Blizzcon | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Tue, 07 Nov 2023 13:00:44 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png Blizzcon | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 Phil Spencer welcomed Blizzard to Microsoft at BlizzCon’s opening ceremony https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/phil-spencer-welcomed-blizzard-to-microsoft-at-blizzcons-opening-ceremony/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/phil-spencer-welcomed-blizzard-to-microsoft-at-blizzcons-opening-ceremony/#respond Mon, 06 Nov 2023 15:00:03 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=636570 This year's BlizzCon was a little different, taking place just weeks after Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard King. While we didn't get any major Xbox-related announcements, Phil Spencer did make an appearance during the show's opening ceremony. Speaking during the BlizzCon Opening Ceremony, Microsoft Gaming lead, Phil Spencer, took to the stage to welcome Blizzard to …

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This year's BlizzCon was a little different, taking place just weeks after Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard King. While we didn't get any major Xbox-related announcements, Phil Spencer did make an appearance during the show's opening ceremony.

Speaking during the BlizzCon Opening Ceremony, Microsoft Gaming lead, Phil Spencer, took to the stage to welcome Blizzard to the Microsoft family: “Blizzard occupies a special place in the gaming industry and for me… Throughout Blizzard’s history they’ve pioneered and refined so much across the gaming industry, and many of you here today have been a part of that journey”, Spencer said, before giving shoutouts to Blizzard's most well-known franchises, including World of Warcraft, Diablo and yes, even Starcraft.

Spencer closed out his speech with a welcomed message for Blizzard fans and employees, saying: “Our commitment at Xbox is to bring more great games to more players, in more places. And now that Blizzard is part of Xbox, we will nurture the essence of what has made Blizzard unique. We’re going to empower our new colleagues in a culture of trust, inclusion, and collaboration, to continue what they do best: redefining existing genres, creating new, never before seen experiences, and uniting players globally in new ways”

Spencer has previously confirmed that there aren't any immediate plans to integrate Activision Blizzard games with services like Game Pass and the company has not yet discussed bringing PC-exclusives over to console or vice-versa. However, we can expect more news on that front in early 2024.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Under Activision's rule, Blizzard was seeing a decline but hopefully fresh ownership and a boost to morale can get things back on track in the years ahead. We're already off to a good start with Diablo 4 improving greatly since launch, and a new trilogy of World of Warcraft expansions on the way.

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Overwatch 2 is getting a new hero for each class, starting with new tank ‘Mauga’ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/overwatch-2-is-getting-a-new-hero-for-each-class-starting-with-new-tank-mauga/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/overwatch-2-is-getting-a-new-hero-for-each-class-starting-with-new-tank-mauga/#respond Sun, 05 Nov 2023 10:00:55 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=636454 At BlizzCon this week, the Overwatch 2 team unveiled the game's latest hero. Mauga is a new tank hero who dual-wields chainguns and is designed to excel in close-quarters situations. We also get a teaser for what's to come in 2024. While a lot of people do have complaints about Overwatch 2, the game still …

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At BlizzCon this week, the Overwatch 2 team unveiled the game's latest hero. Mauga is a new tank hero who dual-wields chainguns and is designed to excel in close-quarters situations. We also get a teaser for what's to come in 2024.

While a lot of people do have complaints about Overwatch 2, the game still pulls a decent amount of players. On Steam, despite the game's ‘Overwhelmingly Negative' review score, the game pulls close to 40,000 concurrent players a day. The Battle.net numbers may be higher, as most Overwatch fans have become used to Blizzard's launcher and may not have switched over to Valve's platform. On Twitch, Overwatch 2 still regularly appears in the top ten most-viewed games, albeit at the lower end of that list.

For those dedicated fans still sticking with Overwatch 2, Blizzard showcased the new tank hero, Mauga, at BlizzCon this weekend and made him playable as part of a trial over this weekend. The new hero will be launching with the game's next season:

In the gameplay trailer, we can see the character's dual chainguns in action, one dealing volatile damage and the other dealing incendiary damage. Other abilities include a leap that deals AoE damage, an unstoppable charge, and the ability ‘Cardiac Overdrive', which allows you to heal while dealing damage. Using the Cage Fight Ult, you can gain infinite ammo for a short time.

Blizzard also teased two more heroes coming to the game in 2024, a new Damage hero named Venture and a new Support hero, currently codenamed Space Ranger. These new heroes will debut in separate seasons next year, alongside a new PvP mode and the return of the Hanamura map.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: I dropped off of Overwatch 2 after the first few seasons but I still like to keep an eye on the new heroes in case anything particularly exciting shows up. I'm not sure any of this is going to hook me back in yet but we'll see. Did any of you try the new hero character over this weekend?

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Blizzard unveils new trilogy of WoW expansions https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/blizzard-unveils-new-trilogy-of-wow-expansions/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/blizzard-unveils-new-trilogy-of-wow-expansions/#respond Sun, 05 Nov 2023 09:30:29 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=636450 While recent Diablo 4 leaks were proven to be accurate at BlizzCon this year, recent World of Warcraft leaks were completely off. BlizzCon surprised WoW players at the event this year with the announcement of a trilogy of expansions, making up the Worldsoul Saga.  Chris Metzen, a fan-favourite WoW veteran, announced the new set of …

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While recent Diablo 4 leaks were proven to be accurate at BlizzCon this year, recent World of Warcraft leaks were completely off. BlizzCon surprised WoW players at the event this year with the announcement of a trilogy of expansions, making up the Worldsoul Saga. 

Chris Metzen, a fan-favourite WoW veteran, announced the new set of expansions for WoW, which will collectively tell a big, meaningful story that will have players diving deep into Warcraft lore. The first expansion, titled ‘The War Within', will be out next year and the first cinematic trailer can be viewed below:

The War Within will have players “descending into the heart of Azeroth itself”, introducing new subterranean kingdoms and ancient cultures. From there, we'll be moving on to the next expansion, Midnight, which will send players to Quel'Thalas in the Old World, tasked with stopping forces of the void from taking over. Finally, the third expansion, The Last Titan, will bring the fabled Titans of Azeroth back.

According to Metzen, the developers are trying to “establish a thundering heartbeat” for the WoW franchise with this big new expansion saga. Aside from new content that pushes the WoW story forward, BlizzCon also had updates for WoW Classic players, with the announcement of Cataclysm Classic.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: World of Warcraft remains popular but it has declined. Perhaps something like this can truly revitalise the MMO for the next several years. 

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Diablo 4 gets second wave of Season 2 content and first expansion announcement https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/diablo-4-gets-second-wave-of-season-2-content-and-first-expansion-announcement/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/diablo-4-gets-second-wave-of-season-2-content-and-first-expansion-announcement/#respond Sun, 05 Nov 2023 09:00:40 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=636446 Diablo 4 had plenty of time to shine at BlizzCon this year. Aside from a teaser for the game's first expansion, the Blizzard developers revealed that there is still quite a bit of surprise content on the way for those participating in Season of Blood.  Diablo 4's first expansion will be called Vessel of Hatred …

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Diablo 4 had plenty of time to shine at BlizzCon this year. Aside from a teaser for the game's first expansion, the Blizzard developers revealed that there is still quite a bit of surprise content on the way for those participating in Season of Blood. 

Diablo 4's first expansion will be called Vessel of Hatred and the trailer confirms Mephisto will be involved. Blizzard also confirmed that this expansion will take us to a returning region from Diablo 2, Nahantu. There will also be a brand new class heading to the game – not a returning class, so we'll be seeing something brand new for the Diablo series.

Much of these details were revealed through leaks in recent weeks so there weren't many surprises. Perhaps the most surprising thing is the planned release date, which is late 2024. I was expecting a release closer to summer than the holiday season.

