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MMO Week in Review: Gamescom, Asura, and Ascension
Gamescom was the dominant event this week, bringing news for numerous MMOs including launch dates for Aion 2 and Path of Exile 2, and trailers for Dune Awakening, Sea of Remnants, and Cinder City. Star Citizen's Squadron 42 received another delay into 2027, while Guild Wars 3 revealed its Asura, and Blizzard shut down another World of Warcraft private server. Other news included updates for Throne and Liberty, Ultima Online, and The Division 2, alongside discussions on game design, AI training lawsuits, and the shutdown of the Project Ascension World of Warcraft emulator.
Fresh World of Warcraft Midnight patch notes mean even more buffs in Blizzard's continued class tuning
Blizzard Entertainment has released new patch notes for World of Warcraft's Midnight update, focusing on continued class tuning. The changes aim to buff underperforming PvE specs and speed up PvP combat, with specific adjustments for Frost Death Knights, Havoc and Vengeance Demon Hunters, Druids, Hunters, Mages, Monks, Paladins, and Priests. A change to bonus rolls now restricts their use to encounters where loot is eligible.
Peter Cullen, voice of Optimus Prime in The Transformers, dies aged 85
Peter Cullen, the iconic voice actor behind Optimus Prime in The Transformers franchise, has passed away at the age of 85. Cullen's extensive career also included memorable roles in various video games such as Transformers: Devastation and Warcraft Adventures: Lord of the Clans, as well as other animated characters.
Project Ascension World of Warcraft emulator is shutting down following apparent Blizzard lawsuit settlement
Blizzard Entertainment has reached a mutual agreement with the World of Warcraft emulator Project Ascension, leading to its shutdown on September 4, 2026. The lawsuit accused Project Ascension of intellectual property infringement and generating millions of dollars through its cash shop. The developers plan to shift focus to a new project unrelated to Blizzard games.
World of Warcraft private server Project Ascension confirms shutdown in "mutual agreement" with Blizzard
Project Ascension, a popular network of World of Warcraft private servers, will shut down all its emulated realms on September 4, 2026, as part of a mutual agreement with Blizzard Entertainment. This closure follows similar shutdowns of other private servers like Turtle WoW and Stormforge. The Project Ascension team will shift its focus to developing new projects unrelated to World of Warcraft.
Casually Classic: What clues did Season of Discovery hold for WoW Classic Plus?
The article analyzes Blizzard Entertainment's Season of Discovery for World of Warcraft Classic as a precursor to a potential 'Classic Plus' version of the game. It examines the experimental features introduced, player feedback, and lessons learned that could inform future Classic WoW developments, particularly regarding lore integration and game balance.
Vague Patch Notes: Resenting structure and blaming guidance in MMOs
This article analyzes the evolution of game structure and guidance in MMOs, contrasting early titles like Final Fantasy XI with more modern experiences like Final Fantasy XIV. It discusses how the 'bump method' of exploration in older games has been replaced by more direct questing and guidance, and how this shift impacts player experience and perception of game openness.
WoW Factor: Yes, there really is too much to do in World of Warcraft Midnight
The author expresses feeling overwhelmed by the amount of content and weekly tasks in World of Warcraft's latest patch, "Curse of Ula'tek." Despite the game's history of content droughts, the current eight-week patch cycle is perceived as too fast, leading to an exhausting experience for players, especially those with multiple characters.
Hearthstone Is Dropping Untold Stories through Azeroth’s Most Wanted Class Sets
Hearthstone is introducing new Azeroth's Most Wanted Class Sets focusing on criminals and troublemakers, with prequel sets detailing the backstory of the Escape from Violet Hold. These sets feature seven cards each for Priest, Rogue, Warlock, and Warrior classes, including new Legendary cards and mechanics.
CD Projekt Red to distribute The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt on Blizzard's Battle.net
CD Projekt Red and Blizzard Entertainment have formed a business partnership that will begin with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Remastered being distributed on Blizzard's Battle.net platform starting September 29. The partnership will also include the upcoming expansion, Songs of the Past, next year, and a themed cosmetic skin for Geralt of Rivia in Diablo IV for those who purchase the expansion through Blizzard's store.
