Analyst expects new Overwatch and Diablo titles in the next two years
Blizzard EntertainmentFinancial analysts are expecting to see an Overwatch sequel or expansion arrive in 2020, according to a new report.
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There’s been talk of a possible sequel or expansion to Overwatch for awhile now, and a new report from CNBC says various financial analysts are expecting it to come sometime next year.
Jeff Cohen, a research analyst at Stephens Inc. (a private investment banking company) said in the report that “We’re expecting a lot more coming in 2020.”
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Overwatch on Switch has analysts excited
According to CNBC, Blizzard stock has risen 7.9 percent this week following the release of WoW Classic and the announcement that Overwatch will be coming out on Switch on October 15.
“They did a good job of framing 2019 as a transition year and sort of the bottom in terms of the content cycle,” Cohen said. “We’re expecting a lot more coming in 2020.”
Blizzard recently announced that Overwatch would be coming to the Nintendo Switch on October 15.Even though most Overwatch players already have the game on one or two systems, the analyst thinks Blizzard will still see a successful release for the game on Switch.
“There’s a great deal of overlap between the Switch install base and the Xbox and Playstation install base,” Cohen said. “But I do think there’s an opportunity out there for them to basically sell a second copy to people who already have the game.”
All this excitement about Overwatch on Switch has Cohen optimistic that a new Overwatch game, or expansion, could be announced at BlizzCon 2019.
“I do think a big part of the strategy is to focus on those kind of tent pole brands,” Cohen told CNBC.
Uncle Jeff could have some big news for Overwatch fans at BlizzCon 2019.What about other Blizzard games?
Cohen said he also expects Diablo 4 to come out sometime in 2021 and after the PR disaster that was the announcement of Diablo Immortals at BlizzCon 2018, it’s one franchise that could use some good news.
On the World of Warcraft front, the analyst said he expected another new expansion for the game to be announced later this year based on the success of WoW Classic.
Classic WoW turned out to be a surprise hit for Blizzard.Whether Classic players will be interested in a new expansion for the current version of the MMO though, remains to be seen.
It’s not the first time we’ve heard reports about an upcoming Overwatch sequel or expansion this year either, but we won’t know anything for sure until BlizzCon gets going on November 1.