On the plus side, Blizzard does seem to have greatly improved its seasonal formula with this latest season. Players were already happy with boost to XP gains, better mount functionality and the new vampiric powers and seasonal activities. However, we aren't done with new content for the season just yet. Soon, Abattoir of Zir will arrive in the game as a limited-time endgame event, designed for players who have reached the level cap and perfected their builds.

This new activity is described as ‘pinnacle' content, designed to be challenging even for those who can clear Tier 100 Nightmare Dungeons or Uber Lillith and Uber Duriel.

Blizzard is also working on bringing old seasonal powers forward to future seasons. For this current season, that will arrive in the form of five new unique rings, one for each class, containing one of the popular Malignant Heart powers. The Necromancer ring is already confirmed to allow corpse skills to happen automatically, something that most necromancer builds were using last season.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Have you been playing Diablo 4's second season at all? 

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MSI’s gaming monitors will be featured heavily throughout BlizzCon https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/monitors/matthew-wilson/msis-gaming-monitors-will-be-featured-heavily-throughout-blizzcon/ https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/monitors/matthew-wilson/msis-gaming-monitors-will-be-featured-heavily-throughout-blizzcon/#respond Mon, 30 Oct 2023 13:57:01 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=635787 BlizzCon is just a few days away now and if you happen to be in attendance, you'll find MSI monitors throughout the convention for showcasing the latest Blizzard game updates. MSI is the official monitor partner for BlizzCon, sending 1,500 monitors to be used throughout the Anaheim Convention Center during the event. Eventgoers will be …

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BlizzCon is just a few days away now and if you happen to be in attendance, you'll find MSI monitors throughout the convention for showcasing the latest Blizzard game updates.

MSI is the official monitor partner for BlizzCon, sending 1,500 monitors to be used throughout the Anaheim Convention Center during the event. Eventgoers will be able to play Blizzard's titles with other attendees using a couple of MSI's best displays.


Image credit: MSI Gaming

The first display being used at BlizzCon is MSI's G253PF, offering a Rapid IPS panel with a 360Hz refresh rate. Needless to say, this is the monitor Overwatch 2 teams will be using during the Overwatch World Cup Finals, which takes place at BlizzCon. The second monitor that regular attendees are more likely to see up close is the MSI Optix G273, a 1080p/165Hz monitor also aimed at esports/competitive gaming. These will be found at every hall throughout the convention.

At the MSI booth in the Overwatch 2 Hall, you'll also get to see MSI's full line-up of gaming monitors, from 4K and Ultrawide to QHD and QD-OLED monitors.

BlizzCon takes place from November 3rd to November 4th. The Overwatch Finals will be viewable via livestreams, as will all the major keynotes with game updates and new announcements.

KitGuru Says: Will you be watching the BlizzCon news next week or even attending the event in person?

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Warcraft Rumble launches in November https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/warcraft-rumble-launches-in-november/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/warcraft-rumble-launches-in-november/#respond Wed, 04 Oct 2023 15:00:12 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=632941 Last Summer, Blizzard announced its first Warcraft mobile game, Warcraft Arclight Rumble. Things have been quiet since then but the game is now back, now known as simply Warcraft Rumble, and it will be available soon.  Almost a year and a half on from the game's original announcement, Blizzard has confirmed plans to launch Warcraft …

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Last Summer, Blizzard announced its first Warcraft mobile game, Warcraft Arclight Rumble. Things have been quiet since then but the game is now back, now known as simply Warcraft Rumble, and it will be available soon. 

Almost a year and a half on from the game's original announcement, Blizzard has confirmed plans to launch Warcraft Rumble on the 3rd of November for both iOS and Android devices.

Warcraft Rumble is a strategy action game, where players will build small armies using miniature versions of Warcraft units. These armies will be headed by a ‘leader' character, and you'll be able to collect new leaders and units as you progress through the game. There will be both multiplayer and a 70-mission long single-player campaign.

The game goes live the same day that BlizzCon kicks off, so we can expect a few more Blizzard announcements before the year is done.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: I'll give this a go when it drops but I don't have much hope that the game won't heavily favour microtransaction spending. Given the launch timing, there may be bonuses tied to the game for BlizzCon attendees or stream watchers too. 

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BlizzCon will return this November https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/blizzcon-will-return-this-november/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/blizzcon-will-return-this-november/#respond Thu, 18 May 2023 09:00:43 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=615293 Blizzard hasn't had a chance to host a physical BlizzCon event since 2019. Back then, both Diablo 4 and Overwatch 2 were announced and now in 2023, both of those games are set to release. Blizzard will have more to show and announce later in the year though, as the company has announced plans for …

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Blizzard hasn't had a chance to host a physical BlizzCon event since 2019. Back then, both Diablo 4 and Overwatch 2 were announced and now in 2023, both of those games are set to release. Blizzard will have more to show and announce later in the year though, as the company has announced plans for BlizzCon to return in November. 

BlizzCon will be returning to its usual home at the Anaheim Convention Center in California on the 3rd of November. Speaking on the announcement, Blizzard said: “Our players are at the heart of what makes BlizzCon great–a place where games are the common ground for connection and friendship. Whether you’re coming to hang out with friends you only ever get to see online, celebrating epic moments in the games we love, exploring what’s on offer in the convention centre halls, or eager to learn what’s next for our universes,  BlizzCon is being created for you.”

Blizzard has a number of projects on the go internally. We could potentially get a teaser for the company's upcoming untitled survival game, or perhaps another secret new IP. It is also likely that we hear a bit more about what's next for WoW, as we'll be a year removed from the launch of the MMO's last expansion, Dragonflight.

BlizzCon used to be a highly celebrated event but it was caught in a ton of controversy in recent years due to sexual harassment allegations at Blizzard, with some of those instances taking place at the annual BlizzCon event. Hopefully, Blizzard has cleaned up its act since then.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: This will be the first in-person BlizzCon in four years, so hopefully Blizzard has something special planned for the occasion. 

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BlizzCon set to return in 2023 https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/blizzcon-set-to-return-in-2023/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/blizzcon-set-to-return-in-2023/#respond Thu, 07 Jul 2022 13:53:41 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=567259 BlizzCon has been cancelled for the last few years, but there are plans to finally bring the event back. According to Blizzard head, Mike Ybarra, there are plans to host the event once again in 2023.  During a recent interview with the LA Times, Ybarra confirmed that recently hired BlizzCon lead, April McKee, is currently …

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BlizzCon has been cancelled for the last few years, but there are plans to finally bring the event back. According to Blizzard head, Mike Ybarra, there are plans to host the event once again in 2023. 

During a recent interview with the LA Times, Ybarra confirmed that recently hired BlizzCon lead, April McKee, is currently tasked with planning the event for 2023. This will be the first in-person BlizzCon event since 2019, and it will also be the first since a string of controversies, including lawsuits levied against Activision Blizzard, employee walkouts and unionisation efforts to fight for better working conditions.

If BlizzCon does take place in 2023, it may also be the first one to take place under new ownership, as Microsoft is poised to acquire Activision Blizzard in the first half of next year.

Currently, we know about two major releases Blizzard has planned for next year – Diablo IV and Overwatch 2's full release. Aside from that, Blizzard has a couple of new IP in the works, including a new survival game, so there's plenty of potential for major announcements.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: 2023 is shaping up to be a big year for Blizzard, with a potential ownership change looming and multiple major releases planned. 

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KitGuru Games: Diablo Immortal is great… until Blizzard asks you for $100,000 https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/kitguru-games-diablo-immortal-is-great-until-blizzard-asks-you-for-100000/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/kitguru-games-diablo-immortal-is-great-until-blizzard-asks-you-for-100000/#respond Thu, 09 Jun 2022 11:00:04 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=563116 Four years on from its infamous reveal, Diablo Immortal is officially out on both mobile and PC. Initially, there was a flurry of positivity around the game's launch, but once players began getting more familiar with the store and hitting end-game, major issues became apparent. Want a fully maxed out character? That'll be $100,000 please.

