Blizzard Entertainment
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WoW will let some WeakAura-style mods function in its next major patch, as the war on combat AddOns turns into more of a…
Blizzard Entertainment is allowing certain WeakAura-style AddOns to function in World of Warcraft's upcoming Patch 12.1, marking a significant concession in its policy on combat-based UI modifications. While not fully restored to their previous capabilities, these AddOns will now be able to read buffs on allies and debuffs on enemies, offering enhanced utility for players.
Jobs roundup: August 2026 | CodeDev Group appoints Ben Board as CEO of The Performance Guys
This article rounds up recent hires and promotions across the gaming industry. Key appointments include Ben Board as CEO of The Performance Guys, Nate Nanzer as EVP at Paramount Games, and Tracey Thompson returning to Bethesda as VP of communications. Several other companies like Epic Games, Amazon, and Microsoft also saw personnel changes.
Jobs roundup: August 2026 | Tim Coombs rejoins Amazon as head of brand marketing for Luna
This article rounds up various industry hires and transitions in August 2026. Notable appointments include Tim Coombs rejoining Amazon as head of brand marketing for Luna, Dan Lazarides becoming Chief Marketing Officer at Frontier Developments, and Tracey Thompson returning to Bethesda as VP of Communications. Several other individuals have also moved into new roles across companies like Blizzard Entertainment, Netflix Games, and Riot Games.
Jobs roundup: August 2026 | Paramount Games appoints Nate Nanzer as EVP, head of commercial & marketing
This article rounds up recent appointments and transitions within the gaming industry. Notable moves include Nate Nanzer joining Paramount Games, Julia Gutnik heading media at Amazon Gaming, and Tracey Thompson returning to Bethesda as VP of communications. Several other companies like Epic Games, Studio MDHR, Games Workshop, and Blizzard Entertainment also saw new hires or promotions.
World of Warcraft’s Update 11.1 gives you better tools to track cooldowns and consumables
World of Warcraft's upcoming Update 11.1: Curse of Ula’Tek will introduce significant user interface improvements, including an enhanced cooldown manager that tracks trinkets, potions, and racial abilities. The update also brings additional options to the ping system and raid frame customization for healers.
World of Warcraft’s Update 12.1 gives you better tools to track cooldowns and consumables
World of Warcraft's upcoming Update 12.1, Curse of Ula'Tek, will introduce significant user interface improvements, including an enhanced cooldown manager that tracks trinkets, potions, and racial abilities. Players will also see additional options for the ping system and raid frame customization for healers.
Player-run World of Warcraft Tournament of Ages returns to raise money for Blessings in a Backpack
The annual player-run World of Warcraft event, Tournament of Ages, is currently underway on the Moon Guard RP server. This roleplaying celebration fosters friendly competition between the Horde and Alliance through various activities and includes a charity art auction, date auction, and performers, all to raise funds for Blessings in a Backpack, a charity providing weekend meals for children in the United States.
World of Warcraft shares a new visual comic book story, Legacy of Rage
Blizzard Entertainment has released a new visual comic book titled 'Legacy of Rage' to accompany the latest World of Warcraft patch. The comic explores the story of a young Amani troll named Zul’jan as he navigates his people's legacy and the temptation of ancient power.
The Daily Grind: Which MMORPG studio’s reputation has changed most dramatically over time?
This article discusses how the reputations of MMORPG studios like NCsoft and Blizzard Entertainment have changed dramatically over time. It highlights how studios can recover from past missteps through actions like reviving games or developing successful franchises, while others squander initial goodwill.
Three Overwatch maps are getting a huge rework, and they're coming sooner than you think
Blizzard Entertainment is reworking three Overwatch maps: Busan, Eichenwalde, and Paraíso, with the changes set to arrive in Season 4. Game Producer Ren Soanes stated that player feedback and alleviating pain points were key factors in the redesigns, which also aim to support major story beats. The reworks focus on adjusting layouts to be more attacker-friendly and reduce choke points.
Shack Chat: What is your favorite piece of physical video game media?
