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Blizzard mysteriously cancels BlizzCon 2024 but it will return ‘in future years’-Adam Starkey-Entertainment – Metro
Blizzard has announced BlizzCon will not take place this year, despite it being the 30th anniversary of Warcraft.
BlizzCon had a short comeback (Picture: Blizzard)
Blizzard has announced BlizzCon will not take place this year, despite it being the 30th anniversary of Warcraft.
Despite making its return as an in-person event last year, BlizzCon has been officially shelved for 2024.
Blizzard’s annual gaming convention first began in 2005, to celebrate the company’s tentpole franchises, including the likes of Warcraft, Diablo, Hearthstone, and Overwatch.
While it seemed like the event was on track to be a regular fixture again, following its return last year, Blizzard has cancelled BlizzCon 2024 as it looks to approach the year ‘differently’.
‘After careful consideration over the last year, we at Blizzard have made the decision not to hold BlizzCon in 2024,’ a statement on Blizzard’s website reads. ‘This decision was not made lightly as BlizzCon remains a very special event for all of us, and we know many of you look forward to it.
‘While we’re approaching this year differently and as we have explored different event formats in the past, rest assured that we are just as excited as ever to bring BlizzCon back in future years.’
Blizzard said it will share more details about its planned 2024 line-up ‘over the next few months’, including World Of Warcraft: The War Within and Diablo 4’s first expansion Vessel Of Hatred. The post specifically cites Gamescom, along with ‘other industry trade shows’.
The company is also ‘planning multiple, global, in-person events’ to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Warcraft. ‘While these events are distinct from BlizzCon, we’re harnessing all of our creativity and imagination to ensure that they carry the same spirit of celebration and togetherness,’ the statement adds.
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BlizzCon has had a rocky road since the coronavirus pandemic, which led to its cancellation in 2020. A digital event named BlizzConline was held the following year, while a planned hybrid event – mixing BlizzConline and smaller in-person gatherings – was cancelled in 2022 after allegations of widespread discrimination and sexual harassment at Blizzard.
The event itself became a key focus in the allegations, with the so-called ‘Cosby Suite’, where several Blizzard senior staff members were pictured at BlizzCon holding up a framed photo of convicted sex offender Bill Cosby.
It’s unclear what led to the cancellation of this year’s event, as while Blizzard doesn’t seem to have much to announce at the moment the 30th anniversary of Warcraft should have been more than enough reason, given most people attending in person are doing so for the community events and not necessarily the promise of any announcements.
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