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Blizzard first announced Diablo Immortal at BlizzCon 2018 and as many of you will remember, the announcement was not received well. After playtests, some positive impressions of the game began to surface and ultimately, Blizzard decided to release the game across mobile and PC this month. To my surprise, I was having a lot of fun running through the campaign and the game didn't seem hampered by the jump to mobile at all. Unfortunately, things quickly go down hill once you reach end-game content. Remember the Diablo 3 Auction House? Immortal's end-game gear system has somehow managed to be much, much worse than that. 

Let's start with the good – I actually like Diablo Immortal. I've spent about 12 hours playing the game over the last few days on my iPad with an Xbox controller, as well as on my iPhone using touch-screen controls. The game runs at a perfect 60FPS – it looks and feels like Diablo, and I've been having a blast levelling up my Monk and grinding the main campaign, bounties and Rifts.

The game starts off fast-paced, levelling up to 30 doesn't take that long, but after that, you will notice that your progress slows and you'll need to do more grinding between major campaign missions, just like most MMOs and online RPGs. Currently, my Monk is level 40 and I noticed myself needing to grind at around level 32. Grinding in this case means doing all eight daily bounties and several Rift runs. I have also begun levelling up a Wizard and I'll probably end up doing a Demon Hunter or Necromancer run in the future too.

I didn't go into Diablo Immortal expecting much, but I was surprised to find that the game wasn't held back by being on mobile. There are lots of enemies on screen, plenty of visual effects and the frame rate is steady. It just felt good to be playing new Diablo content after all these years and the touch controls are surprisingly good too. If you hate touch controls, you can hook up a controller instead, and the game plays equally well that way too. Alternatively, you can install the game on PC and play with a keyboard and mouse. I have not tried the PC version yet, which I think is a testament to how good the mobile version looks and how well it runs.

So Diablo Immortal offers a decent campaign with no time gates or progression blockers – what's the catch? Well the first negative point is that you will get a ‘special bundle' advertisement the first time you clear each major dungeon. However, the game is currently set up in such a way that you don't need to engage with these microtransactions at all while levelling. You are going to be powerful enough just playing the content normally. The real issue kicks in once you hit max-level, and you want to start min-maxing your build to become as powerful as possible.

In traditional Diablo games, you reach the level cap, and then you grind activities at harder difficulties to obtain more powerful gear and upgrades. These legendary items and gems are rare and a lot of players enjoy running end-game Diablo content in search of gear that will perfect their build and enable them to climb the leaderboards.

In Diablo Immortal, you are capped to 1-star or 2-star gems while running Rifts. To get a chance at 3 to 5-star rated gear, the best gear in the game, you will need to purchase Legendary Crests from the store. You will get a couple of free crests as part of the free-tier Battle Pass in the game, (yes there is one of those too), but after that, you'll need to buy crests and if you are really determined to get the best gear in the game, it is going to be very costly.

In Diablo Immortal, you purchase legendary crests from the shop using premium currency that you can't earn in-game. You then apply those crests to a Rift before entering and that will enable the chance at higher-tier loot drops once you complete the level. The drop rates are as follows:

  • 1 star capped – 75%
  • 2 star capped – 20%
  • 2/5 star – 3.75%
  • 3/5 star – 1%
  • 4/5 star – 0.20%
  • 5/5 star – 0.05%

As you can see, even after buying expensive crests, your chances of obtaining the gear you really want are incredibly slim. Like other gacha systems, there is a pity timer in place. If you use 50 legendary crests without getting a single 5-star drop, the next time you apply one, you will get a guaranteed drop. The most expensive premium currency pack in the game costs £89.99 and that will only get you 45 legendary crests.

It is an incredibly greedy system that manages to out-do other infamous gacha games, like Genshin Impact, or Arknights. By some calculations, creating a full 5-star gear build in Diablo Immortal will cost you over $100,000, which is absolutely insane.

When Blizzard removed the auction house from Diablo 3, it did so specifically because its existence compromised the game, particularly end-game content. Now a decade later, Blizzard has run into the same problem and somehow made it much, much worse. Not only are the drop rates abysmal, but the system in place also ensures that you have to spend money. There is no way to be a free player and save up on in-game earnables to eventually unlock a piece of gear you would typically have to pay for – at least, not without major lottery-winning luck on your side. Once you finish the campaign, the façade is completely dropped and Diablo Immortal devolves into nothing more than a net to catch whales.

Ultimately, this is a free to play game and you do get a lot of good content for free. If you don't care about min-maxing your build or obtaining the best gear possible, then you will have a fun time just running through the campaign. When you consider that there are six classes for you to play, you'll get a lot of playtime here without ever needing to spend a penny. However, I think it is clear that Diablo Immortal's end-game experience needs to be reworked to be more rewarding to the average player, rather than exclusively catering to those with big pockets. As it stands, Diablo Immortal is indeed a ‘pay to win' game.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Have many of you played Diablo Immortal over the weekend? Did you play it on PC or mobile? 

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Blizzard will reveal the next World of Warcraft expansion in April https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/blizzard-will-reveal-the-next-world-of-warcraft-expansion-next-month/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/blizzard-will-reveal-the-next-world-of-warcraft-expansion-next-month/#respond Tue, 08 Mar 2022 12:00:28 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=553037 There is no Blizzcon taking place this year, but Blizzard does have announcements for 2022. This week, the studio shared a roadmap of upcoming announcements, including the next World of Warcraft expansion, which will be revealed in April.  The announcements will begin on the 15th of March, when the next expansion for Hearthstone will be …

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There is no Blizzcon taking place this year, but Blizzard does have announcements for 2022. This week, the studio shared a roadmap of upcoming announcements, including the next World of Warcraft expansion, which will be revealed in April. 

The announcements will begin on the 15th of March, when the next expansion for Hearthstone will be announced. As you would expect, this will include a new round of themed cards for competitive play. Then, on the 19th of March, the WoW Arena World Championship tournament will begin.

That brings us up to April 19th, at which point, Blizzard will unveil the next major expansion for World of Warcraft. Then, Blizzard will officially announce its Warcraft mobile game in May – a title that has been in the works for several years already at this point. Following the poor reception to Diablo Immortal's reveal, Blizzard has been sitting on this one for a while. This time around, Blizzard will be announcing content for its core audience first, followed by a mobile game announcement, which should help a little with the initial reaction to the announcement.

Blizzard hasn't revealed anything further, but we do know that Diablo 4 and Overwatch 2 are no longer due to release this year, so there may not be many big reveals left for Blizzard this year.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: The WoW player base has been on the decline over the past year, but there is always a big resurgence around a big expansion launch. Will you be returning for the next WoW expansion, or will you be sitting this one out? 

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Blizzard delays Overwatch 2 and Diablo 4 https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/blizzard-delays-overwatch-2-and-diablo-4/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/blizzard-delays-overwatch-2-and-diablo-4/#respond Wed, 03 Nov 2021 08:22:02 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=538341 It would appear that you can publicly delay games that do not yet have release dates announced. This week in a somewhat odd move, Blizzard announced that both Overwatch 2 and Diablo 4 are delayed, despite neither title having an official release date. 

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It would appear that you can publicly delay games that do not yet have release dates announced. This week in a somewhat odd move, Blizzard announced that both Overwatch 2 and Diablo 4 are delayed, despite neither title having an official release date. 

The delay announcement makes a bit more sense in the case of Overwatch 2, as Overwatch League executives jumped the gun earlier this year and unveiled that the esports league would be moving over to the new game during next year's season. This would have put Overwatch 2's release date somewhere around Summer 2022. As for Diablo 4, that game's release date is still anyone's guess, but it didn't seem to be expected in 2022.

In the announcement, Blizzard confirmed that Diablo 4 and Overwatch 2 are getting “a later launch than originally envisaged”, with neither game planned to release in 2022. With that said, the company claims that both teams have made “great strides towards completion” and have “passed important milestones”.

