Blizzcon will be kicking off here in just a short while. Keep an eye on this space for the ongoing coverage of announcements and fun information coming out of the start of the 2016 version of Blizzcon, the mega-convention's tenth. Join us at 11:00 Pacific / 2:00 Eastern and we'll keep you up to the moment information.
And we're off with a retrospective on Blizzard's beginning!
This is YOUR story, this is OUR story!
Let's build the next 25 years together!
Mike Morhaime takes the stage.
25th year of Blizzard and the 20th anniversary of Diablo. Words can't describe what it's been like for us to share our worlds. You've invested your time and your passion in this community. You've made this journey, this adventure, more epic, more wonderful than I could have possibly imagined.
Original Blizzard founder Allen Adham has come out of retirement to rejoin the company.
World of Warcraft
Morheim is giving a retrospective on the Legion launch and the movie. It's going to be an awesome 2017 for the Alliance and for the Horde.
On December 1st, players can get Mischief the Fel Kitty with the full price of the pet going to Make a Wish. Players have helped earn $4M for Make a Wish.
Overwatch
We've updated competitive play, added Ana, taken part in Junkenstein's Revenge and 20M players have taken part. It's been an historic year.
Suddenly....hacked by SOMBRA! Her background story video plays.
Sombra is the next hero to join Overwatch. A stealthy infiltrator that can hack enemy abilities. She's at Blizzcon for live play.
More maps coming including Oasis, a city terraformed in the Middle East. Arcade maps are going to be added as well. Made for 1v1 and 3v3 game play.
Sombra, the Arcade and Antarctica will hit PTR next week.
Starcraft II
Third and final Nova mission coming out on November 22nd. Coop missions have taken on a life of their own. We went all out on coop missions this year. We're not done yet. We're revealing new missions and commanders during Blizzcon.
Research Scientist on DeepMind
Speaking on AI, to solve intelligence. Blizzard has partnered with DeepMind for Starcraft II. Blizzard will release API to allow researchers to teach AI to play SCII. It may bring about better AI or even AI coaches to help players improve.
eSports
Starcraft 2, Hearthstone, Heroes of the Storm, Overwatch and WoW Arena with over $2.7M in prizes this weekend alone.
Overwatch eSports
Overwatch reflects our experience and passion for well-balanced team-based game play in eSports. The Overwatch League is announced. Professional contracts, salaries, try outs, based around cities to allow regional support like traditional sports.
Heroes of the Storm
Heroes of the Storm is Blizzcon: The Game. We get to celebrate these characters and their worlds in ways that we can't anywhere else. Blackheart's Revenge, a new Brawl arena, to be introduced.
New hero: Varian Wrynn and Ragnaros from World of Warcraft. Varian will be on PTR next week, Ragnaros coming soon.
Hearthstone
Gadgetzan, the back alleys is where the underworld, the real city, lies.
The Mean Streets of Gadgetzan is the newest Hearthstone expansion. The Grimy Goons, The Jade Lotus, The Kabal are the new factions.
A new tri-class card is being introduced.
Diablo
Frank Pearce takes the stage. We are on the eve of an historic occasion, an event that represents the battle of good vs evil: The Diablo 20th Anniversary. We wanted to do something special for Diablo 3 for the anniversary. We know it's important to you as well.
We are recreating the original Diablo in Diablo 3. The Darkening of Tristram will send you back into the cathedral, 16 levels deep and come face-to-face with the four main bosses from the original game. The art and sound will hearken back to 20 years ago including special music and filters.
If you love Diablo, this will be a nostalgic event. The anniversary patch will be on PTR next week.
We are committed to this franchise for a long, long time.
We are adding Shrouded Moors and Temple of the Firstborn zones next year for free.
The Necromancer is coming to Diablo 3!