PS5 Players Surprised With Free Remaster of the Best PlayStation 4 RPG
CD Projekt RED announced The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered will be free for existing PlayStation 4 owners and launch on September 29, 2026, with PS5 Pro support. The remaster includes visual and performance enhancements, along with a revamped skill tree and combat. An upcoming 2027 expansion, Songs of the Past, was also teased, and a Geralt-inspired skin will be added to Diablo 4.
The Witcher 3 remaster arrives in September, with the brand-new expansion coming in 2027
CD Projekt Red announced that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Remastered will launch on September 29, 2026, for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2, featuring significant upgrades to visuals, performance, and gameplay mechanics. A new paid expansion, Songs of the Past, is scheduled for release in 2027, sending Geralt to the new region of Letten. Additionally, owners of The Witcher 3 will receive the Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine expansions for free.
The Witcher 3 Remastered announced alongside expansion first look
CD Projekt Red announced The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered, a free upgrade for existing owners launching September 29, featuring enhanced visuals, gameplay, and combat. Alongside this, the first footage of the upcoming expansion, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past, was revealed, set to release in 2027 and co-developed with Fool's Theory.
The Witcher 3 Remastered Launches September 29, Expansions Free — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & Guides
CD Projekt RED announced The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered, a free upgrade for existing owners launching September 29, 2026, with visual and gameplay improvements. The game's expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, are now free for all owners. The new paid expansion, Songs of the Past, is coming in 2027, with The Witcher 4 planned for 2028. The Witcher 3 will also be available on Battle.net, including a collaboration with Diablo 4.
Blizzard and CD Projekt Red team up for Diablo 4 Geralt skin and The Witcher 3 on Battle.net
Blizzard Entertainment and CD Projekt Red have announced a collaboration that will bring The Witcher 3: Remastered and its expansion 'Songs of the Past' to Blizzard's Battle.net launcher. Pre-ordering the expansion will grant players a Geralt of Rivia-inspired skin in Diablo 4. Both companies expressed excitement for the partnership, with more details expected at BlizzCon.
Hytale modders reveal WoWTale, aiming to recreate WoW ahead of World Gen 2.0
Modders are recreating elements of World of Warcraft within the game Hytale, with a project called WoWtale aiming to build a rendition of the classic MMO. The team is currently awaiting the 'World Gen 2.0' update for Hytale and is working on individual components like the Deadmines dungeon while seeking contributors.
Gamescom Opening Night Live 2026 report - all the news and announcements as Witcher 3 expansion Songs of the Past shown for first time
Gamescom Opening Night Live 2026, hosted by Geoff Keighley, showcased new game announcements and updates. Highlights included the first look at The Witcher 3 expansion Songs of the Past, footage of Warlock, and a glimpse at the final Final Fantasy 7 Remake installment. Potential reveals for Alien: Isolation 2, Guild Wars 3, and Diablo 4 on Nintendo Switch 2 were also speculated, alongside release date confirmations for titles like The Duskbloods.
MMO Week in Review: Way too early access
This week's MMO news covers the early access launch of Stars Reach, which some consider premature. Other highlights include a look at Guild Wars 3's Kodan, Daybreak's acquisition of Cold Iron Studios, new content for EverQuest Legends, and an analysis of the survival game Stormforge. The article also touches on various other MMO updates, rumors, and industry discussions.
New World of Warcraft Midnight patch notes bring buffs aplenty as Blizzard's "broad" class updates continue
Blizzard Entertainment has released new patch notes for World of Warcraft, focusing on broad class tuning for the Curse of Ula'tek expansion. The latest update primarily buffs underperforming classes such as Death Knights, Druids, Evokers, Monks, Paladins, and Warlocks, aiming to improve spec viability in the MMORPG's endgame content. These adjustments follow a previous patch that included nerfs and are intended to balance gameplay as raid progression continues.
Fourteen Years On, Diablo 3 Remains the Best Diablo — and Nothing Will Change My Mind
Fourteen years after its release, Diablo 3 remains the best entry in the franchise due to its accessible gameplay, fluid build system, and polished combat. While Diablo 2 is often praised for its mood and Diablo 4 for its recency, Diablo 3 offers a more enjoyable and less hardcore experience, especially with its excellent console local co-op implementation.
