After announcing that this year’s BlizzCon would be fully virtual and free for everyone to watch following the cancellation of BlizzCon 2020, today marked the start of BlizzConline, two-day event featuring panels going into detail about what’s next for some of Blizzard’s games as well as community events. Everything starts with the Opening Ceremony. This year, Blizzard talked about what’s next for World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, and Diablo.
In celebration of the 30th anniversary of Blizzard Entertainment, the Blizzard Arcade Collection has been announced. It features three games, The Lost Vikings, Rock n Roll Racing, and Blackthorne that you’ll be able to play in two ways.
You can play the game as they originally were with new features such as rewind, save, watch, and filters, or you can play the definitive edition. The definitive edition will be in 16:9 ratio and can be played in 4-player split-screen co-op. Those who pre-ordered any Blizzard digital anniversary bundle will get the Blizzard Arcade Collection on PC today.
The next big update for World of Warcraft: Shadowlands has been revealed. World of Warcraft: Chains of Domination. Blizzard has also announced the next World of Warcraft charity pet program. When the goal of donations is met, everybody in the game will get a pet as a thank you. A second pet can also be received if the stretch goal is reached. These pets are Bananas from the Burning Crusade era and Daisy, the sloth who will hang around your neck. In World of Warcraft: Classic, players will be able to relive the Burning Crusade expansion later this year.
Hearthstone‘s next year, Year of the Gryphon sees major updates coming to the game with the inclusion of the Core Set and the new Classic format coming to the game. The first expansion for Year of the Gryphon will be Forged in the Barrens, inspired by the iconic World of Warcraft locale.
The expansion will also introduce a new single-player and competitive game mode called Mercenaries. Players will collect mighty characters from the World of Warcraft universe that you’ll level up in tactical battles.
The Rogue class has been announced and revealed for Diablo IV. It’s a reimagining of the class from the first game.
After many rumors and leaks, Diablo II Resurrected, a full HD remaster of Diablo II has been announced. It will be available on PC and consoles with cross-progression between the two and is coming sometime later this year.
Diablo II: Resurrected will also include the game’s expansion, Lord of Destruction. In addition to the graphical updates to the game, Blizzard will also be updating all 27 minutes of cinematics, recreated shot for shot with the intent of recreating the look and original pacing of the original cinematics.