After a four-year hiatus, BlizzCon, the iconic celebration of Blizzard's gaming portfolio including Overwatch, World of Warcraft, and Diablo, is returning in a physical form on November 3 and 4 in Anaheim, California. This year's edition offers a novel twist: a completely free livestream for those unable to attend in person. But there's a catch—the in-person tickets have seen a significant price bump. General Admission will set fans back 299 USD, and a mysterious Portal Pass is priced at 799 USD.
Before the pandemic hit, a virtual BlizzCon ticket cost 50 USD, offering a limited view of the weekend's activities. This year, Blizzard is throwing the virtual doors wide open, offering a complimentary all-access livestream. In contrast, in-person ticket prices have surged by 30% for General Admission and 45% for the Portal Pass compared to 2019 rates.
BlizzCon Ticket Prize Variation
The 299 USD ticket offers early access to the BlizzCon Store and exclusive in-game items. The Portal Pass, at 799 USD, includes perks like a separate security line, an exclusive lounge, and bizarrely, meet-and-greets with Blizzard employees. Considering the price tag, you might finally get to ask Aaron Keller, the Overwatch 2 game director, about that elusive PvE mode.
As the prices started making rounds on social media, fan reactions ranged from labeling the new rates as "insane" to making comparisons with what else the money could buy, like Disneyland tickets. Meanwhile, the gaming giant has been embroiled in controversies, from harassment lawsuits to the stalled Microsoft acquisition. With this return, Blizzard seems focused on going big, though whether fans will shell out to be part of it remains to be seen.
Source: Blizzard