Bad news for Blizzard gaming fans! Cinemablend reports that Blizzard has announced that they will not be holding a BlizzCon in 2012. The news appeared in an announcement about the 2012 Battle.net World Championship and can be seen below:
We’re excited to be showcasing Blizzard eSports on a truly global stage this year. We're also heavily focused on getting Diablo III, [World of Warcraftexpansion] Mists of Pandaria, and [Starcraft II expansion] Heart of the Swarm into players’ hands as soon as possible. In light of our jam-packed schedule, we’ve decided to hold the next BlizzCon in 2013.
In case you have never attended BlizzCon, it's a convention for fans of Diablo, StarCraft, and Warcraft. The convention usually has presentations by Blizzard employees, tournaments, contests, and hands-on time with upcoming games. Blizzard has held BlizzCon almost every year since 2005 - with the exception of 2006.
This is unfortunate but understandable since Diablo III is expected early this year. Here is a response from community manager 'Bashiok' on theBattle.net forums:
Yeah it's a bit disappointing because we all really do enjoy being able to 'open the doors' so to speak. But, it is an enormous effort by all employees, including our game designers and artists, not to mention customer support and quality assurance, PR, our business departments, and *hot breath on fingernails & shirt rub* Community & eSports to make a BlizzCon happen. In a year when we're working to release multiple titles (knock on wood) it makes sense to focus our efforts. Also with multiple game releases we just wonder if we'd be at a point with any of them where we'd have anything really big or new or cool to talk about.
Blizzard is busy designiing a strategy game called Blizzard DOTA as well as a new MMO codenamed Titan. The studio also has a second StarCraft II expansion pack called Legacy of the Void on the way. What are your thoughts on this news?