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Blizzard Cracks Down on Gold Selling in World of Warcraft Forever — and Streamers Are in the Firing Line
Blizzard Entertainment is implementing stricter measures against gold selling in World of Warcraft, including its Classic version. The company is cracking down on the practice, with some streamers reportedly being caught in the process.
Diablo 4's most sought-after unique item has just been found, giving a huge buff to your builds
Players have discovered the highly sought-after Annihilus unique item in Diablo 4, which provides significant buffs to all stats and skills. The item drops after defeating a special encounter with 'Echo of Uber Diablo,' which appears randomly after world boss fights. This discovery marks a major find for the current Season of Hell's Legacy.
World of Warcraft Forever is highlighting its classes… including classes that don’t currently exist
World of Warcraft Forever is highlighting its existing classes like Druid, Hunter, Warrior, Rogue, and Shaman with deep dives and videos. The game is also surveying players about potential new classes such as Demon Hunters, Tinkers, Bards, Illusionists, Witches, and Necromancers, indicating a divergence from the retail version of World of Warcraft.
The greatest RTS units of all time, determined by democracy
PC Gamer is running a reader-voted tournament to determine the greatest real-time strategy (RTS) units of all time. The article details several matchups, featuring iconic units from games like Warcraft 3, Age of Empires 2, and Star Wars: Empire at War, with writers providing commentary on each unit's strengths and appeal.
Blizzard walks back Starcraft 2's huge 2026 redesign, promising to try again later
Blizzard Entertainment has reversed the significant multiplayer redesign for Starcraft 2 that was implemented four months ago. The developer is rolling back most balance changes from patch 5.0.16, citing player feedback and acknowledging that the overhaul fundamentally transformed the game's economy and pacing. A new approach to experimentation is already in development.
As Xbox swings the axe, Gears of War: E-Day developers fear they'll be laid off straight after launch - and right before they'd be due their bonuses
Developers at The Coalition, the studio behind Gears of War: E-Day, are increasingly fearful of imminent layoffs following recent waves of job cuts at Microsoft and Xbox. The departure of the game's story director has heightened anxiety, particularly concerning potential loss of Metacritic bonuses tied to the game's launch.
World of Warcraft: Forever survey pitches new classes to players, including Bard, Witch, and more
Blizzard Entertainment is surveying World of Warcraft: Forever players about potential new classes, including Bard, Witch, Necromancer, and Tinker. While some classes like Demon Hunter and Monk appear similar to existing versions, others are entirely new concepts. The survey suggests these classes may be added post-launch, with concerns raised about potential monetization and balance issues.
WoW: Forever Is Keeping More Than 12,500 Items Secret
World of Warcraft: Forever is intentionally keeping over 12,500 items hidden from dataminers in its beta, representing nearly 40% of the game's total items. While dataminers can see the items exist, their stats and specific properties remain secret, adding an element of mystery to the game's leveling and endgame content. Blizzard VP Holly Longdale noted that the beta is breaking player-number records.
Blizzard is already cracking down on real-money trading in World of Warcraft Forever as devs take $200 worth of gold from alleged rule-breaker: "They left me with 9 silver"
Blizzard Entertainment is actively cracking down on real-money trading in the World of Warcraft: Forever beta. Twitch streamer Ziqo had his accumulated gold, estimated to be worth $200, confiscated by the developers, leaving him with only nine silver. This action demonstrates Blizzard's commitment to maintaining the integrity of the game's in-game economy.
Casually Classic: Five World of Warcraft Forever features that have my full attention
This opinion piece highlights five key features of World of Warcraft Forever that the author is most excited about, including a new camping system, graphical improvements, transmogrification, a legacy system for leveling, and enhanced crafting. The author expresses enthusiasm for how these features will improve the classic MMO experience.
Diablo 5 Seems To Be Fixing Diablo 4’s Biggest Mistake
Diablo 5, revealed at BlizzCon and slated for a 2029 release, appears to be addressing major criticisms of Diablo 4, particularly its lack of procedural generation and static world map. Blizzard is reintroducing procedurally generated dungeons and worlds to create a more dynamic and replayable experience. The developers are also focusing on improving itemization and character class variety.