Now, both games will have more development time, which will be used in part to ensure a better slate of post-launch content. It is also worth noting that both Overwatch 2 and Diablo 4 recently went through big changes, with the directors on both projects being replaced.

KitGuru Says: Overwatch 2 and Diablo 4 are still quite far off from release. With this announcement, and the recent lawsuit controversy, it makes sense why Blizzcon has been cancelled for the foreseeable future. 

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BlizzCon cancelled as Blizzard looks to ‘reimagine’ its event https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/blizzcon-cancelled-as-blizzard-looks-to-reimagine-its-event/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/blizzcon-cancelled-as-blizzard-looks-to-reimagine-its-event/#respond Wed, 27 Oct 2021 14:00:26 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=537504 Blizzard was planning on holding another BlizzCon in a few months time, but as you've surely heard, the studio is going through some rough times at the moment. Employee protests, lawsuits, leadership changes and harassment issues have dominated the Blizzard news cycle over the summer, so the team will be holding off on its big …

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Blizzard was planning on holding another BlizzCon in a few months time, but as you've surely heard, the studio is going through some rough times at the moment. Employee protests, lawsuits, leadership changes and harassment issues have dominated the Blizzard news cycle over the summer, so the team will be holding off on its big event plans for the time being.

Normally, BlizzCon is held in November each year, but due to the pandemic last year, the physical event was cancelled and replaced by BlizzCon Online in early 2021. Another BlizzCon was in the planning stages for early 2022 but the event has been scrapped again to give the studio time to “reimagine” BlizzCon for future years.

“We’ve decided to take a step back and pause on planning the previously announced BlizzConline event scheduled for early next year. This was a tough decision for all of us to make, but it’s the right one”, Blizzard says. “We would also like to take the time to reimagine what a BlizzCon event of the future could look like.”

“Whatever the event looks like in the future, we also need to ensure that it feels as safe, welcoming, and inclusive as possible. We’re committed to continual communication with our players, and we see BlizzCon playing a big role in that going forward. We’re excited about what we’ll do with the event when we revisit it in the future.”

Blizzard signs off by confirming that there will not be a BlizzConline in February, so we'll be waiting a bit longer for any big news around Overwatch 2, Diablo 4 and other major projects.

KitGuru Says: Given everything going on at Blizzard right now, it makes sense to stay out of the spotlight and focus on fixing things internally and supporting development teams. Perhaps we'll see BlizzCon return in 2023. 

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Two more classics added to the Blizzard Arcade Collection https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/two-more-classics-added-to-the-blizzard-arcade-collection/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/two-more-classics-added-to-the-blizzard-arcade-collection/#respond Wed, 14 Apr 2021 14:01:07 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=511763 Back in February, during BlizzCon 2021, Blizzard shadow-dropped the Blizzard Arcade Collection, packaging together three classic Blizzard titles from the 90s. Blizzard is now expanding the collection, adding another two games. The Blizzard Arcade Collection began with three games, the first of which is The Lost Vikings, a puzzle platformer that Blizzard released under the …

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Back in February, during BlizzCon 2021, Blizzard shadow-dropped the Blizzard Arcade Collection, packaging together three classic Blizzard titles from the 90s. Blizzard is now expanding the collection, adding another two games.

The Blizzard Arcade Collection began with three games, the first of which is The Lost Vikings, a puzzle platformer that Blizzard released under the name ‘Silicon & Synapse’ back in 1993. The next game in the collection is Rock N’ Roll Racing, a 1993 SNES game that combines racing with licensed rock music from the likes of Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and other artists. The third game was Blackthorne, a side-scrolling platformer that released for the SNES and DOS back in 1994.

Now, Blizzard is adding another two games to the collection, the first being RPM Racing, which was a prequel to Rock N' Roll Racing and The Lost Vikings 2. Blizzard has also added a “streamer mode” for Rock N' Roll Racing to avoid licensed music causing issues for livestreamers.

Both games are available in an update to the Blizzard Arcade Collection rolling out today on PC and consoles. There is no word on whether or not Blizzard will be digging out some other oldies to add in the future.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: It is always interesting to go back and see where things started for giant developers like Blizzard. Do any of you already own the Arcade Collection, or are you thinking about picking it up?

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Diablo IV includes return of the Rogue class https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/diablo-iv-includes-return-of-the-rogue-class/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/diablo-iv-includes-return-of-the-rogue-class/#respond Sat, 20 Feb 2021 11:00:46 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=505138 We were all awaiting new Diablo IV news at BlizzCon this weekend. Last night during the event's big opening ceremony, we got our latest look at the game, this time with a trailer focusing on the Rogue class.  The Rogue is returning for Diablo IV, after not appearing in a Diablo game since the original. …

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We were all awaiting new Diablo IV news at BlizzCon this weekend. Last night during the event's big opening ceremony, we got our latest look at the game, this time with a trailer focusing on the Rogue class. 

The Rogue is returning for Diablo IV, after not appearing in a Diablo game since the original. The Rogue will be one of the first classes available in Diablo 4, joining previously announced classes: Barbarian, Sorceress and Druid.

The Rogue class won't be exactly the same as we remember. Long-range combat will be one build option, but you can also set up the Rogue to play more like the Assassin class from Diablo 2 with more close-ranged combat abilities.

Stealth abilities, temporary invulnerability and damage buffs are all also possible with the Rogue class. In Diablo IV, we can expect class-specific quests too. For the Rogue, players will be able to choose between different factions of Rogues and work with them on missions throughout Sanctuary.

You can get a good look at the class and its different abilities in the trailer. Diablo IV does not have a release date yet, but it won't be coming out this year. Instead, we'll be getting Diablo 2: Resurrected in 2021 to help ease the wait for Diablo IV's eventual debut.

KitGuru Says: Are many of you looking forward to Diablo IV? Are you satisfied with what was announced at BlizzCon, or were you hoping to see a bit more of the game? 

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Blizzard announces WoW: Burning Crusade Classic https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/blizzard-announces-wow-burning-crusade-classic/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/blizzard-announces-wow-burning-crusade-classic/#respond Sat, 20 Feb 2021 10:00:24 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=505135 There were a number of leaks ahead of BlizzCon's big announcement stream last night, one of which was The Burning Crusade expansion for WoW Classic. As expected, Blizzard officially announced the new update last night, which will be available later this year.  Burning Crusade Classic is a new set of servers for WoW Classic that …

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There were a number of leaks ahead of BlizzCon's big announcement stream last night, one of which was The Burning Crusade expansion for WoW Classic. As expected, Blizzard officially announced the new update last night, which will be available later this year. 

Burning Crusade Classic is a new set of servers for WoW Classic that will allow players to progress beyond level 60 and explore the apocalyptic Outlands. The expansion is going to be released exactly how it was in 2007:

Back in the day, Blizzard had to nerf bosses in The Burning Crusade. When the expansion returns to WoW Classic later this year, it will be a pre-nerf version of the game, so some dungeons and raids will be harder than players may remember. According to Blizzard, the majority of WoW players are much more skilled at the game nowadays, so they should be able to handle bosses at their originally intended difficulty.

A specific release date for Burning Crusade Classic has not been announced but it will be available later this year, with beta testing due to begin soon.

KitGuru Says: Are any of you still playing WoW Classic? Will you be upgrading to Burning Crusade Classic once it comes out? Or are you going to stick to vanilla servers? 

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Blizzard announces Diablo 2: Resurrected https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/blizzard-announces-diablo-2-resurrected/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/blizzard-announces-diablo-2-resurrected/#respond Sat, 20 Feb 2021 09:00:52 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=505132 BlizzCon Online officially kicked off late last night and as previously rumoured, we did indeed get announcement for Diablo 2: Resurrected, a remaster of the fan-favourite ARPG for PC and consoles.  Diablo 2: Resurrected will be releasing for PC, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4 and Nintendo Switch later this year. A final release …

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BlizzCon Online officially kicked off late last night and as previously rumoured, we did indeed get announcement for Diablo 2: Resurrected, a remaster of the fan-favourite ARPG for PC and consoles. 

