After four years away, BlizzCon returned with an Azeroth-sized boom today at the Anaheim Convention Center with the start of its legendary Opening Ceremony. For fans on Xbox, we experienced the first reveal of Mauga, the newest hero for Overwatch 2, and got a tease for what’s to come with Diablo IV’s first expansion, Vessel of Hatred. We were even treated to a special appearance by CEO of Microsoft Gaming Phil Spencer to help welcome everyone to the start of this weekend’s celebration.
For those who may not know, BlizzCon is the largest community focused event that celebrates the players who enjoy all the amazing games from Blizzard Entertainment. From World of Warcraft to Overwatch to Diablo, it’s the one time of year where Blizzard’s games become the common ground for connection and friendship.
Xbox is shaping up to have an amazing presence at BlizzCon this year, with 50 game stations in the Overwatch Hall for attendees to enjoy some awesome multiplayer action with Overwatch 2 – and see what that new Le Sserafim x Overwatch 2 collaboration is all about. Xbox will also have several Adaptive Controllers and Accessibility staff on hand to ensure everyone has a chance to enjoy these great games together.
Below, we’ve captured all the exciting Xbox news and reveals from today’s Opening Ceremony. We’ll have more to share about all the games soon on Xbox Wire, so stay tuned. Enjoy!
Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred Announced
Vessel of Hatred is the name of Diablo IV‘s first expansion with a campaign that will continue the dark tale of the prime evil, Mephisto, and his demonic plans for Sanctuary. We’re told we’ll be visiting a new region in Diablo IV (and a favorite of Diablo II): the lush jungles of Nahantu. This mysterious new world will also include new ways to play, with new evils to vanquish, and a completely new class never seen before in the Diablo universe. Vessel of Hatred is set to release in late 2024 and we can’t wait to get more details to share next year.
Quality of Life Improvements Continue for Diablo IV
We heard from Diablo IV Product Directors Tiffany Wat and Chris Wilson as they recapped some of the more recent changes that have taken place in Diablo IV. In particular, the large number of quality-of-life changes that have gone into effect at the start of Season of Blood, like a rebalanced end-game experience that allows you to get to level 100 about 40% faster, additional character slots, Renown rewards have been reworked, and more. And there’s even more Season of Blood content on the way.
Starting next week, five unique, class-specific rings will let you relive some of the fun from the Season of the Malignant. Then on December 5, an enchanting preview will roll out for the Occultist along with the start of the Abattoir of Zir event and the first holiday event, Midwinter Blight, kicking off on December 12. We also got some new details about The Leaderboards and The Gauntlet for Season 3. Check out Blizzard’s official blog here for full details.
Mauga, the Newest Overwatch 2 Hero, Revealed at BlizzCon
Mauga is charging his way onto the battlefield in a trial weekend, available now through Sunday, November 5, in Overwatch 2. Mauga is a powerful, brawling Tank Hero who will tear through the competition with his incendiary and volatile chainguns. Check out Blizzard’s Blog to learn more about how you can jump into Overwatch 2 right now and play Mauga this weekend before his release in Season 8.
Le Sserafim x Overwatch 2 Collaboration Kicks Off
Following up from the news earlier in the week on the Le Sserafim x Overwatch 2 collaboration, the band was on-site at BlizzCon 2023 to help unbox a special custom Xbox console as a gift for their dorm. The custom Xbox Series X featured the collaboration’s logo as well as the special keyart created for the event, where five heroes from Overwatch appear as Le Sserafim’s fans in the concert crowd. The keyart and hero designs, created by Blizzard Korea Studio’s artists, reflects how D.Va, Kiriko, Sombra, Tracer, and Brigette are celebrating a night out as friends and having a ‘Perfect Night’ at Le Sserafim’s concert. The band also gifted Korean streamer Geguri for guiding them around the hall and playing the latest Concert Clash mode in a matchup with other streamers.
Customize Your Own Overwatch 2 Wireless Controller Today with Xbox Design Lab
To celebrate the event and Overwatch 2’s in-game collaboration with Le Sserfim, Xbox have created custom controllers with Xbox Design Lab for your perfect night. This controller is now available to design and order here.