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Break the Rules in Escape from Violet Hold, Hearthstone’s Next Expansion
Hearthstone's next expansion, Escape from Violet Hold, launches on July 7 and introduces new mechanics that break core game rules, such as running duplicate Legendaries and drawing extra cards. The expansion features a prison break theme with characters like Vanessa VanCleef and Warden Maiev Shadowsong, and introduces new keywords like 'Prepare' and mechanics like 'Disguised' minions and 'Bribe' cards. Players can claim free cards and participate in a pre-release Tavern Brawl starting June 30.
Overwatch is changing the requirements for its rarest anniversary event reward after realising playing 240 games over 3…
Blizzard Entertainment is adjusting the requirements for a rare player title in the Overwatch anniversary event after player feedback indicated the grind was too demanding. Game director Aaron Keller announced that the requirements for the 'Table Flip' title have been lowered, and players who already earned it will receive a special 'Double Table Flip' title. The changes aim to make rewards more accessible and celebratory of the game's 10-year history.
Overwatch devs make major changes to Anniversary event following fan criticism
Overwatch Game Director Aaron Keller announced that the 10th Anniversary event has been extended and the requirements for the "Table Flip" title have been reduced from 48 to 38 challenges. These changes were made in response to significant player criticism regarding the difficulty and time commitment required to earn the reward. The event will now run until the end of Overwatch Season 2 on June 16, 2026.
Riot hires another World of Warcraft veteran to get its League of Legends MMO over the line as we approach 6 years since…
Riot Games has hired former World of Warcraft veteran Brian Holinka as principal game designer for its upcoming League of Legends MMO. Holinka, who previously served as lead PvP designer and lead combat designer for World of Warcraft, joins other former Blizzard employees working on the project. Riot co-founder Marc Merrill recently reaffirmed the company's commitment to developing the MMO.
The League of Legends MMO adds another World of Warcraft vet to its team
Riot Games has hired Brian Holinka, former lead combat designer for World of Warcraft, as a principal game designer for its upcoming League of Legends MMO. This move follows the addition of other former Blizzard and World of Warcraft veterans to the development team, indicating continued progress on the long-in-development MMORPG.
StarCraft 2’s Biggest Update In Years Will “Shake Up Everything”
Blizzard Entertainment is releasing a significant update for StarCraft 2, patch 5.0.16, which aims to fundamentally alter the game's economy and race dynamics. This update, which will be tested on the PTR before going live, introduces changes to starting workers, mineral nodes, and race-specific units, with the goal of extending early and mid-game strategies and increasing overall diversity. Player reactions suggest the changes are substantial enough to be considered a "new game" or "StarCraft 3."
Not So Massively: Reflecting on the first year of Overwatch Stadium
This article reflects on the first year of Overwatch's experimental game mode, Stadium, describing its current state as 'weird' with a mix of fun and inconsistency. It details the mode's evolution, including the addition of new heroes like Brigitte and Pharah, the introduction of quick play and new map types, and discusses player reception to changes like item icon reworks and the addition of divisive heroes like Jetpack Cat.
Blizzard surprises with meta-shaking StarCraft 2 update after years of quieter support and fixes - "Some of these changes are wild"
Blizzard Entertainment has released a significant update, version 5.0.16, for StarCraft 2 on the Public Test Realm. The update aims to extend the early and mid-game by reducing starting workers and altering resource node counts, while also overhauling the Protoss Warpgate. This meta-shaking change is intended to increase strategic diversity across all three races.
Baldur's Gate 2 remake is reportedly in the works at Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is reportedly working on a remake of Baldur's Gate 2, with a potential remaster of the original also in development. Kevin Martens, who worked on the original Baldur's Gate 2, has returned to Wizards of the Coast and is involved in the project. This news follows the immense success of Baldur's Gate 3 and aims to capitalize on the franchise's renewed popularity.