Diablo 5 "won't be ready for spring 2029," Path of Exile co-creator says, and "Blizzard money"…
Path of Exile co-creator Chris Wilson believes Diablo 5, targeting a spring 2029 release, is unlikely to meet its deadline. He estimates the game has only been a central priority for about five months, suggesting a three-year development window is tight for an RPG of its scope, even with Blizzard's resources. Wilson's analysis suggests delays are probable, a common occurrence in game development.
Diablo 5 puts buildcrafting ahead of execution, following "the core tenet of ARPGs"
Diablo 5 Game Director Joe Shely stated that the upcoming RPG will prioritize buildcrafting and strategic planning over moment-to-moment execution, aligning with the ethos of older Diablo titles. This approach aims to ensure any challenge can be overcome with the right build, a sentiment that has been positively received by figures like former Grinding Gear Games founder Chris Wilson.
Tinker, Bard, Illusionist - Blizzard seemingly surveying World of Warcraft: Forever players about never-before-seen classes to add to the game
Blizzard Entertainment appears to be surveying World of Warcraft: Forever players about potential new classes, including Bard, Tinker, Necromancer, and San'layn. Some surveyed classes are new concepts, while others are reimagined versions of existing classes from modern World of Warcraft, with potential gameplay differences.
Diablo 5 Will Offer a Balance of Planning and Moment-to-Moment Execution, Says Director
Diablo 5 senior game director Joe Shely stated that the game will balance moment-to-moment execution with planning and investment in character builds. This approach aims to satisfy fans of the Action RPG genre who prefer strategic character development, differentiating it from Diablo 3 and 4. The game is slated for a 2029 release.
Diablo 5 director promises Diablo 2-style combat where 'the right build' matters more than Diablo 4's…
The director of Diablo 5 has indicated a shift towards Diablo 2-style combat, emphasizing build planning over moment-to-moment execution, contrasting with Diablo 4's dexterity-focused approach. This move aims to bring back heavier RPG elements and player investment in character builds, which some players have missed since Diablo 3 and 4. The developers are exploring ways to incorporate older design philosophies while still innovating for the new title.
Diablo 5 director responds to concerns the action RPG is more action than RPG: "Any challenge can be overcome with…
Diablo 5 senior game director Joe Shely addressed concerns that the upcoming action RPG might lean too heavily into action mechanics over RPG elements. He stated that while moment-to-moment execution will be present, the game will ultimately focus on planning and investment through builds, ensuring any challenge can be overcome with the right setup. This comes after Grinding Gear Games co-founder Chris Wilson expressed hope for a return to build-centric combat.
Alleged WoW: Forever Survey Teases 11 New Classes, Including Some Deep Cuts
An alleged survey for World of Warcraft: Forever has surfaced, detailing 11 potential new classes for the classic version of the MMORPG. The survey asks players for feedback on classes like Bard, Necromancer, Tinker, and Warden, among others, providing details on lore, abilities, and roles. While some classes are re-imagined versions of existing ones, many are entirely new concepts steeped in World of Warcraft lore.
WoW: Forever Players Are Up In Arms Over Streamer Not Being Banned For Illegal Gold
Players of World of Warcraft: Forever are upset with Blizzard Entertainment over a popular streamer, Ziqo, not being banned for accepting large sums of gold from unknown sources during a beta tournament. This incident has reignited concerns about real-money transactions and botting within the game, with the community demanding equal enforcement of rules for streamers.
From WoW and MTG Addicts to the Keepers of the Tavern in Hearthstone
Executive Producer Nathan Lyons-Smith and Sr. Design Manager Brenden Sewell discuss how their experiences playing World of Warcraft and collectible card games like Magic the Gathering influenced their design work on Hearthstone. They share insights into how their backgrounds shaped the development of Blizzard Entertainment's popular digital card game.