Shacknews staff members share their favorite pieces of physical video game media, ranging from classic console re-releases and collector's editions to rare cartridges and fightsticks. The discussion highlights the sentimental value and importance of physical media for game preservation and personal memories, especially in an era of increasing digital-only releases and subscription services.
"I wish physical media was here to stay": As Sony reports 82% digital PlayStation sales, ex-Blizzard boss says "the purchasing trend from consumers is clear"
Sony reported that 82% of its PlayStation game sales are now digital, a trend former Blizzard president Mike Ybarra finds significant, despite his personal preference for physical media. Industry analyst Daniel Ahmad noted Xbox's digital ratio exceeds 90%, and Capcom anticipates 95% digital sales by next year, highlighting a clear consumer shift away from physical discs.
Weekend PC Download Deals for July 31: Bethesda celebrates 40 years
Bethesda Softworks is celebrating its 40th anniversary with significant sales across its game catalog, including popular franchises like Doom, Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, and Quake. Numerous PC storefronts like Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG.com are participating, offering discounts on individual titles and bundles. Additionally, several free games are available for a limited time on platforms such as Amazon Luna.
Former WoW designer says Blizzard had no way to measure maximum player DPS while building early raids—so the studio enlisted its strongest sickos to grind target dummies
Former World of Warcraft designer Wyatt Cheng revealed that Blizzard Entertainment lacked robust player data for measuring maximum DPS during early raid development. To determine boss tuning, the studio had employees test classes against target dummies and manually calculated damage output. This led to the implementation of mechanics like Enrage timers to ensure players met DPS requirements, a practice that has become a staple in WoW raid design.
World Of Warcraft Is Coming To D&D, And Will Let You Grind Renown Just Like The MMO
Blizzard Entertainment is releasing Dungeons & Dragons: World of Warcraft in November, translating the popular MMORPG into a tabletop roleplaying experience. The adaptation will feature all 13 WoW classes, new subclasses, over 40 class specializations, 11 WoW races, and systems like Renown grinding with factions. Preordering certain editions will also unlock in-game cosmetic items for World of Warcraft.
Overwatch's 6v6 experiments continue with a new test mode and a big healing buff
Blizzard Entertainment is testing a new 6v6 format for Overwatch called Quick Play: Hacked, which defaults to a 2-2-2 composition but can adjust to 1-3-2 if matchmaking struggles. The update also includes significant balance changes, such as reducing the in-combat healing penalty and adjusting various hero passives and cooldowns to better suit the 6v6 format.
Dungeons & Dragons officially announces a World of Warcraft campaign for 2026
Wizards of the Coast has officially announced a Dungeons & Dragons campaign expansion based on World of Warcraft, set to release by the end of 2026. This expansion will allow players to explore familiar zones, dungeons, and face iconic foes from the World of Warcraft franchise in a tabletop setting.
YGG Play’s Shutdown Clock Runs Out — Waifu Sweeper Is Now Offline
YGG Play has officially shut down its publishing arm, with the game Waifu Sweeper going offline on July 31, six months after its public launch. This closure is part of Yield Guild Games' strategic shift to focus on selling gaming datasets for AI training, leading to 35 job cuts. While Waifu Sweeper and LOL Land will not be transferred, other titles like GIGACHADBAT and Ragnarok Breaker will continue under new studios.
Diablo 4 Season 15 will let you grab its rarest items much earlier, and you can finally bring old characters along too
Blizzard Entertainment has detailed upcoming changes for Diablo 4 Season 15, focusing on making the rarest 'mythic' items more accessible through various crafting and upgrade systems. The update also introduces new mechanics like 'Soul Splinters,' 'challenge dungeons,' and 'overland ambushes,' alongside a 'Rebirth' feature allowing players to bring old characters into the new season.
Azuki’s Special Collection Vol. 1 hits presale at $46.99 with a four-copy limit
Azuki's Special Collection Volume 1, a limited folder containing 10 alternate-art cards for the Azuki TCG, has gone on presale for $46.99 with a limit of four copies per customer. Tournament competitors with participation points in the Azuki TCG app received early access to the sale. This release follows the success of the debut set, Gates Awakened, which achieved over $1 million in direct presales.
