many testers loved it. It is still in development, but the announcement of a release window at BlizzCon 2021 is certainly possible.
The development of Diablo 4 is also progressing, even though it will not be released in 2021. Here, the developers have already confirmed that an update for the game is coming and “that it will be something really exciting”.
StarCraft – Blizzard announced that with StarCraft 2 it is now over. There may be a third part or another game in the franchise shown. StarCraft has always been one of Blizzard’s pillars. However, the likelihood is relatively low.
Heroes of the Storm – There are no concrete indications here, but Brack mentioned the game several times in the video. Since the e-sports for Heroes of the Storm was discontinued in 2018, things have been quiet about the game. However, Blizzard may still take action here.
Hearthstone – The card game is thriving and continuously receives new content. Presumably, there will also be a new expansion in 2021, which will be presented at BlizzConline.
Whether a major new title outside of the established franchises is on the way remains uncertain. WoW is doing as well as it has in the last 10 years, but given the current state around Corona and the developers working from home, this seems rather unlikely. Especially considering the extent of content already planned for the existing games and those that are likely to come, a new franchise would be quite bold.
Nevertheless, 2020 was a rather successful year for Blizzard. Even though players kept complaining about various issues, the company achieved a record high on the stock market with a value of $73 billion.
What are you hoping for the most?
