2021’s BlizzConline, the virtual version of Blizzard’s annual BlizzCon, was a quiet show, offering little more than evidence of the existence of long-awaited games like Overwatch 2. But it did give fans some good behind-the-scenes looks at the modern Blizzard, and perhaps a little bit of hope that the veteran developer will eventually release its promised games.
Let's talk about BlizzConline
BlizzCon 2021 is the latest major event to switch to an at-home format, with other shows like Fanime and E3 already announcing a similar shift. BlizzCon’s approach, prioritizing livestreamed panels, virtual performances, and new events like a live, Diablo-themed Dungeons & Dragons play from the cast of Critical Role, puts it on the edge of the new normal. Expect other shows to look to this for further inspiration throughout the year, as more cons move to a virtual approach for safety reasons.
Announcements made during BlizzCon 2021 included a look at the upcoming 9.1 patch for World of Warcraft: Shadowlands, the announcement of a remastered edition of the classic dungeon crawler Diablo 2, the introduction of a new character class (but no release date yet) for Diablo 4, and a new expansion for the free-to-play card game Hearthstone.
"Part of what's always made BlizzCon fun is the community, and Blizzard has gone to great lengths to make BlizzConline still feel like a community event," Elizabeth Harper, editorial director at Blizzard Watch, told Lifewire in an email. "There was a virtual 'March of the Murlocs' [infamous fish-people monsters from World of Warcraft] with video clips and photos of fans around the world dressed as murlocs. Things like that made it feel like we were all there, even if we weren't."
