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Wizards of the Coast president John Hight is stepping down
John Hight, president of Wizards of the Coast and former executive producer of World of Warcraft, is stepping down from his role. He will transition to an advisory position with Hasbro, the parent company, until September 1, continuing to receive his salary and a bonus for fiscal year 2026. Hight has overseen the Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons and Dragons franchises, as well as the digital gaming division, during a period that saw several game cancellations and layoffs.
Final Fantasy XIV’s Yoshida hints at bigger housing overhauls coming to the game during Evercold
Final Fantasy XIV producer and director Naoki Yoshida discussed upcoming housing system improvements during a fan festival. He indicated that major overhauls are planned, including a more accessible UI and a potentially highly-requested feature that could involve more accessible or instanced housing, with some updates expected during the Evercold patch cycles.
Epic Games just hired former Battle.net head, as studio gears up for "the era of Unreal Engine 6"
Epic Games has hired Martin Keely, former Senior Vice President of Technology and Services for Battle.net at Blizzard Entertainment, as the new Vice President/General Manager for the Epic Games Store and Epic Online services. CEO Tim Sweeney stated this move is part of Epic's preparation for the era of Unreal Engine 6 and the development of an open, interoperable gaming ecosystem across platforms and stores.
John Hight steps down as Wizards of the Coast president
John Hight, president of Wizards of the Coast, will step down on September 1 after two years in the role. He will continue with the company as an advisor. Hight previously served as general manager for the Warcraft franchise at Blizzard. During his tenure at Wizards of the Coast, he oversaw Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering.
RTS games aren't dead yet - but nothing hits quite like Starcraft 2
Despite the rise of newer RTS titles and the enduring popularity of Starcraft 2, the genre's current state is questioned, with many modern games failing to match Starcraft 2's campaign quality. The article highlights Starcraft 2's exceptional mission design, narrative integration, and accessible free-to-play model as reasons for its continued relevance, while acknowledging the struggles of newer RTS projects like Stormgate and Battle Aces.
Epic taps Blizzard's Battle.net lead to fix the Epic Games Store as Steam dominates
Epic Games has appointed Martin Keely, formerly of Blizzard Entertainment's Battle.net, as the new VP and GM of the Epic Games Store. This move aims to improve the storefront's competitiveness against Valve's Steam. Keely expressed his excitement to enhance player and developer experiences within an open gaming ecosystem.
Ion Hazzikostas on World of Warcraft’s Ula’tek story, PvP, and griving himself a B or B- grade on addons
World of Warcraft game director Ion Hazzikostas discussed the upcoming Curse of Ula'tek story, which continues the narrative of The Midnight expansion. He also shared his self-assigned grades for the expansion's progress, noting that Player vs Player content needs more attention despite a shrinking player base, and that housing has been successful. Hazzikostas also addressed the handling of addons, giving himself a B or B-.
MMO Week in Review: FFXIV in Berlin, Black Desert in SoCal, and Jimothy saturation
This week's MMO news covers Final Fantasy XIV's Fan Festival in Berlin, Black Desert's Heidel Ball, and the early access launch of SEED. Updates were also provided for Dungeons & Dragons Online, Aion 2, and The Guild reunion movie. Several games saw controversy including World of Warcraft staff cheating, Elder Scrolls Online capacity issues, and Microsoft layoffs.
What does GTA Online 2.0 even look like—and, more to the point, what do we even want from Grand Theft Auto 6…
This opinion piece speculates on the future of GTA Online, questioning what "GTA Online 2.0" might look like given the increasing focus on user-generated content and live service platforms. The author considers how Rockstar Games might evolve the multiplayer experience for Grand Theft Auto 6, drawing parallels with other games like Fortnite and Roblox, while also acknowledging the potential challenges in balancing creativity with the core essence of the Grand Theft Auto series.
Final Fantasy 14 is planning 2 major overhauls to its housing system to catch up with World of Warcraft: 'It's probably the number 1 thing on the list a lot of people are requesting'
Final Fantasy 14 director Naoki Yoshida revealed plans for two major overhauls to the game's housing system, inspired in part by World of Warcraft's new system. The first overhaul will focus on making the UI more accessible for casual players, while the second, more secretive overhaul is also planned and is highly requested by the player base.