After being shut down by Blizzard, one of WoW's biggest private servers is saying screw it, we'll make our own…
Following a shutdown by Blizzard Entertainment, the developers behind the World of Warcraft private server TurtleWoW have announced they are forming a new studio, Moonwhisper Games, to create their own MMO. The team cited their years of experience building and managing MMO experiences as preparation for this ambitious undertaking.
The Daily Grind: Do you want people to stare at your character while you’re AFK?
This opinion piece discusses player preferences within MMORPGs, specifically questioning whether players desire their characters to be admired while AFK. It uses World of Warcraft's raid-centric design as a point of comparison for player motivations and endgame engagement.
Uncharted 3 co-director and The Dragon Prince co-creator joins the Overwatch team, once again reigniting hopes for an…
Justin Richmond, co-director of Uncharted 3 and co-creator of The Dragon Prince, has joined Blizzard Entertainment as the new Franchise Creative Director for Overwatch. This appointment has reignited community hopes for an Overwatch animated series, a possibility that has also been hinted at by Overwatch general manager Walter Kong.
The team behind Turtle WoW is starting fresh with a new MMO: "We know this is an enormous undertaking"
The developers behind the defunct Turtle WoW private server have formed a new studio, Moonwhisper Games, to create an original MMORPG. Despite acknowledging the immense challenges of developing an MMO from scratch, the team aims to build a new world and IP, leveraging their years of experience managing communities and creating content for the genre.
From The Witcher to Fallout: The Best GUNNAR Optiks Collaborations
This article highlights the best gaming eyewear collaborations from GUNNAR Optiks, focusing on designs inspired by popular video games and franchises. It details specific models inspired by The Witcher, Cyberpunk 2077, Call of Duty, Alienware, Fallout, and Overwatch, noting their unique aesthetics, blue light filtering capabilities, and available lens options.
Diablo 4's next season is doing something bold with Mythical items that should pique the interest of casual players
Diablo 4's upcoming Season 14, expected to launch on June 30, will introduce significant changes to its loot system, specifically focusing on Mythical items. Blizzard is making Mythical items more accessible by allowing any Unique item to be upgraded into a Mythic using the Horadric Cube, a change aimed at benefiting casual players and those returning each season.
You can win tickets to Diablo's Infernal Symphony, celebrating 30 years of Blizzard's ARPG
Blizzard Entertainment is celebrating 30 years of Diablo with a special concert event, 'Diablo: The Infernal Symphony,' in London. The event will feature music from across the entire Diablo franchise. This article announces a giveaway for two tickets to the concert, with the giveaway open to UK residents aged seven and older.
StarCraft 2 development ended 6 years ago, but Blizzard still won't stop messing with it
Blizzard Entertainment has released a new update for StarCraft 2, six years after ending new content development. The patch focuses on extending the early and mid-game experience by reducing starting workers, making Gateway play more viable, and increasing strategic diversity. The update also includes numerous bug fixes and quality-of-life improvements.
Diablo 4 Is Getting A Long-Awaited Solo Mode Next Season
Diablo 4 will introduce a Solo-Self-Found (SSF) mode in Season 14, allowing players to create characters that cannot team up with or trade with others. This mode will be seasonal-only, with SSF characters reverting to normal characters at the end of the season. Season 14 will also feature new seasonal mechanics, item reworks, and balance changes, including a controversial overhaul of Mythic Uniques.
StarCraft 2 Fans Shocked After Blizzard Launches Major Balance Changes for the First Time in Years
Blizzard Entertainment has announced significant balance changes for StarCraft 2 in update 5.0.16, marking the first major adjustments to the game in years. The news has generated considerable shock and discussion among the player base.
NetEase reports 6.9% increase in games revenue to $3.7bn during Q1
NetEase reported a 6.9% increase in gaming revenue for the first quarter, reaching $3.7 billion. The company's overall revenue also saw a 6.1% rise to $4.4 billion, driven primarily by online game operations and sales from self-developed titles. NetEase highlighted successful global launches and ongoing innovation as key to its strategy.
