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Diablo 4 update fixes problem preventing players from completing the Season 15 questline properly - but there's…
A recent patch for Diablo 4 has fixed a critical bug in Season 15 that prevented players from completing the main questline due to acquiring a Splinter of Prime Evil too early. While the bug is now prevented, affected characters require a workaround to access Prime Evil Powers. Another bug related to rerolling affixes with the Horadric Cube has also been addressed.
Evening Reading - October 14, 2026
This edition of Shacknews Evening Reading covers several gaming news items, including Rockstar Games' statement on future development timelines after Grand Theft Auto 6, details on The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake features like an enemy gallery and Amiibo support, and the announcement of the pocket-sized Xbox Nano Controller. Epic Games is bringing Fortnite to Linux, and World of Warcraft: Forever is implementing a Temporary Economy Holds system. The article also notes renewed interest in Star Wars games and celebrates the anniversary of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky.
Ex-Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan ignores everything about the hero shooter after his 'almost clinical' departure 5 years ago: 'I don't search for my name in Overwatch. I don't search for Overwatch. I sort of just disconnect.'
Former Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan revealed he has completely disconnected from the game and its community since his departure from Blizzard five years ago. He described his exit from World of Warcraft in 2008 as a precursor to his eventual departure from Overwatch, leading to a deliberate separation from the title. Kaplan is now working on a new cowboy-themed survival game called The Legend of California with former Blizzard developer Tim Ford.
World of Warcraft: Forever confirms Temporary Economy Holds system to combat gold buying
Blizzard Entertainment has implemented a new Temporary Economy Holds system in World of Warcraft: Forever to combat gold buying and real money trading. While the system is still being tuned and may produce false positives, it aims to crack down on illicit economic activities within the game.
World of Warcraft Forever schedules a ‘server slam’ stress test for next week
World of Warcraft Forever will host a free 'server slam' stress test next week, starting Monday, October 19th, before its official launch. This event will be available for several hours and precedes the beta's conclusion on October 22nd. Additionally, the game's official soundtrack has been released on streaming platforms.
WoW: Forever Has A Streamer Problem
World of Warcraft: Forever faces significant challenges due to the influence of streamers, particularly concerning real money transactions (RMT) and the formation of massive, server-dominating guilds like Asmongold's Olympus. While Blizzard is attempting to crack down on RMT, the article argues that the game's 'realmless' server structure exacerbates issues by limiting player choice and forcing interaction with problematic streamer communities. The author suggests that Blizzard needs to implement stricter measures to preserve the game's integrity.
Looking back on 10 years of Overwatch, the promises kept, and where Team 4 goes from here
Overwatch celebrates its 10th anniversary, reflecting on its journey as a live service game. Despite past challenges like content droughts and the disappointment surrounding Overwatch 2's PvE, the game is now considered to be in its best state, with developers Aaron Keller and Alec Dawson highlighting the team's passion, commitment to player feedback, and a renewed focus on the core experience. The developers are planning content years in advance, aiming to keep the game fresh and engaging for its dedicated player base.
Ex-Overwatch Director Jeff Kaplan Says He Never Wanted The Spotlight, But The Game Needed A Face
Former Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan reflects on his public-facing role, stating he never sought the spotlight but felt it was necessary for the game's growth and fan engagement. He discusses the personal cost of dealing with player toxicity and his relief in stepping away from Blizzard to work on his new studio's game, The Legend of California.
Jeff Kaplan Says Seperation From Overwatch Was “Clinical”: ” I Never Go Back”
Former Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan stated he has maintained a "clinical separation" from the game since his departure from Blizzard in April 2021. He explained that to protect his own mental well-being and focus on his new independent game, The Legend of California, he avoids engaging with Overwatch content online. Kaplan drew parallels to his earlier departure from World of Warcraft, noting that stepping away from that game was more emotionally impactful.
Jeff Kaplan Was An Industry Icon, Now Peers Ignore His Emails: Ex-Overwatch Director Talks “Humbling” Reality Of Indie Dev
Former Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan discusses the humbling transition from AAA development at Blizzard to leading his independent studio, Kintsugiyama, and its debut title, The Legend of California. He reflects on the challenges of indie development, including industry contacts ignoring his emails, and emphasizes the importance of a developer-run studio focused on creative integrity over corporate mandates. Kaplan also shares personal inspirations for The Legend of California, drawing from his upbringing in California and his father's love for Westerns.
