Who would have guessed that between E3 and BlizzCon, the celebration of Blizzard games would end up emerging as the sole survivor of the post-pandemic hecatomb? The uncertainty specific to the Covid-19 years has created a real turning point for the video game industry. One by one, the major events that until then brought together players and specialized journalists from around the world have all ended up derealizing their festivities, or worse, closing down. After two consecutively cancelled attempts to reschedule in 2022 and 2023, E3 is officially a thing of the past.
The same fate seemed to hang over BlizzCon, which made a timid physical return in 2023, before being eclipsed in 2024. Today, we learn that Blizzard's convention will also be shelved in 2025, but this time: it's for a good cause. BlizzCon will officially be back for a bigger and better event than ever, taking place in the heart of the Anaheim Convention Center on Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13, 2026. Warcraft, Diablo, and Overwatch fans will have to be patient, but the sudden announcement of this unexpected return is a sign of Blizzard's rebirth.
The Microsoft effect?
The results of Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard are still far from positive. Players can enjoy a new slew of flagship licenses in the Game Pass catalog, but this advantage does not allow us to forget the mass layoffs that hit the studio. But the most recent developments suggest that these final wounds have helped to forge the foundations of a solid future for the company. A clean-up was clearly necessary to erase the last traces of the reign of Bobby Kotick, the controversial CEO at which the studio's rapid decline is generally attributed. Significant changes can already be seen in Blizzard's major productions, starting with Overwatch 2, which fully accepts its mistakes and no longer hesitates to reinstate the most requested mechanics (such as loot boxes).
On paper, it is still too early to attribute this positive dynamic to Microsoft's sole desire to restore the studio that cost it $75 billion. But such a revival still seemed impossible a few years ago. Will Activision Blizzard finally regain its former glory? For once, we want to put the cart before the Tauren and say that BlizzCon 2026 will mark a turning point for the company, and perhaps more broadly the entire video game industry.
To not miss any of the upcoming announcements
The BlizzCon website has already been updated and offers fans the opportunity to sign up for a new essential newsletter. This will share major development announcements over the next 28 months leading up to the 2026 edition. For now, Blizzard is avoiding false hopes and is content to promise the bare minimum: “the opening ceremony, conferences, the Darkmoon Faire, friendly competitions, live gaming sessions” with the mention all the same of a few “significant developments” which will strengthen the community aspect of the event. And in your opinion, is this return of BlizzCon a positive sign?
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