BlizzCon 2018 Recap

[Stoy]

Blizzcon 2018 Recap
Lots of new info this year! Be sure to read each post, watch videos, and stay tuned for more information as we get it.

World of Warcraft

• World of Warcraft: Classic
  
  • WoW Classic is slated for release in the Summer of 2019.
  • Free to anyone with a live subscription.
  • Restoring History: Creating WoW Classic Panel
• New charity pet: - Whomper! Proceeds go to Code.org.
• New WoW Cinematic: "Lost Honor" featuring Saurfang & Anduin.
• Patch 8.1 - Tides of Vengeance and Patch 8.1.5
  
  • Kul Tiran Humans & Zandalari Trolls Allied Races were updated to show available classes and racials.
  • Patch 8.1 is slated for release on December 11th, 2018. New raid will not open until early 2019.
  • New in-game cinematic "Terror of Darkshore".
  • Patch 8.1.5 will bring updates to the Darkmoon Faire, Brawler's Guild, Microholidays and more.
  • Warsong Gulch and Arathi Basin Visual Upgrades.
  • Warlords of Draenor Timewalking.
• Patch 8.2 - Rise of Azshara and Beyond
  
  • Patch 8.2.5 will update Goblin and Worgen models.
  • Rise of Azshara includes lots of new content with a release date to be determined.
  • Two New Landmasses to explore - Nazjatar and Mechagon.
  • New Mega Dungeon - Mechagon.
  • New Raid - Azshara's Eternal Throne.
  • Gnome and Tauren Heritage Armor.
  • Full World of Warcraft: What's Next Panel
• World of Warcraft: Q & A Panel
• Build a Panel - World Creation in World of Warcraft
• Immersive Sounds of Azeroth
• Battle for Azeroth Cinematics: Expanding the Narrative

Diablo

• Diablo Immortal is a new mobile game that takes place between the stories of Diablo 2 and Diablo 3.
• Diablo Immortal cinematic reveal.
• Gameplay trailer for Diablo Immortal.
• The game will feature 8 zones, 4 instanced dungeons and 6 classes to start. Fully integrated to Battle.net.
  
  • Barbarian
  • Crusader
  • Demon Hunter
  • Monk
  • Necromancer
  • Wizard
• Diablo - What's Next Panel
• Diablofans also put together a list of details.
• Diablo Immortal: World And Q&A Panel Recap

Overwatch

• Ashe - A damage dealer with a rifle and dynamite explosives.
• Ashe's origin story showcases her villianous backstory.
• Ashe's introduction video showing her unique skills.
• New animated cinematic short "Reunion" featuring Ashe and McCree.
• Overwatch - What's Next Panel

Hearthstone

• Rastakhan's Rumble is the next expansion.
• Troll themed expansion will feature 135 new cards.
• New keyword card type called Overkill.
• Expansion will release on December 4th, 2018.
• Hearthpwn's Full What's Next Panel Recap, including Card Previews

Heroes of the Storm

• Orphea is the next hero, a character born in the Nexus.
  
  • Free to anyone with a BlizzCon or Virtual Ticket
  • Midranged assassin
• Janitor Leoric skin
• Kevin "cloaken" Johnson announcer pack
• Heir of Raven Court cinematic featuring Orphea.
• Heroes of the Storm: What's Next Panel
• Heroes of the Storm: 2019 Gameplay Updates
• Heroes of the Storm Day 1 Recap
• Heroes of the Storm: Deep Dive
• Artist at Work: Bringing Heroes to Life

Warcraft 3: Reforged

• Inside Warcraft III: Reforged Panel Recap
• Warcraft 3:Reforged will fully integrate with modern Battle.net and feature updated models, textures and animations.
• Release is set for sometime in 2019. Can be pre-purchased today.
• There are exclusive items available for other Blizzard titles if you pre-purchase the Spoilers of War edition.
  
  • Meatwagon mount in World of Warcraft.
  • Card Back in Hearthstone.
  • 4 Warcraft Heroes in Heroes of the Storm.
  • ...And More!
• A cinematic reveal trailer was released.
• Gameplay trailer showing the before and after with new models and textures.
• Blizzard also released a trailer for The Culling Campaign.
• The official forums for the game are live and the developers are looking for feedback.

Starcraft II

• New Co-op Commander - Zeratul
• Starcraft II: What's Next Panel Recap

[Kralljin]

No Diablo Immortal.

Yeah, wish that wouldn't have happened as well.

Edit: okay fuck it's right in the middle.

[YorHa-Unit-2B]

Pretty much the worst Blizzcon for me. I'm so glad i didn't go all the way to the Usa for something so mediocre. A terrible mobile game, a remake of a 2003 game, a silly hearthstone expansion and the only positive thing a cool new hero for Overwatch.

[Restors]

Despite Blizzard having several games in their arsenal, a Blizzcon without World of Warcraft expansion announcement is really disappointing everytime. The only save they had were to show their future plans for Diablo, but they came with a mobile game. I don't blame people for feeling disappointed, no matter whether you like mobile games or not. There were barely any exciting news, possibly some information about Classic WoW.