Casually Classic: The good, the bad, and the pretty of the Skyborne
The inclusion of the new Skyborne race in World of Warcraft Classic is a divisive topic, with some seeing it as a bold strategic move by Blizzard to signal a departure from the 'no changes' philosophy and others criticizing its aesthetic and lore disconnect. While the race's design may be jarring to some long-time fans, its potential as a revenue stream through optional purchases and its appeal to players seeking new content could lead to broader acceptance.
WoW: Forever has a new kind of ban to deal with real money trading
Blizzard Entertainment has introduced a new 'Temporary Economy Hold' system in World of Warcraft to combat real money trading (RMT) and gold buying. Accounts suspected of RMT will face restricted access to trade, mail, and auction house functions. This measure aims to stabilize the game's economy, which is particularly important for persistent MMOs without expansion resets, and prevent issues seen in games like Star Wars: The Old Republic.
World of Warcraft: Forever aims to "aggressively shut down the flow of suspicious gold" – but Blizzard warns there "may be false positives" at first
Blizzard Entertainment is implementing a new system in World of Warcraft: Forever to combat real money trading (RMT) by placing suspected accounts under a Temporary Economy Hold. This measure aims to aggressively shut down the flow of illicit gold, though the studio warns of potential false positives during the initial fine-tuning phase. The system will eventually be deployed to all versions of World of Warcraft if successful.
"You don't listen to the loudest people in the room" - World of Warcraft: Forever boss discusses how to approach a deluge of feedback
World of Warcraft executive producer Holly Longdale discussed how Blizzard Entertainment approaches player feedback for the upcoming World of Warcraft: Forever. She emphasized the importance of not solely listening to the loudest voices and highlighted the team's selective approach to incorporating community suggestions, balancing them with data-driven research to maintain the game's core vision.
World of Warcraft: Forever won't destroy what made the old classes so satisfying by modernizing them into oblivion: 'The level of mechanical complexity found in the beta classes is indicative of our intentions'
The article discusses how World of Warcraft: Classic's slower combat and simpler class mechanics offer a more satisfying experience than modern MMOs. Blizzard Entertainment intends to maintain this core design, pacing, and tone in future iterations, focusing on engaging depth rather than overwhelming complexity.
"He was one of us": Unexpected tributes to RJ Mitte pour in from MMO fans saluting a fellow maxed player after…
Tributes are pouring in for actor RJ Mitte, known for his role in Breaking Bad, who has died at age 34. Beyond his acting career, Mitte was a passionate MMORPG player, with many fans of World of Warcraft and RuneScape sharing memories and condolences. The article highlights his dedication to gaming and includes messages of support for suicide prevention.
As Blizzard launches yet another version of World of Warcraft, lead says "our hope is to grow the audience, not to…
Blizzard Entertainment is launching World of Warcraft: Forever, a third version of the game alongside retail and Classic, with the goal of expanding the player base rather than dividing it. Game director Ion Hazzikostas stated that Forever aims to appeal to players not currently served by existing versions, including newcomers and those who find Classic too dated. Senior game designer Josh Greenfield noted record engagement numbers during the beta.
Like GTA 6, God of War Laufey's 'Collector's Box' doesn't come with a copy of the game, and fans are outraged — 'I see Rockstar is an inspiration for everyone'
Santa Monica Studio's God of War Laufey Collector's Box, priced at $149.99, has drawn criticism for not including a copy of the game, a trend also seen with Grand Theft Auto 6's collector's edition. Fans express outrage, calling the practice 'greedy' and 'overpriced cash grabs,' contrasting it with collector's editions that still include game codes or physical copies.
World of Warcraft Forever devs discuss account-wide banks, new races, and tanking Shamans
Developers for World of Warcraft Forever are discussing the implementation of an account-wide bank in the near future and have confirmed that new leveling dungeons and zones will be added to encourage alt character creation. They also addressed the possibility of tanking Shamans and the inclusion of new races, stating that the focus will remain on the original continents for the first few years.
Ben Affleck lost 3 years to Starcraft, has strong Valorant opinions, and mourns RTSes as a genre, so there's solid…
Actor Ben Affleck reflected on his past gaming habits, admitting that Starcraft consumed three years of his life after he became famous. He also shared his opinions on Valorant, finding it a great game but admitting he gets
