BlizzConline 2021 has just concluded and fans were bombarded with a lot of upcoming offerings from Blizzard as it celebrates its 30th anniversary. Most adult gamers have grown up playing Blizzard games and these very titles have significantly contributed to their respective genres.
Here’s a quick rundown of significant announcements Blizzard made during the two-day online event.
Overwatch and Overwatch 2 Announcements
Until February 25, players can celebrate the Year of the Ox in Overwatch with seasonal cosmetics and an all-new brawl.
New Brawl: Bounty Hunter – Hunt or be hunted! In this 8-player brawl debuting for the Year of the Ox, the player who scores the first kill becomes the Target, while the rest become Bounty Hunters tasked with taking them out. The player who kills the Target then becomes the new Target.
Year of the Ox Cosmetics – Unlock seasonal skins like Kkachi Echo, Dragonfire Bastion, and Tiger Huntress Ashe (with beastly B.O.B. at her side), or claim Imperial Guard Reaper in the final weekly challenge of the Year of the Ox.
Fans also got a glimpse of the next step for the game: Overwatch 2. Watch the behind the scenes video featuring new locations like Rome and New York City, new looks for your beloved Overwatch heroes, and the new Talent system. Overwatch 2 will also contain Story Missions and Hero Missions for the characters to enhance solo play versus AI.
Diablo 2 Remastered at BlizzConline 2021
One of the most acclaimed titles in PC gaming history returns with Diablo II: Resurrected, a faithful remaster of Blizzard’s classic action-RPG and its award-winning expansion, Lord of Destruction, coming later this year to Windows PC and, for the first time, consoles. At BlizzConline 2021, the trailer was unveiled and the panel talked about what to expect.
PC players can sign up now at the official website for a chance to participate in upcoming public testing. The biggest takeaway for Diablo II: Remastered at BlizzConline 2021 is that it will feature cross-progression so players can take their adventure from desktop to Nintendo Switch, PS4/PS5, and XBox Series X/S.
Diablo IV New Trailer
Blizzard also unveiled the Rogue for Diablo IV, with a dark cinematic trailer and gameplay footage of the new player class in action. The Rogue is a swift, deadly, mobile class with unparalleled versatility. Rogue players can choose from a variety of ways to attack and trap their enemies and can enhance their combat through poisons, shadow magic, and specialized techniques.
Hearthstone BlizzConline 2021 Announcements
Forged in the Barrens hearkens back to World of Warcraft’s roots, introducing 135 all-new cards inspired by the characters and stories that define this beloved, hardscrabble setting. In addition to new keywords and game mechanics, Forged in the Barrens will introduce 10 Legendary Mercenary minions, each representing a different Hearthstone class, whose stories will play out across the Year of the Gryphon—including in the upcoming new game mode Hearthstone Mercenaries.
Starting today, players can prepurchase the Forged in the Barrens Mega Bundle (USD $79.99), which comes with 85 card packs from the expansion (five of which are Golden Card Packs, which contain all Golden cards), and two random Golden Legendary cards; the Hamuul Runetotem card back and alternate Hero; and perks for Hearthstone Battlegrounds that last until the next expansion. Also available is the Forged in the Barrens Pre-Purchase Bundle (USD $49.99), which includes 60 packs from the expansion, two random Legendary Cards, and the Hamuul Runetotem card back.
Hearthstone Mercenaries
Hearthstone Mercenaries is an upcoming all-new single-player and competitive game mode in which players collect mighty characters new and old from across the Warcraft® universe and level them up in exciting tactical battles. Mercenaries is scheduled for release later this year, with more information on the mode to be shared closer to launch.
Hearthstone Core Set & Classic Format
The Hearthstone Core Set will arrive alongside the launch of the Year of the Gryphon. Free to all players to unlock as they level up and updated every year, the Core Set replaces the existing Basic and Classic cards with a curated collection of 235 new and existing cards meant to keep Hearthstone fresh and provide an approachable on-ramp for new players. The Core set will consist of 160 class cards and 75 neutral cards, among them reimagined Legendary minion versions of Warcraft’s most fearsome dragons, including Deathwing, Malygos, and Ysera.
Also coming with the Year of the Gryphon is the Hearthstone Classic format, which invites players to experience the game as it was when it launched in 2014. Sitting alongside Standard and Wild, the Classic format will be fully supported, with its own rewards and rankings, and will include all of Hearthstone’s original cards as they were in the game’s early days.
BlizzConline 2021 World Of Warcraft Announcements
Burning Crusade Classic builds on the epic foundation of World of Warcraft Classic, providing players with an opportunity to experience the next legendary chapter in the Warcraft saga.
Through the launch and over the course of content updates to follow, the recreation will bring back the features of the 2007 original, including:
The Shattered Realm of Outland: Traverse the treacherous crags and spires of Blade’s Edge Mountains, where even dragons fear to roam; hunt alongside the uncorrupted Mag’har orcs among the floating islands of Nagrand; battle demonic agents of the Legion in the shadow of the Black Temple; and much more.
Two New Playable Races: Fight for the Horde as the blood elves, seeking a new source of the arcane power that once sustained them, or join the Alliance as the draenei, exiles from Outland in search of a new home.
Gather at the Arena Gates: Assemble your most trusted allies and prove your PvP prowess in 2v2, 3v3, or 5v5 combat in Arenas such as the Ring of Trials and the Circle of Blood.
Take Wing on Flying Mounts: Take flight in the chaotic skies of Netherstorm and soar over fel-touched Shadowmoon Valley with the introduction of flying mounts in Outland.
Master Challenging Raids and Dungeons: Conquer 5-player dungeons set in the crystalline fortress of Tempest Keep and the Caverns of Time, where heroes bear witness to Azeroth’s past. Raid the haunted halls of 10-player Karazhan, and gear up over time for a climactic confrontation against Kil’jaeden in 25-player Sunwell Plateau.
New Options for Heroes: Carve gems of power to socket into players’ gear with the Jewelcrafting profession; choose between the Aldor or Scryer factions in Shattrath and earn their unique rewards; create a paladin on the Horde or a shaman on the Alliance; and more.
Before entering the Dark Portal, players will be presented with a choice for each of their existing WoW Classic characters: to progress to the Burning Crusade era along with the rest of the Horde and Alliance heroes on their realm, or to continue adventuring in the original WoW Classic content on all-new “Classic Era” servers coming with the rollout of Burning Crusade Classic. Players who want to experience the best of both worlds will have the option to “clone” each WoW Classic character as an optional paid service, allowing each hero to venture forth into Burning Crusade Classic while their copies continue their original adventure on a Classic Era realm. Further details on each realm type and the available options for characters will be provided at a later date.
JD Pablo Editor-in-Chief
JD Pablo is the current Editor-in-Chief of twenty8two. Enjoys video games, pizza, banana bread, and tea. Takes coffee black.
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