On Monday, Blizzard announced BlizzConline, an all-digital convention that will serve as a replacement for BlizzCon 2020.
In May, Blizzard announced the cancellation of BlizzCon 2020 — which joined a sea of gaming conventions that were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, Blizzard revealed tentative plans to host an online event in early 2021, which we now know will be BlizzConline.
BlizzConline will run Feb. 19-20, 2021. Blizzard hasn’t announced a price for virtual tickets, or if the event will cost anything at all to attend.
The game developer revealed several activities as part of its Community Showcase and offered some guidelines for players and fans wanting to participate — including safety guidelines for some group activities. The studio hasn’t revealed if it will announce or showcase any games at BlizzConline, as it usually does at BlizzCon proper. Last year, Blizzard officially revealed Diablo 4, Overwatch 2, and World of Warcraft: Shadowlands.
BlizzConline will offer an online cosplay exhibition for fans. Players can dress themselves as any Blizzard character and show off in front of the virtual world. Because of the digital format, Blizzard will open the cosplay competition to pets for the first time, willing dozens pugs dressed as Illidan Stormrage into existence. Blizzard will host a cosplay contest as well.
Blizzard will also host a digital storytelling contest, art contest, and general talent show for fans during BlizzConline.
Fans can also participate in the virtual March of the Murlocs, a procession Blizzard usually hosts during BlizzCon where players march through the Anaheim Convention Center dressed as Warcraft’s Murloc creatures. For BlizzConline, players can send in videos of themselves marching wherever they may be dressed as the purposefully obnoxious critters. Fans can also march together, dressed as Murlocs, in World of Warcraft and send a clip to Blizzard.
Fans who want to participate in any of the Community Showcase events must have their submissions into Blizzard by Jan. 4, 2021.
It’s currently unclear if BlizzConline will offer more than just the Community Showcase events next February.
