Summary
- Blizzard won't hold BlizzCon in 2024.
- BlizzCon has been held nearly every year since 2005, but Blizzard's decision to skip in 2024 marks the fifth missed event.
- With World of Warcraft and Diablo 4 expansions in development, Blizzard plans to appear at other big events to celebrate its franchises.
Blizzard just announced it will not be holding a BlizzCon event in 2024. Though this unfortunate news may disappoint fans, Blizzard will be appearing at Gamescom, Dreamhack, and other live events instead.
BlizzCon is a near-annual Blizzard convention held in Anaheim, California, that celebrates the company’s many franchises, usually coinciding with its biggest reveals. Since its debut in 2005, BlizzCon has been held every year except 2006, 2012, 2020, and 2022, with the 2021 event being online only.
Blizzard and NetEase Team Up Again After Destruction of Orc Statue Last Year
A year after Blizzard exited the Chinese market, the company renews its partnership with NetEase and discusses its plans to return to China this year.
However, it seems like 2024 will be the fifth year Blizzard is skipping BlizzCon. Blizzard confirmed that “after careful consideration, we at Blizzard have made the decision not to hold BlizzCon in 2024.” This difficult decision will undoubtedly be hard for fans, but Blizzard did confirm BlizzCon will return in future years. Additionally, it plans to appear at other conventions and shows to celebrate World of Warcraft and Diablo 4’s in-development expansions, the Overwatch Champions Series, and the 30-year anniversary of Warcraft, including Gamescom, Dreamhack, and other unannounced events.
Blizzard is Not Holding BlizzCon in 2024
- Blizzard is skipping BlizzCon in 2024 in lieu of other events, including:
- Gamescom – World of Warcraft: The War Within and Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred
- Dreamhack Dallas & Stockholm – Overwatch Champion Series
- Other in-person game conventions and in-game events to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Warcraft franchise.
Though it had a seven-year BlizzCon streak from 2013 through 2019, the last several years have only held BlizzCon every other year. While that trend started because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the cancelation of BlizzCon in 2024 appears to follow suit. While this announcement is not confirmation, it seems like Blizzard may be considering turning BlizzCon into a biennial event similar to Final Fantasy 14’s Fan Festival, rather than an annual one.
Considering the faster release cadence of World of Warcraft, its biggest game, it makes sense that Blizzard might consider holding fewer events. After all, BlizzCon usually takes place in October or November – right when World of Warcraft is likely to release The War Within. Assuming it holds a BlizzCon in 2025, however, it would be perfectly positioned to debut new information about WoW: Midnight, which is expected to launch in 2026.
That said, though Warcraft usually has some of the strongest shows at BlizzCon, it is not the only franchise Blizzard has, so this bad news is a bitter pill for many players. Even so, Blizzard has historically not had a strong presence at other gaming events like Gamescom, so it will be refreshing to see them appear there for a change. Fans will have to wait and see if Blizzard shows up at other big events like PAX, Comic Con, or the Summer Game Fest.
World of Warcraft
- Released
- November 23, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
World of Warcraft is an incredibly successful MMORPG that has been going strong for almost two decades. It's one of the highest-grossing franchises in history and is widely considered the most popular MMORPG ever made.