Diablo 2: Resurrected will be releasing for PC, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4 and Nintendo Switch later this year. A final release date has not been announced, but we do know that there will be a technical alpha test, which you can sign up to take part in HERE.

The remaster takes the original 2D sprite-based graphics and upgrades it to full 3D physically based rendering. Other graphical improvements include dynamic lighting, revamped animations and spell effects and support for 4K resolution.

Vicarious Visions, which recently became a Blizzard studio, is working on Diablo 2: Resurrected. The idea is to overhaul the graphics without making major changes to gameplay, ensuring long-time fans are returning to the game they remember, just with a modern coat of paint.

KitGuru Says: Hopefully we'll get a more specific release date in the next few months. Are any of you looking forward to Diablo 2: Resurrected? 

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Diablo 4 and Overwatch 2 will be part of BlizzCon Online https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/diablo-4-and-overwatch-2-will-be-part-of-blizzcon-online/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/diablo-4-and-overwatch-2-will-be-part-of-blizzcon-online/#respond Thu, 11 Feb 2021 15:20:54 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=504286 We learned via an earnings call earlier this week that Blizzard won't be releasing Diablo 4 or Overwatch 2 this year. However, we will be seeing both games in action at BlizzCon, which takes place later this month.  The BlizzCon Online schedule went live last night, so we know what to expect in terms of …

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We learned via an earnings call earlier this week that Blizzard won't be releasing Diablo 4 or Overwatch 2 this year. However, we will be seeing both games in action at BlizzCon, which takes place later this month. 

The BlizzCon Online schedule went live last night, so we know what to expect in terms of livestreams. The event will be taking place on February 19th across six streaming channels – one for each major segment of Blizzard's library. Diablo, Overwatch, WoW and Hearthstone get their own individual streams, while a separate ‘strategy' team will cover Warcraft and StarCraft.

There are two streams specifically mentioning Diablo and Overwatch 2. The first is Diablo: What's Next, during which we should find out more about Diablo 4. Then, there is a Behind the Scenes stream for Overwatch 2 development.

We are expecting to see new gameplay from both games, with extra bits of information coming from various panels over the course of both streaming days. BlizzCon Online takes place from February 19th – 20th 2021.

KitGuru Says: Are any of you planning on tuning into BlizzCon this month? 

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We’re getting a ‘chunky’ update on Diablo 4 at Blizzcon 2021 https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/were-getting-a-chunky-update-on-diablo-4-at-blizzcon-2021/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/were-getting-a-chunky-update-on-diablo-4-at-blizzcon-2021/#respond Thu, 17 Dec 2020 13:16:13 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=498439 After announcing Diablo 4 in 2019, Blizzard has been slowly revealing more details about the game, breaking down some of the ideas being put in place to shake up the Diablo formula. Excitingly, we won't have to wait long for the next piece of big news, as Blizzard has begun teasing for Blizzcon.  Blizzcon 2021 …

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After announcing Diablo 4 in 2019, Blizzard has been slowly revealing more details about the game, breaking down some of the ideas being put in place to shake up the Diablo formula. Excitingly, we won't have to wait long for the next piece of big news, as Blizzard has begun teasing for Blizzcon. 

Blizzcon 2021 is taking place in February as an online only event due to COVID-19. Writing in the latest development blog for Diablo 4, the studio said: “Our next update will take place during BlizzConline, rather than in blog form. We’ve read speculation about what it could be and want to ensure you that it is something chunky indeed.”

The post also goes on to tease that we'll be seeing a new version of the campfire scene shown at the previous Blizzcon. Rumour has it, we'll be seeing a new class unveiled too.

At this point in time, Diablo 4 does not have a release date, or even a release window. However, Blizzard does seem to be making good progress on Diablo 4, so perhaps we'll hear something on that at Blizzcon too.

KitGuru Says: Diablo is one of my favourite game franchises of all time, so I'm definitely looking forward to seeing more Diablo 4 at Blizzcon next year. Will many of you be tuning into BlizzCon Online in early 2021? What are you hoping to see from Diablo 4?

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Blizzcon Online coming February 2021 https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/blizzcon-online-coming-february-2021/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/blizzcon-online-coming-february-2021/#respond Mon, 21 Sep 2020 17:20:40 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=486719 As we learned back in May, Blizzard will not be hosting a BlizzCon this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It didn’t take long for Blizzard to confirm an online, digital alternative event though, which has now has a date set. In August during Blizzard’s quarterly earnings call with investors, Blizzard President, J. Allen Brack, …

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As we learned back in May, Blizzard will not be hosting a BlizzCon this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It didn’t take long for Blizzard to confirm an online, digital alternative event though, which has now has a date set.

In August during Blizzard’s quarterly earnings call with investors, Blizzard President, J. Allen Brack, gave a fairly narrow timeframe of ‘early 2021’ for online Blizzcon. Today, that date was narrowed down, with the event set to take place on February 19th to February 20th.

There is still a lot to learn here, as no schedule has been announced. Once news on panels starts to come through, we’ll have a better idea of what to expect from the event. Last year brought us the announcements of Diablo 4 and Overwatch 2, but it might be too early for any major updates on those projects.

At any rate, announcements are coming, as Brack previously stated that he is “looking forward to sharing what the teams have been working on”, indicating progress across multiple franchises.

We can expect news on scheduling and potential ‘virtual ticket’ pricing soon, hopefully before the end of 2020.

KitGuru Says: Do many of you regularly tune into Blizzcon? Are you hoping to see anything in particular announced in February?

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Blizzard will hold a digital Blizzcon in early 2021 https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/blizzard-will-hold-a-digital-blizzcon-in-early-2021/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/blizzard-will-hold-a-digital-blizzcon-in-early-2021/#respond Wed, 05 Aug 2020 13:30:51 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=480384 As we learned back in May, Blizzard will not be hosting a BlizzCon this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, event organisers said that an online alternative was being explored and now, it looks like those plans have been finalised, with a digital BlizzCon set for early 2021.  This announcement was made …

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As we learned back in May, Blizzard will not be hosting a BlizzCon this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, event organisers said that an online alternative was being explored and now, it looks like those plans have been finalised, with a digital BlizzCon set for early 2021. 

This announcement was made during Blizzard's quarterly earnings call with investors. During the call, Blizzard President, J. Allen Brack, also gave a fairly narrow timeframe, revealing that this new form of Blizzcon would happen “in the early part of 2021”.

The last couple of Blizzcon events haven't been hugely crowd-pleasing, although things picked up a bit last year with the long overdue announcement of Diablo 4 and the very confusing unveiling of Overwatch 2.

We don't know what's in store for Blizzcon in early 2021, but Brack said the studio is “looking forward to sharing what the teams have been working on”.

KitGuru Says: I'll be hoping for some more information on Diablo 4, although I do worry that progress on the game may have been impacted by the pandemic this year. Is there anything you would like to see at the next Blizzcon?

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BlizzCon 2020 has been cancelled https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/mustafa-mahmoud/blizzcon-2020-has-been-cancelled-2/ https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/mustafa-mahmoud/blizzcon-2020-has-been-cancelled-2/#respond Wed, 27 May 2020 10:15:14 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=469267 With the effects of COVID-19 nearly all conventions and expos have had to adapt to the circumstances, be it by delaying proceedings, utilising an online format, or simply being outright cancelled. It seems as though Blizzard has opted to go with the latter in the case of its annual fan convention. In an update on …

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With the effects of COVID-19 nearly all conventions and expos have had to adapt to the circumstances, be it by delaying proceedings, utilising an online format, or simply being outright cancelled. It seems as though Blizzard has opted to go with the latter in the case of its annual fan convention. In an update on its website, Blizzard has announced that BlizzCon 2020 has been cancelled – though some form of online alternative may take place early next year.

