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Blizzard’s big gaming show BlizzCon returns this November after four years off, and ticket prices are higher than ever. The Warcraft and Overwatch company has announced more details about BlizzCon 2023, including ticket prices and an overview of what attendees can expect.
Starting with ticket prices, fans can get in for $300 USD for a general admission ticket. A Portal Pass includes all general admission perks and much more–for the price of $800. GA tickets include access to all halls, early access to the BlizzCon Store, in-game content, and an backpack. People who buy the Portal Pass get all that plus access to a private lounge featuring meet-and-greets, as well as separate registration and security lines. These premium tickets also get people in earlier than everyone else.
Tickets will go on sale in July across two waves. Wave 1 goes live on Saturday, July 8, starting at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET through AXS. The second wave opens on Saturday, July 22, at the same time. People can purchase a maximum of two tickets per order.
No comparison is perfect, complete, or strictly fair, but tickets for BlizzCon 2019–the last in-person BlizzCon event–started at $230. The Portal Pass that year was $550.
People staying home can watch for free, but a Virtual Ticket will also be available that comes with in-game content, early access to merch, and more to be announced later. Pricing for the Virtual Ticket was not announced.
BlizzCon 2023 takes place November 3-4 in Anaheim, California. For 2023, Blizzard said the aim is to make the event “more experiential than ever before.” Fans can expect “massive installations, art, and thematic spaces” featuring franchises like Warcraft, Diablo, and Overwatch. Attendees can also attend developer panels and learn about upcoming Blizzard projects. The first Overwatch World Cup will take place at BlizzCon as well.
The show historically includes a performance by a major band, too. Previous performers have included The Offspring, Metallica, Muse, Blink 182, and Ozzy Osbourne. Blizzard has not announced if there will be a concert at BlizzCon 2023.
In a change from previous years, all panels, the Community Night, and the Opening Ceremony will take place in the BlizzCon Arena (though the Opening Ceremony will be available to watch on all screens in the convention center). The Arena has limited seating, so Blizzard will pick people randomly. As for the panels and Community Night, these will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. People watching at home don’t have to worry, as all panels will be broadcast simultaneously for free.
In terms of accessibility, Blizzard said it will provide aides/personal assistants for people who need them. There will also be American Sign Language support and captions for everything in the BlizzCon Arena. Additionally, people with specific needs will receive priority seating, personal accommodation rooms, and support for service animals. Blizzard is requesting that people with accessibility needs notify Blizzard by September 1, 2023 through this email: bcaccessibility@blizzard.com.
Blizzard went on to say that it has a zero-tolerance policy for bad behavior. Any bad actors will face “appropriate consequences” that could included getting kicked out and/or permanently banned. Security on-site might also elevate any issues with local authorities.
Blizzard’s Mike Ybarra said in May that the company has “a lot to show” during BlizzCon 2023, despite the fact that the show hadn’t been announced at the time.
Blizzard announced a survival game in 2022, and fans haven’t seen it yet, so the title seems to be a candidate for something that could show up at BlizzCon 2023. The show could also be a forum for where Blizzard announces the upcoming Diablo IV expansions. Blizzard could also provide updates on its biggest franchises like Hearthstone, StarCraft, Warcraft, and more.
