Blizzard Entertainment
Blizzard Entertainment business and news from across the web.
Blizzard is already patching Diablo 4 Season 14 after players proved Mythics got screwed up, update coming next week…Blizzard Entertainment is preparing a patch for Diablo 4's Season 14, 'Death Awakening,' to address player concerns about extremely low drop rates for Iconic Mythic items. The update, expected within the next week, will also fix issues with Mythic Uniques tagged as 'Crafted' when obtained through the Horadric Cube. This adjustment aims to improve the game's long-term health while addressing immediate player feedback on item acquisition.- The Daily Grind: Have you ever tried to explain MMORPGs to people who don’t play them?This article discusses the difficulty of explaining the appeal and intricacies of Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs) to individuals who do not play them. It uses a personal anecdote about explaining guild drama in World of Warcraft to highlight the challenges of conveying the genre's complexities.
WoW's game director thinks its UI overhaul has been 'successful so far,' even if it's 'not…World of Warcraft Game Director Ion Hazzikostas stated that the game's UI overhaul has been largely successful, despite initial community controversy regarding addon restrictions. While acknowledging ongoing work and some exceptions, he believes the changes allow more players to engage with content without relying on external tools. Blizzard plans further improvements to the base UI and addon interface in upcoming patches.
Report: Obsidian to work on Fallout title as unannounced projects cancelledObsidian Entertainment is reportedly developing a new Fallout game, led by Fallout: New Vegas director Josh Sawyer, as part of a wider Xbox restructuring that has led to the cancellation of several unannounced projects and layoffs. A small team will continue work on an Avowed sequel, while others focus on DLC for The Outer Worlds 2 and Grounded 2. This news follows a significant increase in Fallout game sales after the premiere of the Prime Video adaptation.
Diablo 4 streamer spends "20 hours non-stop" farming bosses for the ARPG's rarest items, doesn't get…A Diablo 4 content creator named wudijo spent 20 hours farming bosses in the new 'Death Awakening' season without obtaining any 'Iconic' Mythic items, highlighting community concerns about the rarity and drop rates of the game's rarest loot. Despite Blizzard's rework of Mythic Uniques to include guaranteed synergistic powers, the difficulty in acquiring specific Iconic Mythics has become a new point of frustration for players.
Blizzard knows World of Warcraft's removal of raid add-ons is "controversial," but the MMO's lead says its new UI "has been successful so far"Blizzard Entertainment director Ion Hazzikostas acknowledges the controversy surrounding the removal of combat add-ons in World of Warcraft with the Midnight expansion, but states the new UI has been successful. He believes the changes promote a more approachable experience and a level playing field, with most players still completing content without external tools.
Blizzard eliminates 'small number' of roles in ChinaBlizzard Entertainment has eliminated a small number of roles in China as part of an operational model evolution in the region. Studio president Johanna Faries stated these changes are intended to strengthen regional publishing and product management capabilities. This news follows broader layoffs announced by Xbox, impacting thousands of employees across Microsoft's gaming division.
WoW Classic player hits 60 on hardcore self-found with every class, decides that isn't enough, does a naked run for…A dedicated World of Warcraft Classic player has achieved a remarkable feat by reaching level 60 on every class in the game's hardcore self-found mode. This challenge requires players to reach the maximum level without dying and without trading, using the auction house, or sending mail. The player also completed a naked fire mage run, showcasing extreme dedication to the game.
With the sword of Microsoft hanging over it, Blizzard quietly drops Overwatch in Korea into the hands of NexonBlizzard Entertainment is transferring publishing duties for Overwatch in Korea to Nexon, with a new PC service set to launch on August 12. This move comes amidst significant restructuring within Microsoft's gaming division, including layoffs and studio divestitures. Nexon aims to enhance the Overwatch experience through hyperlocalization and advanced live operations.
