Every time I go to BlizzCon, I always think the same thing: I should play more Blizzard games.
Not many game companies can inspire the kind of devotion and love that’s on display at the annual fan convention. Over 25,000 hardcore players came to Anaheim, California, this past weekend for the ninth BlizzCon. They watched tense esports tournaments, chatted with their favorite developers, and showed off (or admired) amazing costumes based on characters from Blizzard’s games.
The studio also used the show to make big announcements. It talked about some of the major features in Legion, the newest expansion to its massively multiplayer online game World of Warcraft. We found out that StarCraft II’s story will continue after the launch of the Legacy of the Void standalone expansion. The popular card game Hearthstone is getting a new add-on. And Overwatch, Blizzard’s first multiplayer shooter, isn’t free-to-play after all.
Oh, and we also saw a new trailer for a little movie called Warcraft.
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Judging by the thundering applause and cheers Blizzard received all weekend, the fans were more than happy. Pictures can’t quite capture that electricity, but the gallery below gives you a pretty good idea of what going to BlizzCon 2015 was like.
The line was already a few hours long the night before the show at Blizzcon 2015.
Activision also decided to host its Investor Day business meeting at BlizzCon.
The executive VP of corporate operations explained to investors what makes BlizzCon unique.
Fans could take dramatic pictures using this 360-degree camera setup.
One new addition to this year’s show was the Darkmoon Faire, a carnival that originally appeared in World of Warcraft.
Inside the Faire were capsule toy vending machines. Fans bought special coins and used them to get exclusive toys and other rare prizes.
Face-painting was another popular activity.
The “adopt a pet” area had a bunch of plushies you could buy.
Players had intimate chats with Blizzard developers and popular streamers.
Blizzard’s talented artists demonstrated their skills with live drawings.
BlizzCon had a small museum on the show floor.
Cosplayers taught attendees how to make their own elaborate costumes.
Developers hung out with fans in this recreation of Diablo III’s Slaughtered Calf Inn.
A trio of hosts recapped major events from the show.
An awesome interpretation of Hanzo from Overwatch.
From left to right: Tracer, McCree, Zarya, and Reinhardt.
Fans tried out the new content from the upcoming League of Explorers expansion for Hearthstone.
The commentators for the tournament.
It looked like a cozy bar.
Up on the third floor was a meeting area designed for Hearthstone enthusiasts.
The Heroes of the Storm commentators.
Heroes of the Storm at BlizzCon.
Attendees could play new Heroes of the Storm content.
They’d look something like this: a Muppet version of World of Warcraft’s Kael’thas.
A preproduction model of the Soldier-76 statue that will be in the Overwatch Collector’s Edition.
Another early look at a sculpture. This one is based on Reaper.
Blizzard revealed three new Overwatch characters, bringing the total to 21.
Developers talked about the story they want to tell in Overwatch.
Overwatch hero Winston was one of the two new statues on display.
The other one was Overwatch’s Tracer.
A World of Warcraft warlock with Tier 2 raid armor.
“Papa Cosplay” won the annual cosplay contest with his all-leather medieval space marine suit.
Players could test-drive the new features in Legacy of the Void .
StarCraft II’s main story is coming to an end, but that didn’t stop cosplayers from dressing up as their favorite characters.
Kerrigan guarded the entrance to the StarCraft esports arena.
The massive StarCraft II screen first debuted in BlizzCon 2014.
Voice actors from various Blizzard games had some fun reading silly scripts.
Director Duncan Jones (second from left) and the cast talked about their goals for the movie.
Patton plays Garona in the film. The female orc is going to be the “heart” of the story.
A set of armor from the movie.
A scary statue of Orgrim Doomhammer.
You’ll soon be able to buy replicas of the swords from the film.
Not even your phone is safe from Warcraft merchandise.
Linkin Park closed out BlizzCon with an hour-long concert.
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