In an announcement by Saralyn Smith, the Executive Producer of BlizzCon stated that “we’ve had many discussions about what holding a convention could look like in light of all the health and safety considerations we’d want to make. We’ve also talked about different paths we could take, and how each one could be complicated by fluctuations in national and local health guidelines in the months ahead.”

In the wake of these discussions, Blizzard ultimately came “to the very difficult decision to not have BlizzCon this year”. Despite there being no BlizzCon in 2020, fans won’t have to wait a further 12 months, as the company is currently “talking about how we might be able to channel the BlizzCon spirit and connect with you in some way online, far less impacted by the state of health and safety protocols for mass in-person gatherings. We’d want to do this as soon as we could, but given that this is new-ish territory and the different factors involved, it will most likely be sometime early next year.”

BlizzCon saw roughly 40,000 attendees in 2018, and so it makes sense that it would be nearly impossible to host a gathering that large while maintaining social distancing. Still, it is somewhat disappointing to see that a digital replacement won’t be possible in time for the convention’s traditional timeslot of early November. Of course, it is entirely understandable as to why the event was cancelled. Hopefully this means that when BlizzCon does return in 2021, it’ll be bigger than ever.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you disappointed to see BlizzCon cancelled? What were you hoping to see announced? When do you think Diablo 4 will release? Let us know down below.

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BlizzCon 2020 is being planned but it is too early to tell if it will be possible https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/blizzcon-2020-is-being-planned-but-it-is-too-early-to-tell-if-it-will-be-possible/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/blizzcon-2020-is-being-planned-but-it-is-too-early-to-tell-if-it-will-be-possible/#respond Fri, 10 Apr 2020 11:53:07 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=461587 Blizzard hasn't exactly had the best run of PR over the last couple of years but Blizzcon still tends to be a hugely popular event each year. Currently, Blizzard still plans to hold another Blizzcon this year, but the company also warns that it is “too early” to tell if it will need to be …

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Blizzard hasn't exactly had the best run of PR over the last couple of years but Blizzcon still tends to be a hugely popular event each year. Currently, Blizzard still plans to hold another Blizzcon this year, but the company also warns that it is “too early” to tell if it will need to be cancelled.

Due to all of the recent event cancellations taking place, Blizzard issued a statement on the status of Blizzcon this year, admitting that while it is hopeful that things will look better later in the year, the event may not be feasible.

“As so many of us have been isolated for multiple weeks now, surrounded and in some cases directly impacted by the ongoing pandemic-related challenges around the world, we’re looking forward to the time when we can see one another again in person and have something to celebrate together.”

“While we’re all hopeful things will look better later in the year, the bottom line is that at this point it’s too early to know whether BlizzCon 2020 will be feasible.”

Prior to the COVID-19 situation escalating across the world, Blizzard had been “actively working to finalise” plans for an event this year and that planning is still on-going remotely. More updates will be shared in the months to come in an effort to keep fans in the loop.

KitGuru Says: With Overwatch 2, Diablo IV and a new WoW expansion on the way, Blizzcon 2020 should be interesting, if it is able to go ahead that is. We could potentially see a shift to a digital-only format though if a physical event can't be held, after all, Blizzcon virtual tickets do tend to be popular too. 

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Blizzard’s Jeff Kaplan says leaks are ‘extremely demoralising’ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/blizzards-jeff-kaplan-says-leaks-are-extremely-demoralising/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/blizzards-jeff-kaplan-says-leaks-are-extremely-demoralising/#respond Tue, 05 Nov 2019 10:00:06 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=434389 Blizzcon came and went over the weekend with three major announcements- Diablo IV, Overwatch 2 and a new WoW expansion. Of course, most details around Overwatch 2 leaked in the week or so prior to the event, so the big reveal wasn’t a huge surprise. Since then, Overwatch director, Jeff Kaplan, has expressed his feelings …

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Blizzcon came and went over the weekend with three major announcements- Diablo IV, Overwatch 2 and a new WoW expansion. Of course, most details around Overwatch 2 leaked in the week or so prior to the event, so the big reveal wasn’t a huge surprise. Since then, Overwatch director, Jeff Kaplan, has expressed his feelings about leaks, labelling them as extremely demoralising.

Video game leaks aren’t exactly rare. Sometimes, the wrong person gets access to some internal documents and other times, people working on the project want to anonymously speak out about it before official announcements are made. While we are usually quick to get excited about leaked details, it is a different experience for those behind the scenes working away on crafting a good first-showing for a game.

Speaking with Kotaku Australia this week, Kaplan acknowledged the leaks for Overwatch 2, explaining that while they are sometimes unavoidable, these leaks can take a toll on the folks behind the scenes: “Leaks are very interesting in that they have more of a morale impact on the team than anything else. It’s extremely demoralising. You feel totally deflated”.

Leaks can help build up some early hype for a new announcement for sure, but some of the details can cause confusion, or give the wrong impression of a game without the context of the full announcement. Kaplan says that this is the part that bothers developers the most.

There is some solace to be found though, as Kaplan says, a lot of people have brought up The Burning Crusade when discussing the Overwatch 2 leaks. The second expansion for WoW is largely remembered as one of the best but the project was leaked in a magazine a week or so before its scheduled Blizzcon announcement. While that would have been disappointing for the team at the time, ultimately the positive response to the expansion is what has stuck in the footnotes of history.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru Says: While I generally enjoy mulling over various leaks and rumours leading up to a big announcement, it can be easy to forget that a lot of developers will see the discussion around their game already forming while they are still sworn to secrecy. That must be a frustrating position to be in at times. What do you all think of Kaplan’s comments regarding leaks? Do they ruin big game announcements for you?

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All versions of Diablo IV will be online-only https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/joao-silva/all-versions-of-diablo-iv-will-be-online-only/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/joao-silva/all-versions-of-diablo-iv-will-be-online-only/#respond Mon, 04 Nov 2019 08:25:19 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=434167 At Blizzcon 2019, Blizzard announced the latest entry to the Diablo franchise, Diablo IV. During the conference, on a panel after the announcement of the game, Blizzard announced that Diablo IV won't be playable offline across all versions of the game.  At a panel after the official Diablo IV announcement on the Mythic Stage of …

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At Blizzcon 2019, Blizzard announced the latest entry to the Diablo franchise, Diablo IV. During the conference, on a panel after the announcement of the game, Blizzard announced that Diablo IV won't be playable offline across all versions of the game. 

At a panel after the official Diablo IV announcement on the Mythic Stage of Blizzcon 2019, lead designer Angela Del Priore answered a question regarding the possibility for Diablo IV to be playable solo, in offline mode. To that Del Priore said, “We are not going to support an offline mode,” but on the other hand, “nothing in Diablo 4 is going to require partying up. You can play solo and dungeons are private. Campaign quest areas will [also] remain private.”

In comparison, the previous game of the Diablo franchise, Diablo III, had an offline mode for the console versions, but the PC version was online-only as well.

The always-online aspect of Diablo IV was expected, as the latest games coming from Activision-Blizzard are too. In Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, for example, you need to be online on battle.net even if you just want to play the single player campaign.

If you want to know more about Diablo IV, you can do it HERE.

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KitGuru says: As time goes by, always-online games are becoming more common. Most mobile games already are, but playing a game offline should be something that the player, as a customer, can choose to do. Do you agree with Blizzard's decision on an always-online Diablo IV? 

