In April, Blizzard warned that this year's BlizzCon "may not be feasible" due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, the studio officially announced: BlizzCon 2020 will be canceled. [BlizzCon Executive Producer Saralyn Smith said, "During this time we have had numerous discussions about what kind of convention we could host, taking into account health and safety considerations. We also talked about the different avenues we could take and how each could be complicated by fluctuating national and regional health guidelines in the coming months." Ultimately, after weighing our options, we came to the very difficult decision not to host Blizzcon this year.

"We are deeply disappointed in this decision and I imagine many of you feel the same way. I love BlizzCon with all my heart, and I think that is a sentiment shared by everyone at Blizzard. I will miss connecting with so many of you at the convention this fall and "recharging my geek batteries."

The good news is that, like many other companies, Blizzard is planning an online event to "convey the BlizzCon spirit" during the absence of the actual event. Alternatives to the esports competitions usually held at BlizzCon, such as the Hearthstone Global Finals and the Overwatch World Cup, are also planned.

"We'll keep you posted as plans develop," Smith wrote. But until then, you can explore the Shadowlands, hang out at the Tavern, push your payload (do it!) ) and hope to see you all wherever you roam in the Blizzard world.

We're working on a list of online events to replace the cancelled conventions this year, including the return of the PC Gaming Show on June 6, so watch this space.