Video games: Blizzard cancels Blizzcon 2024, its annual high mass

After the legendary E3 video game show, would it soon be Blizzcon's turn to say goodbye? The announcement ceremony dedicated to fans of Blizzard Entertainment (Warcraft, Diablo, StarCraft and Overwatch) will not have a 2024 edition. This high mass of video games had been canceled two years in a row due to the Covid pandemic -19, in 2020 and 2021. Then also in 2022, after scandals surrounding the developer's “toxic” work environment. After a total absence of four years, the publisher's flagship event returned to Anaheim, California, last November. This edition brought together thousands of fans, as it had done since its creation in 2005. But not enough.

“After careful consideration over the past year, Blizzard has made the decision not to host BlizzCon in 2024. This decision was not made lightly, as BlizzCon remains a very special event for all of us, and we know many of you are looking forward to it,” Blizzard Entertainment wrote in a statement. “While we are approaching this year differently and have explored different event formats in the past, rest assured that we are as excited as ever to bring BlizzCon back in years to come.” A message reminiscent of that of the organizers of E3, which permanently closed its doors at the beginning of the year. He too was initially scheduled to return after several cancellations. But the lack of interest from players, the withdrawal of many partners and the budgetary reality of the show had decided otherwise.

Earlier this year, several months after finalizing the acquisition of video game company Activision Blizzard, Microsoft laid off 1,900 people at the developer and its Xbox console subsidiary. Mike Ybarra, then president of Blizzard, announced his departure from management. Internally, Microsoft is working to make things happen. In a Windows Central article, a Blizzard spokesperson confirmed that this was a company-specific decision, and that the timing was "simply not right for a one-time end-of-year event."

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However, it was during this unique event that the developer got into the habit of making large-scale announcements about its franchises. Last year, several projects were announced, including an expansion for the game Diablo IV and one for the legendary MMO World of Warcraft, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. However, they were among the only new features announced. The developer was to release a mysterious survival game, ultimately canceled to everyone's surprise. It was to be a brand new license from Blizzard, unpublished for several years.

How to imagine the future? In its press release, Blizzard ensures that it will express itself more on its upcoming releases during the year, and in particular during Gamescom, or during “several on-site events around the world to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Warcraft”. All “in the same spirit of celebration and gathering” as Blizzcon. A major challenge.