Blizzard Entertainment is committed to bringing BlizzCon back in 2023. Company boss Mike Ybarra announced plans to return the convention as a live in-person event next year after hosting a previous BlizzCon event as an online show during the pandemic.
Speaking to The Los Angeles Times, Ybarra spoke about getting BlizzCon back on track for 2023 with a live event that’s seemingly already being planned. It’s unclear when the event might take place, but Blizzard is being tight-lipped about it until it can share more information closer to the time.
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When asked about BlizzCon possibly returning in the future, Ybarra stated:
“We previously announced we’re taking a pause on BlizzCon while we reimagine it for the future but do want to return to a live event that enables us to celebrate the community. We recently hired a new leader of BlizzCon, April McKee, who is hard at work on that plan. … We are committed to bringing back BlizzCon in 2023.”
The last BlizzCon in-person event took place back in 2019. However, 2020 and 2021 plans were cancelled due to COVID-19. While the company did host BlizzCon as an online event in 2021, plans for a 2022 digital event were put on hold following allegations surfacing about toxic workplace culture at Activision Blizzard.
The pandemic put several events on hold that were either shifted to being digital shows or outright cancelled. E3 is one such event, choosing to skip 2022 after hosting a mildly successful digital event in 2021.
Meanwhile, Geoff Keighley’s The Game Awards took place last year as an in-person event (though with stringent health and safety protocols), marking a slow but steady return to live gaming events with audiences. It remains to be seen how this will impact future shows going forward, though most companies are still relying on digital presentations and showcases this year.
Source: The Los Angeles Times