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Latest Diablo IV leak details classes, darker art style, larger levels and more https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/latest-diablo-iv-leak-details-classes-darker-art-style-larger-levels-and-more/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/latest-diablo-iv-leak-details-classes-darker-art-style-larger-levels-and-more/#respond Thu, 31 Oct 2019 12:41:42 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=433398 At this point, a Diablo IV reveal is all but officially announced for Blizzcon this weekend, with several leaks indicating that Blizzard has plenty to announce in the immediate future. Now on the eve of Blizzcon, another mysterious leak has popped up, detailing Diablo IV's art style and tonal shift compared to Diablo III, in …

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At this point, a Diablo IV reveal is all but officially announced for Blizzcon this weekend, with several leaks indicating that Blizzard has plenty to announce in the immediate future. Now on the eve of Blizzcon, another mysterious leak has popped up, detailing Diablo IV's art style and tonal shift compared to Diablo III, in addition to new gameplay elements, classes and more. 

In the early days of Diablo III, the game was criticised for its overall art style changes ahead of release. The game had a brighter colour pallet compared to its predecessors, with some even labelling the art changes as cartoonish and too close to World of Warcraft's visual style. Blizzard did end up taking some of this feedback on board, re-designing dungeons to look grittier without completely overhauling the art design. With Diablo IV, getting the colour palette and tone right has seemingly been a top priority for the developers in an effort to win back Diablo II fans.

In previous leaks, we have heard that Diablo IV will have a darker tone, with early reports indicating that it will take more inspiration from Gothic horror. In a new leak on Reddit, u/PracticalBrush12 gives more details on Diablo IV. The reason we take this particular leak more seriously is due to the fact that this same user has accurately leaked release dates, gameplay details and new characters for several key games this year, including Ghost Recon Breakpoint, Pokemon Sword/Shield and Persona 5S.

This user's latest leak focuses on Diablo IV, confirming that the game is going for a ‘dark, gritty and gross' design with rotten crypts, corpses laying out in the world, clut caves surrounded by flesh, marshes/bogs, plagued towns etc. The new game will also apparently be much bigger, bordering on possibly being considered ‘open world'. Due to the larger world, players will be able to ride mounts, starting off with horses.

Three character classes are currently claimed to be in-game, including your traditional Mage and Barbarian classes, in addition to a Druid class, which will apparently utilise wind and lightning elemental attacks and have animal transformations with Bear and Werewolf being two current examples.

Player Vs Player will be featured and possibly be open to players from the start of the game. Meanwhile, four-player co-op should be available from the very start. The post ends off by adding that Blizzard is trying to recapture Diablo II fans with this game, going back to darker visuals and even bringing back old characters and abilities that were removed in Diablo III.

Unfortunately, there is no release date or release window to be shared at this time. However, previous sources have claimed that the current iteration of Diablo IV has been in development since 2016 and should be ready in the next few years. Blizzard recently scrapped other projects to provide more resources and speed up progress on Diablo and Overwatch, so perhaps the timeline has changed a bit this year.

Blizzcon kicks off tomorrow and while there is no big Diablo announcement presentation listed on the schedule for now, artists on the development team will have a panel over the weekend, presumably to show off concept designs for Diablo IV and promote the new artbook following a proper announcement on Friday evening.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: We'll know how much of this is legitimate tomorrow, with the Blizzcon opening ceremony kicking off kicking off at 6PM GMT and followed by a bunch of main stage presentations which have been left unnamed to avoid spoilers. Are any of you planning on checking in on the Blizzcon announcements this weekend?

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The latest Overwatch leak gives us a look at the game’s next hero https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/the-latest-overwatch-leak-gives-us-a-look-at-the-games-next-hero/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/the-latest-overwatch-leak-gives-us-a-look-at-the-games-next-hero/#respond Tue, 29 Oct 2019 10:50:43 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=432777 With Blizzcon just a matter of days away, leaks for new game announcements are coming at a swift rate. In the last week, we have had two Diablo 4 related leaks and another two leaks for Overwatch 2. With any leak, it is usually best to remain sceptical until official confirmations come through. That is …

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With Blizzcon just a matter of days away, leaks for new game announcements are coming at a swift rate. In the last week, we have had two Diablo 4 related leaks and another two leaks for Overwatch 2. With any leak, it is usually best to remain sceptical until official confirmations come through. That is not the case with today's Overwatch leak though, as it comes directly from Blizzard's store and seems to confirm the game's long-awaited 32nd hero. 

As a quick reminder, the first Overwatch 2 leak came from a well-sourced streamer who previously leaked announcements for Blizzcon 2018. Then, a second leak came from ESPN, with the site claiming to have obtained an internal document running over some of the key talking points for Overwatch 2. From what we know so far, the sequel to Overwatch will carry over all previous heroes and expand the game with a ‘significant' PvE mode, which will essentially act as a story mode. This new PvE portion of the game will also include “hero talents and in-game items”, with the suggestion being that you will be able to upgrade individual heroes as you go.

On the multiplayer side, Overwatch is expected to expand with a new map set in Toronto and a new game mode called ‘Push'. The final tidbit revealed in previous leaks is that a new hero character is expected to be revealed, which brings us nicely to today's leak.

Last night, the Blizzard merchandise store was updated and accidentally revealed new, never-before-seen Overwatch art, picturing several of the heroes we already know in addition to one new character. The image has since been removed from the site but not before screenshots could be taken:

If you're not super familiar with Overwatch characters, the new hero you want to look out for in the leaked image is the flying one with the blue head positioned off to the left of Mercy. The running theory is that this is Echo, the long-rumoured 32nd Overwatch hero.

Echo has been part of Overwatch lore for almost a year now, with her first appearance taking place in the animated short “Reunion”. The animated short tells us that Echo was deactivated sometime after Overwatch disbanded and was reactivated by McCree some time after Winston began calling Overwatch agents to band together again. Echo doesn't know how long she was switched off for and McCree has his own affairs to attend to, so we don't get many answers by the end of the short.

Previously, Overwatch Director, Jeff Kaplan, has said that Echo is a “very important character” who will play a “large role” in the story moving forward. With that in mind, Echo sounds like the perfect hero to kick off Overwatch 2 with its new focus on telling stories in-game.

Blizzcon kicks off on Friday the 1st of November and there are a bunch of on-stage events scheduled in on the first day that aren't yet revealed. With that in mind, we should hear more about this before the end of this week.

KitGuru Says: I have always loved the Overwatch animated shorts, so I would welcome a new game with a bigger focus on expanding and telling those stories in-game. Blizzcon isn't far off now, so all should be made clear very soon. What do you all think of the Overwatch 2 leaks so far? 

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ESPN sources give more details on Overwatch 2 https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/espn-sources-give-more-details-on-overwatch-2/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/espn-sources-give-more-details-on-overwatch-2/#respond Sun, 27 Oct 2019 18:13:39 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=432412 ESPN has been one of the biggest mainstream sports media outlets to support esports over the last few years, often covering Overwatch in particular. In the buildup to Blizzcon, ESPN has reported that they have obtained an official document for the event, which spills the beans on a few key talking points for Overwatch 2.  …

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ESPN has been one of the biggest mainstream sports media outlets to support esports over the last few years, often covering Overwatch in particular. In the buildup to Blizzcon, ESPN has reported that they have obtained an official document for the event, which spills the beans on a few key talking points for Overwatch 2. 

Overwatch 2 rumours began to pop up around the same time as Diablo 4, claiming that the new game will combine PvE content and a hero levelling system with the competitive PvP modes we’ve grown used to since the release of the first game. Now thanks to ESPN’s leak, we have more details to expand upon.

According to the new report, Overwatch 2’s PvE mode will be significant and will feature narrative focused missions, including a “four player story experience set in Rio de Janeiro”. Overwatch has previously told backstory for hero characters in animated short films and with Overwatch 2, that story telling will be transitioning over to the main game. The Overwatch 2 PvE mode will also feature “hero talents and in-game items”,

For multiplayer updates, there will be a new mode called ‘Push’, which will be showcased on a new map set in Toronto, Canada. This new mode should also come with at least one new hero character. Apparently, this mode and new map will be playable at Blizzcon, so this new content could be further along than initially anticipated.

