On the evening of March 11, join Blizzard Europe in our hometown of Versailles, France, to celebrate the launch of StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm! The official European launch event at the Palais des Congrès de Versailles is the only one of its kind in Europe, giving you the chance to be part of Blizzard’s first global live stream. We have space, on a ‘first come, first served’ basis, for attendees who did not already receive seating confirmation.

You’ll find below an FAQ containing everything you need to know about attending the event and surviving the Global Swarm Invasion!

I’m so excited to be part of this event! How do I get in?
First come, first served:
If you did not receive an email on March 1 congratulating you for securing a seat in the main auditorium and then confirm your attendance by email by March 7, then you are not guaranteed entry to the venue. However, there will be additional space available inside the venue for several hundred more passionate players to join us. This space is limited and is available on a “first come, first served” basis. The doors will be closed once the venue is full, so we can’t guarantee entry to everyone who shows up. If you’d like to increase your chances of gaining entry, make sure to show up early! However, you cannot queue before 8:00 on Monday March 11.

If you received a “congratulations!” email on March 1 confirming that a seat has been reserved for you in the main auditorium, AND you responded to confirm by March 7:
If you’ve secured a seat in the main auditorium and received a congratulatory confirmation email on March 1, please make sure to bring photo ID and a copy of your confirmation email. If you have a guest, he/she will need to also show photo ID and the confirmation email with his/her name. Please be seated by 18:15 or your seats will be reallocated to someone else.

Where is the launch event happening?
The event is happening at the Palais des Congrès de Versailles. The address is: 10, rue de la Chancellerie, 78000 Versailles, France.

To get there from Paris, you have several options, including the RER C and Transilien trains. The closest stations to the venue are Versailles Château-Rive Gauche and Versailles-Chantiers. You’ll find the best way to get there on the RATP site.

When does the event start?
The doors will open at 17:00 CET, and the live stream and stage show will start at 19:00 CET and continue for several hours. You’ll find the event schedule on the dedicated page.

The event will last for several hours; will there be breaks?
There won’t be any breaks during the show, but you’re free to leave the venue and come back as you like, as long as you keep the wristband you will be given upon entry. If you lose or break your wristband, you will not be able to re-enter the venue.

So that means I can go outside for a snack?
Yes, you can. Food and drinks will not be available inside the venue, but there are several restaurants in the area. You are allowed to bring outside food and drinks into the Palais des Congrès if you like, but not into the main auditorium. Food and drinks other than water are prohibited in the auditorium.

Will I be able to buy Heart of the Swarm at the event?
You’ll have an opportunity to purchase Heart of the Swarm Standard and Collector’s Edition boxes at the on-site retail store, which will open at 17:00 CET. Other StarCraft II merchandise will also be available. Please note that stocks of games and merchandise will be limited.

I don’t speak French; is this an issue?
Blizzard employees who speak several languages will be available on-site. If you have any issues understanding French or English, please ask for assistance in your native language. The live stream and stage show will be presented in English. Please note that our employees will not be able to provide you with translations of the stream in your language.

I use a wheelchair; will I be able to access the venue?
Yes, the Palais des Congrès has the facilities to accommodate wheelchairs.

I’m under 16; can I attend the show?
Anyone under the age of 16 will not be admitted inside the venue, even if they are accompanied by an adult.

I signed up to attend the event very early; why did I not secure a seat in the main auditorium?
We received a lot of sign-ups during the first few hours that it was open. Seats were allocated on a first come, first served basis, so not everyone was able to secure a seat in the main auditorium. Only those who confirmed their attendance by email by March 7, specifying names of attendees, have guaranteed entrance to the venue and seats in the main auditorium.