Blizzard will not be hosting a BlizzCon this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the 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”.
On Activision Blizzard’s earnings call this week, Blizzard president J. Allen Brack said that a virtual version of BlizzCon will take place in “the early part” of 2021.
“We’re really fortunate to have a passionate and engaged community that’s really looking forward to what we’re creating.We’re looking forward to sharing what the teams have been working on for that event,” Brack said.
BlizzCon executive producer Saralyn Smith said Blizzard had looked into continuing to have a BlizzCon in 2020–which typically takes place in the fall–but found that each of the options was “complicated by fluctuations in national and local health guidelines in the months ahead.” She also said that Blizzard was looking into how it would handle esports events, as BlizzCon is often a hub for many of its big tournament finals.