This all lines up with previous reports earlier in the year, which stated that a new StarCraft first-person shooter had been cancelled in order for Blizzard to give more development resources to Overwatch and Diablo, so we can expect these new sequels to be getting a big push over the next year.

KitGuru Says: A proper story mode for Overwatch could be just the thing to bring me back in, although I do hope that hero introduction animated shorts continue in the future. What do you all think of the leaked Overwatch 2 details so far? 

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Blizzard devs had ‘a very honest look’ at themselves after Diablo Immortal backlash https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/blizzard-devs-had-a-very-honest-look-at-themselves-after-diablo-immortal-backlash/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/blizzard-devs-had-a-very-honest-look-at-themselves-after-diablo-immortal-backlash/#respond Thu, 03 Oct 2019 11:20:44 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=428404 Blizzcon 2018 was shaping up to be pretty solid for Blizzard with announcements for WoW Classic’s launch and Warcraft 3 Remastered lined up. Unfortunately, all of that was quickly overshadowed by the Diablo Immortal announcement. Since then, the folks at Blizzard have been doing some soul searching, with the studio’s head speaking on the reaction …

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Blizzcon 2018 was shaping up to be pretty solid for Blizzard with announcements for WoW Classic’s launch and Warcraft 3 Remastered lined up. Unfortunately, all of that was quickly overshadowed by the Diablo Immortal announcement. Since then, the folks at Blizzard have been doing some soul searching, with the studio’s head speaking on the reaction to the announcement and what should have been done differently.

Ahead of Blizzcon 2019 later this year, Gamespot had the chance to chat with Blizzard head, J Allen Brack, who said that the team “had a very honest look at ourselves” after last year’s event. The Diablo Immortal announcement was followed by plenty of talk about Blizzard losing touch with its roots and changing for the worse under increased oversight from Activision. However, according to Brack, Blizzard is still “a PC developer first” that then looks at other platforms when there seems to be a good fit.

“What I think is important for people to know is the values that have built this place and built Blizzard are still the same values”, Brack said. While specifically addressing the Diablo Immortal fiasco, he went on to explain where Blizzard went wrong: “The key thing that was lost, that we did a poor job double emphasising, is we are a PC developer first”. When it comes down to major projects, Blizzard continues to be “a PC developer first that also looks for opportunities on other platforms”.

Diablo Immortal is still going ahead and has had a number of years worth of development time spent on it at this point. Brack maintains that it will be “a Blizzard-quality game” that avoids predatory forms of monetisation. However, the folks at Blizzard also realise that the announcement did a poor job of communicating what this means for the future, particularly for Diablo on PC.

Hopefully that will change this year. We’ve known through leaks that a true Diablo 4 has been in the works for years but has undergone some significant changes along the way. Perhaps at BlizzCon this year we’ll finally get to see it. Rumour has it that the first trailer was originally supposed to debut at last year’s event, which may have something to do with the messy way that Immortal was presented to the world without any accompanying news for the core Diablo audience.

KitGuru Says: Diablo Immortal didn’t stand a chance of being well received last year as the only new game for the series. However, I think the narrative might have been different if a core-focused Diablo title was also announced. Hopefully some lessons have been learned, which should help make BlizzCon 2019 a bit more exciting.

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Blizzard is skipping Gamescom this year but Blizzcon 2019 will go ahead https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/blizzard-is-skipping-gamescom-this-year-but-blizzcon-2019-will-go-ahead/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/blizzard-is-skipping-gamescom-this-year-but-blizzcon-2019-will-go-ahead/#respond Thu, 02 May 2019 15:38:00 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=412344 Amidst all of the drama that Blizzard has gone through in the last 9 months or so, the studio has maintained that its goal going forward is to double down on game development for current and future projects. In order to avoid distractions towards the end of the Summer, Blizzard will not be attending Gamescom …

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Amidst all of the drama that Blizzard has gone through in the last 9 months or so, the studio has maintained that its goal going forward is to double down on game development for current and future projects. In order to avoid distractions towards the end of the Summer, Blizzard will not be attending Gamescom in 2019.

Blizzard skipping out on Gamescom is a bigger deal than it sounds. The event pulls in hundreds of thousands of European gamers who don't get the opportunity to attend E3, PAX or Blizzcon. While there won't be an appearance this year, Blizzard hasn't ruled out a return to Cologne in the future.

“As part of a renewed effort this year to maintain our focus on development, for our current games and our future projects, we won’t have a booth at gamescom 2019”, Blizzard's statement reads. “The show is an important one for the European and global gaming community, and we’re going to miss meeting players in Cologne this year. You’ll still be able to find Blizzard gear in the gamescom 2019 shop area, and we’re looking forward to returning to the gamescom show floor in the future. We’re also looking forward to sharing more details about the projects we’re currently working on when the time is right.”

Right now, Blizzard is working on World of Warcraft: Classic, Diablo Immortal and future Overwatch content. Diablo 4 has yet to be announced but it is in development according to various sources. Beyond that, there could be other unannounced projects in the works at Blizzard. While Gamescom won't be a priority this year, Blizzcon 2019 is happening, with dates set for late October.

KitGuru Says: 2018 and early 2019 were rough for Blizzard thanks to layoffs and mobile game drama. Hopefully by the end of this year, we'll have a more positive outlook on the studio once again. 

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Blizzard claims there were ‘no plans’ to announce Diablo 4 at Blizzcon despite what sources say https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/blizzard-claims-there-were-no-plans-to-announce-diablo-4-at-blizzcon-despite-what-sources-say/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/blizzard-claims-there-were-no-plans-to-announce-diablo-4-at-blizzcon-despite-what-sources-say/#respond Tue, 06 Nov 2018 09:58:02 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=393798 Blizzard landed itself in a bad situation over the weekend after choosing to close out its Blizzcon mainstage announcements with Diablo Immortal, a mobile spin-off. At the time, fans of Diablo have been left scratching their heads wondering why they didn't at least acknowledge Diablo 4. According to sources, acknowledging Diablo 4 was actually part …

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Blizzard landed itself in a bad situation over the weekend after choosing to close out its Blizzcon mainstage announcements with Diablo Immortal, a mobile spin-off. At the time, fans of Diablo have been left scratching their heads wondering why they didn't at least acknowledge Diablo 4. According to sources, acknowledging Diablo 4 was actually part of the original plan to close out the conference.

Speaking with Kotaku, two separate sources said that at one point, Blizzard planned to have co-founder, Allen Adham, record a short video for Diablo fans touching on the next mainline game in the series. Those sources also said that Diablo 4 is currently in development, although the team isn't “ready to commit to an announcement” as the game has gone through many big changes over the last four years. In particular, the Diablo 4 team has gone through two different iterations under different directors.

Initially, the report eluded to the fact that the announcement may have been pulled a few weeks before Blizzcon, around the same time that Blizzard's blog post went up, telling fans not to expect Diablo 4.

While Kotaku usually gets solid information from its sources, Blizzard has come out to deny claims that Diablo 4 was initially set to be announced at Blizzcon. In a statement, the studio said: “First off we want to mention that we definitely hear our community. We generally don’t comment on rumors or speculation, but we can say that we didn’t pull any announcements from BlizzCon this year or have plans for other announcements. We do continue to have different teams working on multiple unannounced Diablo projects, and we look forward to announcing when the time is right.”

Blizzard has been attempting damage control since the Diablo Immortal announcement hit the web, so at this point, it is difficult to lean one way or the other. Looking at the timeline of events, earlier this year Blizzard did seem to be building up to a bigger blowout for Diablo, which was abruptly halted as fan expectations began to climb.

KitGuru Says: If the Diablo 4 announcement was in fact pulled just a few weeks before Blizzcon, then I imagine there are some development issues going on. Still, taking a leaf out of Bethesda's book surely would have helped here. If Bethesda had ended E3 with TES: Blades instead of quick title reveals for Starfield and TES: VI, then I imagine we would have seen backlash in a similar fashion. 

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