Backside line: Blizzard Leisure has canceled the 2024 installment of BlizzCon, the annual gaming conference often held close to the tip of the 12 months in Anaheim, California. The corporate did not give a concrete cause as to why this 12 months’s occasion is now off, merely noting that they determined in opposition to it after cautious consideration during the last 12 months. That mentioned, officers sit up for bringing BlizzCon again in future years.
The decision might have one thing to do with the corporate now being underneath Microsoft’s umbrella. As such, we will most likely count on to be taught extra about upcoming Blizzard tasks like World of Warcraft: The Warfare Inside and the primary Diablo IV growth, Vessel of Hatred, throughout Microsoft’s annual Xbox showcase in June.
Blizzard additionally talked about plans for different commerce exhibits like Gamescom and extra in-person gathers, like upcoming Overwatch Champions Sequence’ stops at Dreamhack Dallas and Dreamhack Stockholm. There’ll even be a number of international, in-person occasions to have a good time the thirtieth anniversary of Warcraft (the primary recreation within the franchise, Warcraft: Orcs and People, launched on November 15, 1994).
Blizzard mentioned that whereas these different occasions will likely be distinct from BlizzCon, they’re working to harness their creativity and creativeness to make sure they carry the identical spirit of togetherness and celebration.
In-person gaming and tech conventions have struggled in recent times, and BlizzCon isn’t any exception. The gathering was canceled in 2020 on account of Covid and was held as a web based solely occasion the next 12 months. Blizzard additionally canceled the 2022 conference on account of authorized points on the time. Issues acquired back on track in 2023, however it was brief lived.
E3 skilled comparable pitfalls following the pandemic. Final December, nonetheless, organizers threw within the towel and canceled the occasion for good. Fortuitously, others have stepped in so the loss should not be as stinging as it’d in any other case have been.
Some additionally thought comparable conferences like CES have been in jeopardy, however organizers managed to host an abbreviated occasion in 2022 earlier than returning in full power in 2023.
