BlizzCon 2023 marked a major return after four years, hosting a grand in-person event in Anaheim. However, fans worldwide could enjoy the event through two days of live broadcasts.
The opening ceremony brought big news for World of Warcraft, Diablo 4, Hearthstone, Warcraft Rumble, and Overwatch 2. Blizzard introduced new heroes for Overwatch 2, Diablo 4’s expansion, and three expansions for World of Warcraft, including Cataclysm for World of Warcraft Classic.
OVERWATCH 2'S LATEST ADDITION:
Blizzard revealed Mauga, a new Samoan tank for Overwatch 2. Additionally, Overwatch 2 will introduce a new PvP mode called Clash, promising exciting gameplay in a reworked Hanamura map now known as Hanaoka.
More changes are expected, such as reworked Competitive play and fresh rewards, with upcoming themes focusing on horror, mythology, and alternate universes.
Director Aaron Keller teased two new heroes for 2024 – a damage hero named Venture and a support hero codenamed “Space Ranger.”
DIABLO 4'S EXPANSION, VESSEL OF HATRED:
In Diablo 4’s future, players can anticipate a new weekly challenge dungeon in season 3, and a major expansion called Vessel of Hatred in late 2024. This expansion will introduce a new jungle region, confront Mephisto, and unveil a never-before-seen class.
WORLD OF WARCRAFT UPDATES:
World of Warcraft Classic plans to introduce a new hardcore mode in 2024 and bring back the Cataclysm expansion, adjusted based on player feedback. The immediate addition, Season of Discovery, promises a unique WoW experience with new abilities and secrets from Nov. 30.
Chris Metzen announced an ambitious plan for WoW’s next two decades, revealing a trilogy of expansions starting with The War Within in 2024.
HEARTHSTONE
Cora Georgiou, Hearthstone’s senior game designer, presented the trailer for “Showdown in the Badlands,” an upcoming expansion set in Azeroth’s wild west, unveiling the origin story of iconic characters Reno Jackson and Elise Starseeker.
Additionally, Georgiou introduced a fresh approach for Hearthstone enthusiasts to acquire new cards: ‘Catch-up packs,’ described as a revolutionary method to bolster card collections, granting players the chance to receive up to 50 cards from a single pack.
In line with these updates, Hearthstone Battlegrounds will soon feature a new cooperative play mode called “Battleground Duos,” offering players a different and collaborative gaming experience.
WARCRAFT RUMBLE
Blizzard has launched Warcraft Rumble, a mobile action-strategy combat game set in Azeroth that creators claim pays homage to the company’s real-time strategy origins. The game’s first season introduces a unique tabletop miniature version featuring Sylvanas Windrunner.
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