‘Too early to know’ if BlizzCon 2020 will go ahead

Blizzard has addressed the possibility of cancelling BlizzCon 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

In a statement on its site, executive producer Saralyn Smith said it’s “too early to know whether BlizzCon 2020 will be feasible”.

The annual fan event usually takes place in early November at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California.

“The health of our community, employees, and everyone who helps with the show is our top consideration,” said Smith. “It might be a few months before we know for certain if or how we’ll proceed, but as soon as we have a meaningful update, we’ll share it.

“We do want to mention that prior to the recent events we had been actively working to finalize our plans and in fact are still doing so, despite the workplace changes we’ve now made at Blizzard.

“That includes considering a range of scenarios and possibilities, not just in terms of the show, but also regarding what the experience would be for you.”

The coronavirus has led to the cancellation of major video game events including GDC in March, E3 in June, and QuakeCon in August.

Blizzard president J. Allen Brack opened BlizzCon 2019 with an apology for the way the company handled last October’s Hearthstone esports controversy, which saw it come under fire for banning several players who expressed support for Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement during tournaments.

The event was used to announce Diablo 4, Overwatch 2 and new World of Warcraft expansion Shadowlands.