Blizzard's BlizzCon Line: A Look Back at What Could Have Been

The recent Kotaku report suggesting that Blizzard may have planned to announce Diablo 4 with a teaser video during the BlizzCon opening ceremony has left many fans wondering what could have been. Instead of showing off some new and exciting gameplay, the studio could have simply revealed a blank screen with 'DIABLO 4' written in Comic Sans and stated that they had no idea how long it would take to make. This approach might have helped fans swallow the Immortal pill easier.

The strategy is not unfamiliar in the gaming industry. Nintendo, for example, used this tactic last year by showing nothing more than a logo for Metroid Prime 4 before announcing the 3DS remake Metroid: Samus Returns. While we haven't heard anything about Metroid Prime 4 since then, fans at least know it's coming.

Similarly, Microsoft announced Gears POP! mobile game right before Gears 5 during their E3 presentation. This approach allows developers to build hype and anticipation for a major release without feeling obligated to show off every detail immediately.

In retrospect, Blizzard could have used this strategy to announce Diablo 4 at BlizzCon. By presenting the announcement as a teaser rather than a full-blown reveal, fans might not have been as disappointed by the lack of new information about Immortal. It's possible that people wouldn't have gotten as upset if they knew that bigger games were in development.

While we may never know for sure what Blizzard was planning to show at BlizzCon, it's clear that the studio is taking a cautious approach with its biggest franchises. By building anticipation and hype through teasers and announcements, developers can create a sense of excitement without feeling pressured to deliver immediate results.

In the end, Diablo 4 may not have been the main event at BlizzCon, but the knowledge that it's coming will likely keep fans excited for the future.

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