The Virtual Tickets for Blizzard's forthcoming BlizzCon 2016 event officially go on sale, charging $40 for a weekend of panels, tournaments, and announcements.

Blizzard is already having a spectacular 2016 due to the launch of the insanely successful Overwatch, and World of Warcraft's Legion expansion hasn't even been released yet. That is to say, if there's a year to watch what Blizzard is up to, 2016 wouldn't be a bad start. That's why BlizzCon 2016 is ramping up to be one of the biggest gaming events of the year. Unfortunately, tickets to attend the event sold out within hours of them being made available back in April. Luckily, there's another option to make it to BlizzCon.

Today Blizzard made available their Virtual Ticket package, the best option for every Blizzard fan without their own ticket to the convention itself. The Virtual Ticket guarantees digital access to every major event at BlizzCon 2016 from the comforts of one's own desk, couch, or on the move with a phone using the BlizzCon Guide app. That's multiple concurrent livestreams of panels, concerts, announcements, events across November 4 and 5 in 720p. It's not cheap, though, costing a total of $39.99 for full access.

That $39.99 does have some "material" goods associated with it, however. And by material, that means digital. As has always been the case for BlizzCon Virtual Tickets, a bundle of digital goods will be given to all Virtual Ticket buyers. As of yet, the digital goods haven't been announced. However, an image on the Virtual Ticket page shows that it will include something for every one of Blizzard's current games, including Overwatch.

For reference, last year's BlizzCon Virtual Ticket included a World of Warcraft Murkidan pet, a Heroes of the Storm Nexus Battle Beast Mount, a Hearthstone Card Back, two StarCraft 2 Portraits, and a Diablo 3 Pennant, Pet, and Portrait. One should expect similar items in this year's package. The question is, will Overwatch's content be a skin or just an icon?

BlizzCon 2016 Virtual Ticket Available Now - Goodies

The Virtual Ticket also allows purchasers to buy, in addition to the Virtual Ticket itself, the official BlizzCon Goodie Bag for another $34.99. That's literally a bag of merchandise that is otherwise only given to actual attendees of the event. These are only available in limited quantity and are exclusive to purchasers of the Virtual Ticket. So if someone's unable to attend the event and absolutely must have that exclusive merch, buy that Virtual Ticket ASAP and then buy the Goodie Bag right away.

An official schedule for BlizzCon 2016 has not yet been released, so it's unclear what kind of panels, concerts or announcements may or not be made this year. Esports is a different matter. Major tournaments for World of Warcraft's Arena, Heroes of the Storm, Hearthstone, and StarCraft 2 are all planned for the event. Hopefully, that's enough information on what will happen at the event for everyone to make a decision at this point. Otherwise, additional details will be revealed leading up to November.

Remember, BlizzCon's opening ceremony and tournaments will be streamed online for free for those without a BlizzCon Virtual Ticket. The Virtual Ticket simply guarantees 720p quality, recordings of all of BlizzCon's events, access to the panels, contests, concerts and announcements, and of course, the digital goods (and ability to purchase a Goodie Bag). It's definitely expensive at $39.99, but for hardcore Blizzard fans that's probably a paltry sum overall.

BlizzCon 2016 runs from November 4 through November 5 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California.

Source: Blizzard Store