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Xbox to Undergo New Round of Layoffs Affecting “Several” Employees, Will Consolidate Studios – Rumor
Xbox is reportedly preparing for another round of significant layoffs, potentially affecting hundreds of employees across multiple studios, including Blizzard. This follows previous job cuts and a stated need to 'reset Xbox' due to weakening business margins. The company is also consolidating some of its studios, with Ninja Theory, Compulsion Games, Double Fine Productions, and Undead Labs being divested.
Why World of Warcraft: Forever isn't for Azeroth's heroes, but for everyone else
World of Warcraft: Forever is positioned as a distinct third pillar of the franchise, focusing on life and community in Azeroth rather than grand heroic narratives. Lead designers Tim Jones and Nora Mills explain that the game emphasizes grounded stories, approachable gameplay, and social experiences, differentiating it from both modern WoW and existing Classic versions. The new title aims to provide a slower-paced, more personal journey with features like camping and a new Skyborne race, with a closed beta planned for November.
Diablo 5 tells "three stories" across the past, present, and future, and biomes will change shape depending on…
Diablo 5 will feature three interconnected stories spanning the past, present, and future, with environments dynamically changing based on the influence of Dread Commanders. Game director Joe Shely and narrative director Jennifer Hepler detailed how the world of Sanctuary will be reshaped by Hell's forces, aiming for the "best campaign ever" in Blizzard's darkest ARPG to date, slated for a 2029 release.
Blizzard warns World of Warcraft: Forever players it will 'very aggressively' punish anyone who buys gold with…
Blizzard Entertainment has announced a stricter stance against real-money trading (RMT) and gold buying in World of Warcraft, with senior game designer Josh Greenfield stating that offenders will be 'very aggressively punished.' The company aims to prevent severe inflation and maintain the integrity of the in-game economy, warning players that account bans are a potential consequence.
Blizzard Says StarCraft 'Won't Be Exclusive' When It Launches in 2030
Blizzard Entertainment has confirmed that the upcoming open-world StarCraft shooter will not be exclusive to Xbox platforms upon its launch in 2030. The company stated the game will be available on multiple platforms.
World of Warcraft: Forever players competing over enemies is 'extremely important' to the experience, Blizzard says: 'This is one of those things that we simply must hold the line on'
Blizzard Entertainment senior game designer Josh Greenfield stated that shared enemy tagging will remain a core feature in World of Warcraft: Hardcore, emphasizing its importance to the game's social pillar. While acknowledging potential frustration during peak player times, Greenfield believes this friction is essential for the player experience and can foster social interaction, though the article suggests Blizzard should prepare for potential issues during the launch week.
Alright WoW: Forever gamers, are we team HD models or team old school models?
This article discusses the choice between using the original, old-school character models or the newer, high-definition models in World of Warcraft: Forever. The author expresses a preference for the HD models, particularly for trolls, and asks readers which style they prefer.
World of Warcraft Forever beta sees ‘crazy’ numbers: ‘We’ve got something really special here’
Lead developer Josh Greenfield expressed amazement at the 'crazy' numbers and success of the World of Warcraft Forever beta, calling it 'something really special' based on his 17 years at Blizzard. He noted that the beta is effectively identifying and fixing problems, and Blizzard is actively banning testers for offensive names while maintaining its stance against shared mob tagging.
WoW: Forever has rendered me a min-maxing hypocrite, and here's how you can join me
The author, Harvey, discusses their internal conflict about min-maxing in the World of Warcraft beta, despite previously advocating against it. They admit to hoarding quests to maximize experience gains upon the level cap increase, acknowledging a hypocritical approach to the game's progression.
Todd McFarlane Talks About Spawn Collab in Diablo Immortal | Blizzcon 2026 Interview
Legendary comic creator Todd McFarlane discussed the Spawn crossover event in Diablo Immortal during an interview at Blizzcon 2026. He spoke about the collaborative process with associate art director Emil Salim and how Spawn will fit into the game's world.
"You can't tell me this isn't WoW 2": Blizzard says World of Warcraft doesn't need a sequel thanks to Forever, but MMO fans say it already made one
Following the reveal of World of Warcraft: Forever, many fans are considering it a spiritual successor or "WoW 2" due to its significant revival of the original MMO's elements and new content. Blizzard itself has stated that a direct sequel is unlikely as Forever offers much of what a sequel would, and the developers seem to view it as a successor that will coexist with existing versions.
World of Warcraft: Forever lead addresses beta login issues & volume of players
Senior Game Producer Tom Ellis addressed the login issues experienced during the beta for World of Warcraft: Forever, attributing them to an underestimation of player volume. The servers were initially configured for fewer connections than the beta attracted, but the team has since scaled up resources to improve stability.
World of Warcraft: Forever players are being naughty with the new naming system
Players in the beta for World of Warcraft: Forever are exploiting the new forename and surname character naming system to create 'naughty' names, leading to some players facing beta access suspension. Blizzard has stated that existing naming policies are in effect and will be enforced through player reports.
WoW: Forever mentally broke me with a boulder
The author shares their experience playing World of Warcraft, finding enjoyment in its old-school mechanics despite some frustrations. A particular quest, 'Rocks to Rest,' involving collecting eight sporadically spawning rocks, became a point of contention due to server-side node competition.
The brave adventurers of WoW: Forever are all called things like Take Meds and Skonch Prime
World of Warcraft is implementing a new two-name system for its upcoming 'Forever' megaserver, allowing players to choose more unique character names. Blizzard has stated that inappropriate names will result in the removal of beta access, though the article highlights several humorous examples of player-created names.
WoW devs surprised to find pure liquid nostalgia is popular
Blizzard Entertainment developers expressed surprise at the overwhelming player numbers during the beta for World of Warcraft Classic, which experienced significant server issues. Senior producer Tom Ellis and designer Josh Greenfield noted that the unprecedented load on the beta environment, a version of the game from 2004 with numerous improvements, caught the team off guard, but issues have since been resolved.
A 27-year-old tech forum with over 100,000 Warcraft 3 modding threads is closing its doors
The Helper, a 27-year-old tech forum dedicated to Warcraft 3 modding and other topics, is closing its doors. The admin cited a shift in personal priorities as the reason for archiving the site, which hosted over 100,000 threads and nearly 860,000 comments.
Blizzard developer says World of Warcraft: Forever's beta numbers are the "craziest" he's seen in 17 years
Blizzard Entertainment is experiencing unprecedented player numbers during the beta test for World of Warcraft: Forever, a new vanilla-flavored spin-off. Developer Josh Greenfield described the beta response as the 'craziest' he's seen in 17 years at the company, with senior producer Tom Ellis addressing technical issues caused by the overwhelming demand on the testing environment. The game is officially set to launch on November 4th.
The next Project Diablo 2 update is a loot hoarder's dream
The upcoming Season 14 update for the Project Diablo 2 mod introduces significant improvements for loot hoarders, including an overhauled stash system with dedicated tabs for unique items, sets, maps, gems, and runes. A new 'Discovery Progress' system will track collected items, and players can earn a 'Discovery' aura upon completion. The update also features balance adjustments and new content like the Bitter Depths map.
Diablo 5 is Happening Because Blizzard “Needed to Give Him His Own Game”
Blizzard Entertainment has confirmed Diablo 5 is in development, with an expected release in Spring 2029. Executive producer Matt Zitterman stated the decision was made to give the titular villain his own game, rather than an expansion for Diablo 4. This sequel will feature a new story where Diablo has won, procedural dungeons, and returning classes like Demon Hunter and Monk, alongside a new Plague Knight class. Diablo 4 will no longer receive paid expansions, though seasons will continue.
