BlizzCon is set to return in just a few month's time as Blizzard recently confirmed it will run from November 3rd to the 4th at the Anaheim Convention Center. This convention will not only be the first in-person event since 2019 but also the first since the online 2022 BlizzCon was canceled. The studio is best known for titles like Diablo, World of Warcraft, Overwatch, and Hearthstone following the foundation of the company in 1991.
As such, BlizzCon has become a familiar staple for Blizzard with the first event taking place in October 2005 with World of Warcraft and the original Starcraft acting as its headliners. The franchise has only expanded over the past eighteen years and BlizzCon 2023 will likely only see more attention now that pandemic restrictions have been lifted. Several fans are already expressing their excitement over its physical return after a long three years.
A Celebration of Blizzard's Games
It's expected that the return of BlizzCon will also see the return of its opening and closing ceremonies. The Opening Ceremony commences after playing footage of Blizzard's various video game properties, cosplayers and fans, the franchise's esports players, and Blizzard's All Access panel. In past years, the President of Blizzard has taken to the stage to address attendees and express gratification to those attending.
The Opening Ceremony usually goes over most of the studio's active games, and it's likely that Blizzard's unannounced survival game will make a debut of some sort. A playable beta may even be available if the game is far enough along. Nothing has been officially stated about this being an option, but it may be safe to assume since other titles have been testable in past years at BlizzCon.
Other than the Opening Ceremony, there are also panels dedicated to each game that are spread across both days. For example, World of Warcraft could see a new expansion around the same time as patch 10.2 while others are hoping for a new Starcraft project. The Diablo community could also hear from Game Director Joe Shely following the release of Diablo 4. Of course, the game will have already been out for a few months at this point, so it may not have any serious updates to share.
Unfortunately, this year Overwatch fans have experienced some disappointing news, but they should expect Team 4 to make a statement. With many concerned about the canceled co-op PvE campaign for Overwatch 2, it's hopeful that Blizzard will have something new to share that can restore excitement for the game. After all, BlizzCon 2019 saw the announcement of Overwatch 2 along with an eight-minute cinematic dubbed "Zero Hour." Perhaps this new information will have to do with the seasonal PvE stories the developer claims to be working on.
Aside from panels, participants should be prepared for meet and greets with Blizzard voice actors and content creators from their favorite games. A list of special guests has not yet been released, but will likely be made available as November draws nearer. It has not been confirmed, but at past BlizzCons there have also been performances from different bands including Metallica, Foo Fighters, and even Blink-182.
Fans should be looking forward to playing different versions of various Blizzard titles, participating in cosplay contests, community spotlights, merchandise booths, and a variety of food vendors. There is also usually a Blizzard store with exclusive BlizzCon loot that may interest some attendees, should they choose to wait in line for it. Hopefully, as the date for BlizzCon 2023 gets closer, the studio will release more detailed information along with ticketing options.