Blizzcon 2012 won't happen, probably going bi-annual

[Correction]

2012 Battle.net World Championship Event

Blizzard Entertainment is proud to announce the 2012 Battle.net World Championship, a major global eSports event featuring some of the best pro-gaming competition in the world. Slated to take place in Asia toward the end of 2012, the Battle.net World Championship will host this year’s StarCraft II and World of Warcraft Arena World Championship tournaments. Blizzard gamers and eSports fans from around the world will be invited to attend and witness some of the most skilled pro players on the planet battle it out for cash and glory.

We’re excited to be showcasing Blizzard eSports on a truly global stage this year. We're also heavily focused on getting Diablo III, Mists of Pandaria, and Heart of the Swarm into players’ hands as soon as possible. In light of our jam-packed schedule, we’ve decided to hold the next BlizzCon in 2013.

More details about the 2012 Battle.net World Championship and BlizzCon 2013, including specific dates and locations, will be coming in the months ahead.

Given that Heart of the Swarm and Diablo III will feature huge eSports pushes from Blizzard I don't see Blizzcon returning in annual form unless those efforts run out of money. And this is Blizzard's money we're talking about.

[Odesseiron]

I give Blizzard a lot of credit here. They could have thrown one just to make a fuck ton of money, but instead they're concentrating on the games. Very classy decision.

[Meresgi]

I give Blizzard a lot of credit here. They could have thrown one just to make a fuck ton of money, but instead they're concentrating on the games. Very classy decision.

Supposedly they don't make very much back on Blizzcon as it costs so much to host, and sign celebs and what not. I remember reading that they operate close to a loss.

[Kaylia]

I always thought they were breaking even or something. Obviously, this kind of promotional events probably pay back itself with all the publicity it generates, but the cost of the events (with the prize they give and all the shit) is probably huge.

[Katlan]

Yeah i never thought they made much, if any, money from blizzcon. I remember reading that some years it was even a loss to them.

[aurik]

The marketing/media coverage that comes out of Blizzcon makes it a huge win even if the event itself is breakeven or slightly in the red. Also D3 isn't supposed to have a huge eSports push.

But yea, 3 major releases in 1 year...pretty busy year for blizz.

[Katlan]

But yea, 3 major releases in 1 year...pretty busy year for blizz.

WoW Expac... D3... whats the 3rd? They 100% aren't pushing SC2: Brood this year. makes no point financially to push 3 major titles in one year instead of staggering them a little so they have something to release in 2013

[Kaylia]

I wouldn't be surprised if Starcraft ended up somewhere between Diablo and Panda. It's been in alpha for a while, and it can't possible take that long to finish. I bet it's ready for public beta, they just want to get Diablo 3 out of the way before.

But more importantly, they probably want a game with montly payment to be the last release before a long break. Wait until people are almost done paying for their "free diablo for 1 year of WoW", then release pandarean.

[Melena]

WoW Expac... D3... whats the 3rd? They 100% aren't pushing SC2: Brood this year. makes no point financially to push 3 major titles in one year instead of staggering them a little so they have something to release in 2013

Project Titan (next Gen MMO) and SC2: Heart of the Swarm which was surprisingly not mentioned in the press release. And yea, publicity wise Blizzcon makes sense, but it's close to a loss. When you factor in the costs to have a band like Ozzy or Foo Fighters play, any celebrity showings, and the amount of temps they have to hire for a week, shit ain't cheap.

And the convention center can eat a dick. I stayed at Anaheim Marriott for a x-mas vacation to Disney with the wife in the middle of december, and despite no conventions going on, Anaheim requires those 4 convention center hotels to tack on a $10.00 a day parking fee on top of the normal resort parking fee. Shit was 28 dollars a day. 3 of our 4 nights there were 29.50 due to my wife's discount.