Are you familiar with titles such as World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Hearthstone, and Diablo? These are the games that have defined the Blizzard brand for years. Now, Blizzard Entertainment has announced four major showcases to celebrate the Blizzard 35th anniversary, which will highlight the future of its most important game franchises.
The anniversary events will focus exclusively on developing well-known live service games, which clearly shows that the studio is focusing on strengthening its foundations rather than creating completely new IPs.
This is a clear signal that Blizzard wants to strengthen its position and rebuild its relationship with players after some difficult years.
If you want to know exactly what to expect from the upcoming Blizzard showcases and what plans the studio has for the future, read our guide.
35 Years of Blizzard History
Blizzard Entertainment is one of the most recognizable studios in gaming history. Founded in 1991, the company has consistently built its reputation, creating games that became legends. Over three and a half decades, Blizzard developed brands that defined entire genres and set the standard for modern live service games.
However, in recent years, the studio’s reputation was affected by controversies and business decisions, which drew criticism from the community and impacted the perception of the brand.
This year’s 35th anniversary is not just a celebration of Blizzard’s history, but also a moment of reflection and a symbolic start of a new chapter in the studio’s journey, such as the upcoming BlizzCon.
Currently, we can follow the history of Blizzard in a special video on the Blizzard Entertainment YouTube channel. The recording recalls key moments from the studio’s past while hinting at the direction anniversary events and future game franchises will take.
Four Shows, Four Pillars of Blizzard
The centerpiece of Blizzard’s 35th anniversary celebrations will be four major Blizzard showcases dedicated to the studio’s most important brands. During these shows, the developers will reveal their plans for the future and disclose the direction in which key universes will be developed.
All events will be broadcast on Blizzard’s YouTube and Twitch channels. Below you will find a detailed schedule of presentations in all time zones:
World of Warcraft
- January 29, 9:00 a.m. PST / 5:00 p.m. GMT / January 30, 2:00 a.m. KST
- A show dedicated to the World of Warcraft news, during which the developers will present their plans for the development of Azeroth and upcoming updates for the iconic MMORPG.
Overwatch
- February 4, 10:00 a.m. PST / 6:00 p.m. GMT / February 5, 3:00 a.m. KST
- An event focused on Overwatch, with information about the further development of the game-as-a-service and planned changes.
Hearthstone
- February 9, 9:30 a.m. PST / 5:30 p.m. GMT / February 10, 2:30 a.m. KST
- A presentation of plans for Hearthstone, including announcements of new expansions and the direction of development for the popular card game.
Diablo
- February 11, 2:00 p.m. PST / 10:00 p.m. GMT / February 12, 7:00 a.m. KST
- A special show celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Diablo series, honoring the history of the brand and previewing its future.
Johanna Faries’ Vision and The Significance of BlizzCon
Blizzard Entertainment President Johanna Faries spoke about the anniversary event itself, emphasizing that anniversary shows are a moment to reflect on the studio’s history to date, but also the beginning of ambitious plans for the future.
In addition, she emphasized in her speech that this anniversary is just the beginning of what Blizzard has in store for this year.
As noted, Blizzard intends to focus on developing existing brands rather than creating new franchises.
This approach is also confirmed by the announced return of BlizzCon in September, which is set to once again become a key point of contact between the studio and the global gaming community.
What We Don’t Know Yet
Although Blizzard has revealed the schedule of presentations and general plans, many details remain a mystery.
For now, it is unclear what exactly will be new in World of Warcraft news beyond the announced updates. It is also unclear what changes and new features will be coming to Overwatch, or what surprises are in store for Hearthstone fans in upcoming expansions.
Therefore, we can expect anything, such as information about new content or updates to the series.
This uncertainty means that each presentation could bring unexpected announcements and generate even more interest among the community.
Conclusion
That’s all you need to know about Blizzard 35th Anniversary.
As you can see, Blizzard’s anniversary shows are more than just regular streams. It’s a grand comeback for the studio that created the games we love.
What’s more, the focus on proven franchises, the clear presentation of plans, and the return of BlizzCon are a sign that Blizzard wants to show the world its vision for the future.
If the shows are successful, Blizzard’s 35th anniversary may be just the beginning of another epic era!