Overwatch 2 and Diablo 4 to be Announced at Bumper Blizzcon 2019
Esports is set for a boost this week as the long-awaited Overwatch 2, according to a swath of leaks, is likely to be announced at BlizzCon 2019. It’s also rumored that Diablo 4 could be revealed, and there will be news on World of Warcraft, WoW Classic, Hearthstone, and The WarCraft 3 Remaster project.
Blizzard’s BlizzCon 2019 will take place in Anaheim, California, beginning on November 1, 2019. It will see 30,000 attendees and a whole host of news from the company’s franchised games portfolio.
And you don’t have to be there to watch…
The Express reports that Overwatch 2 and Diablo 4 developments could both be part of BlizzCon’s opening ceremony this coming Friday, a time when Blizzard usually features its biggest news. The ceremony will be available for free on YouTube. To watch all the games panels there is a BlizzCon Virtual Pass on sale, but as well as the opening ceremony Blizzard says:
“This year, everyone’s invited to watch the BlizzCon opening ceremony, all of the BlizzCon esports tournaments, and select developer panels—including the first four panels on the Mythic Stage immediately following the opening ceremony—completely free on BlizzCon.com and in the BlizzCon Mobile App.”
A PvE story-mode, new maps, modes, and heroes, for Overwatch 2
ESPN, citing a source and a BlizzCon training document, says the new Overwatch 2 might even be available to play during BlizzCon and will feature new maps and modes. It will have new heroes, with one potentially announced at BlizzCon, and player-versus-environment (PvE) features.
The new game version could see new hero talents and in-game items as well as a four-player story experience set in Rio de Janiero. ESPN further says it has obtained a BlizzCon 2019 demo guide showing the new logo for Overwatch 2.
Overwatch eSports and home players have been frustrated for some time with the games less popular modes and have been waiting for new content. Many have been requesting a more story-driven game experience. Overwatch 2 will see the first new mode for the game since it was released in 2015. Reporting expects both the PvE story, with narrative elements, and the new game mode to be previewed to players at the event.
A bumper BlizzCon 2019?
PCGamer expects this year’s BlizzCon to be one of the most important ever. The publication believes World of Warcraft news will centre around its next expansion, which could be The Dragon Isles, or the Shadowlands, or even both. And, Diablo 4 could return to more Diablo 2 style look. As well as an update on Hearthstone developments at BlizzCon, the coming weekend will see the Hearthstone Global Finals.
Blizzard’s parent group, Activision Blizzard, is waiting for its massive esports investment to pay off, a successful BlizzCon 2019 might really help. As some believe BlizzCon 2018 could have been better, a legion of high-profile game updates this weekend may well get fans hyped-up, especially Overwatch players.