Task Bar Hero has normalized real money item auction houses, and Blizzard must be raging
Task Bar Hero, a popular side-scrolling RPG on Steam, features a real money auction house where players can buy and sell in-game items for very low prices. This mechanic draws parallels to Diablo 3's controversial real money auction house, sparking debate within the community. The article questions the normalization of such systems in modern gaming, especially given the game's design that encourages long playtimes and potential pay-to-progress elements.
World of Warcraft is reportedly getting a crossover with Dungeons & Dragons according to a hastily deleted article
A deleted post from Roll20 suggests that World of Warcraft is planning a crossover with Dungeons & Dragons, though neither Wizards of the Coast nor Blizzard Entertainment have made an official announcement. This potential collaboration follows D&D's recent surge in popularity and its history of cross-media ventures.
Final Fantasy 14 Evercold changes housing for the better, Yoshi-P says, and World of Warcraft's "amazing" take on the MMO staple has "been a good source of research"
Final Fantasy 14 producer and director Naoki Yoshida announced two major overhauls for the game's housing system, planned for the patch 8.0 series following the Dawntrail expansion. Yoshida cited World of Warcraft's housing system as a source of inspiration and research for these upcoming improvements, aiming to make the system more accessible and enjoyable for players.
A crossover between Dungeons & Dragons and World of Warcraft has leaked
A crossover between Dungeons & Dragons and World of Warcraft has reportedly leaked ahead of the Gen Con event. The leak suggests a setting book for D&D 5th edition based on the Warcraft universe, similar to previous Magic: The Gathering collaborations. This would not be the first time Blizzard and D&D have partnered, with past collaborations including a World of Warcraft RPG.
Discussion time: Have you ever said goodbye to an MMO you've played for 1,000s of hours?
This article discusses the deep emotional and time investment players have in MMOs, using Destiny 2 as a primary example of a game that players eventually have to say goodbye to. It explores the unique bonds formed within these games and the difficulty of moving on, especially when a game doesn't have direct competitors. The author, Sean Martin, reflects on his own experience with Destiny 2 and poses questions to the community about their experiences with MMO farewells.
Guild Wars 2, World of Warcraft, and AQ3D confirm that Jimothy pets are incoming
Several MMORPGs are introducing in-game pets based on the viral raccoon "Jimothy." World of Warcraft and Guild Wars 2 have confirmed their versions are coming soon, with Guild Wars 2 setting a release date of August 11th. AdventureQuest 3D has already released its Jimothy pet and a related hat.
Weekend PC Download Deals for July 24: Steam Train Fest
This weekend's PC gaming deals include the Steam Train Fest featuring train-themed games, alongside significant discounts on titles like Resident Evil Requiem, Hades 2, and Red Dead Redemption 2 across various digital storefronts. Several games are also available for free weekends or trials, including Killing Floor 3 and Metal Gear Solid.
Dungeons & Dragons World of Warcraft Crossover May Have Been Leaked
A leaked Roll20 post suggests Wizards of the Coast is planning a crossover between Dungeons & Dragons and World of Warcraft. This potential supplement or campaign module would be the first major crossover since the World of Warcraft RPG books for D&D 3.5e, and more details may emerge at Gen Con.
Jimothy, The Viral Raccoon, Is Becoming An Earnable WoW Pet
Blizzard Entertainment is adding Jimothy, a viral raccoon known for his unique physique, as an earnable pet companion in World of Warcraft's upcoming 12.1 Curse of Ula'tek update. The company responded to overwhelming community demand after initially posting a mock-up of the raccoon in-game. The update will also introduce new zones, raids, dungeons, and housing features.
Blizzard Employee Out Of A Job After Allegedly Helping Friends Cheat In WoW
A Blizzard Entertainment employee has been terminated after allegedly using developer tools to help friends cheat in a high-level Mythic+ dungeon run in World of Warcraft. The incident involved an in-game spell that instantly killed remaining enemies, which is not available to players. Blizzard confirmed the employee's dismissal and stated that while developer tools are used for urgent fixes, their misuse violates company policy.