Oh well, let's hope Blizzcon 2019 can be any better.

[glowpipe]

This is by far the worst blizzcon i have ever seen. So glad i didn't buy the ticket. I was really close after the opening to get to see the diablo panel. Holy shit am i glad i didn't dish out for that

[morph4037]

Lets see how often they keep reuploading the mobile diablo trailer.

[Gadzooks]

Putting Diablo aside, it wasn't a completely horrible event. Overwatch and Hearthstone got some good stuff, but it was completely ignored in the Diablo drama.

I feel that people only rate Blizzcon on "OMG NEW STUFFS", but that's just part of it - there are big tournaments going on, and all of the games have fans there to geek out on, try demos, go to parties, meet other people, check out the cosplay people, etc.

Sure, it's fun to be there for big reveals, but I'd bet most of the people who did go had fun.

[Kolvarg]

The thing about Blizzcon as that people always go in hyped and with high hopes for ground breaking announcements, and forget that more oftan than not there aren't any that big.

Don't get me wrong, I do it as much as the next guy. But we need to remind ourselves Blizzcon is not just that.


Either way, I thought it was pretty decent actually. Nothing huge (as we should expect tbh), but pretty cool.

I love W3 being remastered, and WoW Classic is looking great, as well as the news on it. Above all, I really liked the WoW panels. With all the tension that we've been seeing in the WoW community it was great to see them aknowledge BfA issues, and announcing promissing stuff for 8.2. More than all, I loved how all WoW panels were presented. Great communication and with plenty of humor; loved it!

I really like also how voice actors, streamers and other content creators are more and more being included in it, and that at least most of the presenters I noticed seem to actually know, like and care about the games.

Wost part of this years Blizzcon imo was how the video-on-demand worked this year. Last couple years it was up a few minutes or at most couple hours after the stream ended, but this year it's taking essentially a day for many panels. That's not cool, and really makes me re-consider buying the virtual ticket next year.

[korijenkins]

And so ends possibly the worst Blizzcon of them all.

I'm not kidding either. They didn't have much to show this year. No new games. No big expansions. Nothing. Just skins and patches, with mobile excrement nobody wanted and a remastered game.

And sure, the remastered game can be considered "new," but the framework was already there, the voice acting and data was already there. All they did was make new models.

[Dastreus]

Why is Jaina wearing a cowboy hat on the MMO-Champ cover page?

oh its an overwatch character

[McNeil]

What I liked: Warcraft 3 Reforged, Classic WoW news, Chris Metzen making an appearance

What I didn’t like: All the rest

[VekniDarkIron]

Despite Blizzard having several games in their arsenal, a Blizzcon without World of Warcraft expansion announcement is really disappointing everytime. The only save they had were to show their future plans for Diablo, but they came with a mobile game.

YOU JUST GOT A WORLD OF WARCRAFT EXPANSION A FEW MONTHS AGO. The next expansion is just shy of two years away.

And they did show their future plans for Diablo, a new game.

- - - Updated - - -

No new games.

Diablo. You might not like it, but it's a new title.

[splatomat]

YOU JUST GOT A WORLD OF WARCRAFT EXPANSION A FEW MONTHS AGO. The next expansion is just shy of two years away.

And they did show their future plans for Diablo, a new game.

- - - Updated - - -



Diablo. You might not like it, but it's a new title.

LOL no we got half of an expansion.

[ablock87]

What I liked: Warcraft 3 Reforged, Classic WoW news, Chris Metzen making an appearance

What I didn’t like: All the rest

Basically this.

[Appelgren]

Diablo Immoral ..

Biggest failure in the history of blizzard.
What a Fucking let down that only kids age 9-11 will enjoy (and possibly mentally challenged adults)

[Tydan]

The biggest disappointment by far is the total lack of any sort of originality.

[Danuel]

So who bought virtual ticket for dat shitshow?

[Sanguinerd]

I really "hate" how people are excited about classic and wc3 remaster.. they're not new games damnit. Yeah it'll be fun to play again, but do we really need to go back all the time? Why not move forward..

All the time and effort spend on those projects I'd much rather they put in making new shit we havn't seen or experienced before.

Still, beats a god damn mobile game thats for sure.

[sylenna]

for 2019 blizzard needs to put up a bit more of their magic.

keep the price of the virtual ticket, i don't care. but offer meaningful rewards in your games. a mount is obligatory in WoW and come on, it really doesn't cost you that much.

what blizzard should really do are some new things to blow our minds. yes, starcraft 2 only works in the framework they laid himself by splitting the original game to three different campaigns. yet it should be possible to add something really new despite small content like commanders. hearthstone expansions are fine, hots additions too. WoW has a cycle but maybe you could have a rougly ~2 years for big addons and maybe every year something other big for blizzcon.

what they REALLY shouldn't do are mobile games like diablo immoral. that kills all the magic.

[Syphke]

Good recap.

Got a virtual ticket... didn't saw a second yet.
Guess I didn't miss anyhthing important