BlizzCon 2023 ran last weekend in Anaheim California, the first in-person event since before the 2020 pandemic. Blizzard Entertainment had a lot of news and announcements to make for their ongoing games, including new World of Warcraft expansions, a new Overwatch hero, and a tease of the Diablo 4 expansion.
Warcraft Rumble
First there was the launch of new mobile spin-off game Warcraft Rumble. Warcraft Rumble is a free-to-play auto-battling tower-defense strategy game (whew) set in the Warcraft universe. Players unlock figures, customize tiny armies, and engage in miniature battles in a single player campaign and competitive PvP.
Warcraft Rumble is now free to download on iOS and Android mobile devices. It’s rated E10+.
World of Warcraft
Aging yet still fairly popular MMORPG World of Warcraft received a surprising amount of love at BlizzCon with the announcement of a trilogy of expansions, called The Worldsoul Saga.
The expansions promise to usher in the biggest story in the Warcraft universe since WoW began back in 2004. The first expansion, The War Within, will unlock the new continent of Khaz Algar, and an ancient civilization, the Earthen, that lives underground.
In addition to the new region and playable race, the expansion will add hero talents inspired by Warcraft archetypes, new endgame treasure-hunting instances called Delves, and an account-wide progression system that rewards having alternate characters.
The War Within is set to release in 2024. World of Warcraft is rated T for Teen.
The War Within will be followed by two more expansions, Midnight, and The Last Titan.
In related WoW news, World of Warcraft Classic will be updated again in 2024, ushering in the controversial third expansion, Cataclysm. For many players, Cataclysm represents a major shift in WoW that divides the “Classic” from the modern version.
Diablo 4
Blizzard’s newest game, Diablo 4, is also getting an expansion. Vessel of Hatred will pick up where the ominous story left off in the base game, and what Mephisto’s plans are for Sanctuary.
The expansion will add the jungle region of Nahantu, last seen in Diablo 2, to the world, as well as a new class never before seen in the Diablo games. Vessel of Hatred is due to release in late 2024. Diablo 4 is rated M for Mature.
Overwatch 2
Overwatch 2 is getting a new hero in Mauga. Mauga is an augmented Samoan man-mountain with tribal tattoos and a pair of hilariously oversized chainguns. As a tank class, Mauga regains health every time he deals critical damage. He can charge into the fray, and share his healing abilities with nearby allies.
Mauga will officially release at the start of Overwatch Season 8, which begins December 5. He’s available at Tier 45 in the Battle Pass (or right away with the Premium Battle Pass). Overwatch is rated T for Teen.
“BlizzCon isn’t just about the latest updates from Blizzard – it’s about all of you. Players are at the forefront of everything we do, and we’re devoted to supporting these incredible communities,” said Mike Ybarra, president, Blizzard Entertainment. “All of us — gamers, developers, and fans — we are all united in our shared love for gaming.”