Hearthstone: Escape From Violet Hold Out Today – Discover the Game’s Enduring Life LessonsThe digital card game Hearthstone, with its new expansion Escape From Violet Hold, offers players valuable life lessons in resilience, flexibility, and staying calm under pressure. The article explores how navigating challenging in-game situations mirrors real-life problem-solving, emphasizing the importance of not conceding too early, adapting plans, and avoiding panic.- World of Warcraft accidentally started another plague-spreading incident with a debuffA debuff called Withering Contagion from the Brackenhide Hollow dungeon in World of Warcraft's Dragonflight expansion unintentionally spread outside its intended area during a recent Timewalking event. This caused players to die in unintended locations, reminiscent of the 2005 Corrupted Blood incident, though the bug was quickly fixed.
Former Xbox boss Don Mattrick once reportedly suggested Halo 4 should have a real-money auction house like Diablo 3 infamously didFormer Xbox boss Don Mattrick reportedly suggested that Halo 4 should feature a real-money auction house for in-game items, similar to Diablo 3's controversial experiment. This idea was met with internal disbelief by the development team, who recognized the potential negative impact on the game's reputation and completion status. Halo 4 ultimately launched without such a feature, and Mattrick departed Microsoft in 2013.- Blizzard devs in the dark for now as president of the World of Warcraft and Diablo studio says they "can expect to hear more" soon about Microsoft's plan for the studio as Xbox faces 3,200 job cutsAmid significant layoffs impacting approximately 3,200 positions at Xbox, Blizzard Entertainment president Johanna Faries has communicated to staff that more details regarding the studio's future under Microsoft will be shared soon. While Blizzard's major franchises like World of Warcraft and Diablo appear largely untouched for now, the company is bracing for potential restructuring and changes in the coming months.
Report – Xbox cuts around 25% of Obsidian staffXbox has initiated significant layoffs across its studios, with Obsidian Entertainment reportedly losing around 25% of its staff, impacting producers, artists, designers, and more. This is part of Microsoft's larger plan to lay off 3,200 employees by June 2027, though Blizzard Entertainment teams have been spared for now. The restructuring aims to shift focus away from smaller acquired studios, but the arbitrary nature of the cuts is causing concern over lost expertise.- How XBOX Layoffs Impact StudiosReports indicate that recent Xbox layoffs have affected several Microsoft studios, with Blizzard Entertainment's president reportedly sending an email to staff. The extent of the impact on these studios is still being assessed.
The Gaming Industry Is Eating Itself AliveXbox is undergoing a massive restructuring, including 3,200 layoffs, impacting numerous studios and divisions like Activision, Bethesda, and Blizzard. While some studios regain independence and first-party projects remain safe for now, the article criticizes Xbox's overall strategy, citing Game Pass's performance and declining hardware revenue. The piece also touches on PlayStation's similar issues with digital ownership and preservation, painting a bleak picture for the future of gaming costs and ownership.- Report: The “majority” of ID software and up to half of Zenimax online have lost their jobsReports indicate significant layoffs across several Xbox-owned studios, including a majority of ID Software and up to half of ZeniMax Online Studios. These cuts affect teams working on titles like The Elder Scrolls Online, with roadmaps expected to shift. Other studios like Compulsion Games and Double Fine are reportedly going independent.
"Game execs remain stupid detached money grubbing idiots": Former Xbox boss wanted Halo 4 to copy Diablo 3's horrible real-money auction house, dev saysA former Xbox executive, Don Mattrick, suggested that Halo 4 should implement a real-money auction house for in-game items, similar to Diablo 3's controversial feature. This suggestion was recalled by a recently laid-off Halo designer, Dan Callan, who criticized the detachment of executives from game development realities and the negative impact of such monetization strategies.- The $69 Billion Hangover: Every Xbox Layoff Since The Activision Blizzard MergerMicrosoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion has been followed by significant layoffs and studio closures within its Xbox division. These cuts, described by Xbox CEO Asha Sharma as a "reset" due to an unhealthy business, have impacted thousands of employees and led to the cancellation of several game projects across various studios since January 2024.
- World Of Warcraft Just Got A Sequel To Its Most Literally Viral MomentA player-induced in-game plague, dubbed 'Corrupted Blood 2.0', recently spread through World of Warcraft's Moonguard server, originating from the Dragonflight dungeon Brackenhide Hollow. This event mirrors a similar, more severe incident from 2005. Blizzard Entertainment quickly resolved the recent outbreak with a hotfix within hours.