Blizzcon 2019 Recap: Announcements and Key Takeaways Article

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Blizzcon 2019 Recap: Announcements and Key Takeaways

Nov 10, 2019 | 1 Votes

by Mikhail 10 rate Your vote Blizzcon 2019 was held last week and we all bore witness to history being made and many monumental announcements. Let’s check out the ones that stood out: WWGDB - Blizzcon 2019 Recap: Announcements and Key Takeaways

WWGDB - Blizzcon 2019 Recap: Announcements and Key Takeaways

Blizzcon 2019 is one of the more highly-anticipated gaming conferences every year and it turned out to be an outstanding one. Gamers were treated to a few announcements which confirmed a couple of franchises with a huge and rabid following. The event also marked eSports history and the dominance of Team USA in the Overwatch World Cup.

With that said, let’s take a look at some of the key takeaways.

(Oh, and there were no offseason April Fools’ jokes this time)

Diablo IV revealed

For many, the Diablo series is an obsession. The earlier games were undoubtedly classics, thanks to its huge emphasis on freedom of choice, a robust collection of character classes, action-packed fights, and of course, blood and gore. Moreover, it also inspired a large number of developers who created action-RPGs and even MMOs that actually look like Diablo.

Well, it’s no surprise that Diablo IV was revealed to the world and though a release date hasn’t been announced yet, we can assume it’ll be one of the first titles to make its way in the next generation of consoles.

Blizzard showed a bit of gameplay footage that flaunted the upcoming game’s dark and dreary world ironically named Sanctuary which is full of demons, evil cultists, impoverished villages, and monsters. The story centers around trying to take the world back from evil. The game is set in a large and seamless world where players can encounter each other in the vast and varied landscapes.

In any case, we can’t wait for it to come in the next couple of years and see more of it in future events.

Overwatch 2

Blizzard came into Blizzcon with guns blazing. Apart from Diablo, they also announced the sequel to Overwatch, aptly-named Overwatch 2.

Overwatch is known for being a PvP-focused hero team-based shooter. Thing is, it has always been full of interesting lore and backstories, with Blizzard publishing comics and creating interesting lore. The characters are well-written and have their own respective motivations. In any case, it seems like a waste if we can’t explore what they bring into the table, right?

Since we can’t explore the lore in PvP-focused games, Blizzard decided to add PvE and co-op story missions that will make players stand together against global threats instead of fighting each other. In any case, it’s an exciting twist and better yet, the game will retain its PvP aspects and players can carry over their progression and achievements to the sequel.

The game also promises to retain its roster of heroes while adding a fresh cast and players who own the original Overwatch will also be able to play the same online modes with Overwatch 2 players.

World of Warcraft: Shadowlands

World of Warcraft is one of the longest-running MMORPGs to date. Many of us have fond memories of playing the old version which has been revamped into a newer, more modern game. With 15 years under its belt, Blizzard announced the newest expansion pack, Shadowlands, which is available for pre-purchase today. The game features new dungeons and new maps to explore, as well as a number of characters to interact with.

VKLiooon becomes the first woman esports champion

China’s Xiaomeng Li made history by being the first lady to compete in and win a Hearthstone championship event. She easily defeated her fellow finalist, Brian Eason (bloodyface) in a 3-0 route. In a way, this ushers in a new frontier for ladies competing in esports tournaments, proving that they can be world champions.

Team USA wins Overwatch World Cup

The United States won its first-ever Overwatch World Cup by routing Team China, 3-0. En route to winning the championship, the Americans recorded an 18-1 map record, only dropping a match against former champions, South Korea which finished third after defeating France.

The team was led by some of the best players in the country, including three from Overwatch League Champions. Jay “Sinatraa” Won was named as the tournament’s MVP.

Hearthstone Battlegrounds

Auto-chess/auto-battlers has taken the world by storm, with League of Legends’ Teamfight Tactics and DOTA Auto Chess. Apparently, Blizzard is entering the fray with Hearthstone Battlegrounds which works like regular auto-chess, though with its own unique elements. The game will be available on beta on November 12. It’s not a separate game, but a new mode in the main game.

Overall, Blizzcon 2019 obviously exceeded expectations thanks to the new game announcements and the esports events. In any case, it looks and feels as if Blizzard is already preparing for the next generation and they already have a solid roadmap with Overwatch 2 and Diablo IV leading the charge. It will be a brighter tomorrow for the gaming industry and we can’t see what is in store.

So, what do you hope and expect to see from Blizzard in the near future?