Blizzard Entertainment announced today that its annual BlizzCon event will be returning as an online event in February 2021.
Last April, Blizzard said it would look into how feasible BlizzCon 2020 would be after the COVID-19 pandemic swept the world. The company then canceled the in-person gaming convention a month later with plans for an online event in early 2021.
The new event, known as BlizzConline, will be an online show taking place on Feb. 19 and Feb. 20, 2021. The company has only announced the community showcase for the event, which consists of several contests and spotlights.
Those who cosplay will be able to send pictures and videos of themselves or their pets for the show in the Cosplay Exhibition, and can win in one of four Cosplay Contest categories: Best Blizzard Character, Best Blizzard Weapons & Armor, Best Modern Creation, and Best Traditional Creation. Each winner of the four categories will then be judged for the Best Cosplay winner.
There will also be contests for art and digital storytelling alongside the Talent Spotlight for solo or group acts to sing, dance, or perform other special talents. One BlizzCon staple, the March of the Murlocs, will still happen with a series of photos or 30–60 second videos.
The deadline to submit entries in any event is Jan. 4, 2021, and the official rules and registration can be found here.