With Europe's biggest games convention, Gamescom, taking place in Cologne, Germany next week, the event organizers have finally let loose the schedule for this year's shenanigans. It's panels galore for the most part, but it seems to confirm one major thing - Blizzard won't be staging a big press conference this year. But there's still a big-name (non-Blizzard) developer hosting a panel
Holding one back in 2015 for the announcement of World of Warcraft: Legion, Blizzard's 2016 on-stage presences was said to be its biggest yet - for the fans, at least. With that show coming and going with little in the way of new game announcements, it looks like 2017 will follow in its footsteps.
Though other big-name publishers and developers decided against holding press conferences at the event last year - instead opting for a more player-focused event - both Microsoft and EA are hosting major conferences again this year. According to the schedule, however, Blizzard haven't followed suite this time around. Though they're still claiming to have their biggest presence yet. So they're cooking up something. Current bets just seem to be on more content reveals for their ever-growing library of games, so expect new Heroes of the Storm announcements, Hearthstone goodies, StarCraft II tweaks, Diablo news and maybe a little Overwatch news - like a new map. There's every chance of a new character, but that seems like a push. As for World of Warcraft, we're banking on Blizzcon at this point.
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Making a presence, however, is Brendan Greene - AKA: PlayerUnknown of from PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds fame - obviously. Making an appearance on his own panel 'My Journey - From Modder To Creative Director Of PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds', his secret identity couldn't stay hidden for long with all the media appearnces he's been making in light of his game's rapid success.
Blizzard's offerings will be playing out throughout Gamescom next week, but those looking to hear the wise words of PlayerUnknown himself will have to tune in on Wednesday, August 23 at 1PM local. You can do the conversions.
