Blizzard Entertainment
Blizzard Entertainment business and news from across the web.
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Blizzard moves ahead with its Project Ascension rogue server lawsuit by sending motion summons requests
Blizzard Entertainment has initiated legal proceedings against World of Warcraft rogue server Project Ascension by filing official summons requests. This action follows their previous shutdown of Turtle WoW and indicates a continued effort to protect the World of Warcraft intellectual property. Failure to respond within 21 days could result in a default judgment for Blizzard.
Rumor: Microsoft’s next layoffs are poised to hit Blizzard, Bethsoft, and Undead Labs
Rumors suggest Microsoft is planning significant layoffs across several of its gaming studios, including Undead Labs, Blizzard Entertainment, and Bethesda Softworks. These cuts are reportedly the largest for Xbox and come as the company evaluates its recent Activision Blizzard acquisition. Unionized workers at Xbox are reportedly organizing to negotiate over potential job losses.
Blizzard’s Overwatch pumps out another collab, this one with J-pop group YOASOBI
Blizzard Entertainment has announced a collaboration event for Overwatch with the J-pop duo YOASOBI, running from June 30th to July 20th. The event features six special hero skins with unique designs and VFX, along with a short story, music video, and map adjustments.
Bad news, Blizzard won't be running a fresh Season of Discovery server in WoW Classic
Blizzard Entertainment has confirmed there are no plans to launch a new official "fresh start" server for the Season of Discovery in World of Warcraft Classic. Senior Game Designer Josh Greenfield stated that opening and managing new servers requires significant resources and is not feasible given other ongoing development priorities. This news comes despite a recent community-driven "Fake Fresh" event that saw a surge in player numbers for the existing Season of Discovery servers.
ESA bafflingly declares private Minecraft servers 'illegal' in Stop Killing Games hearing: 'We consider…
The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) declared private servers for games like Minecraft and Call of Duty to be illegal and considered piracy during a California State Senate hearing. ESA vice president Jennifer Gibbons stated that these servers infringe on publisher intellectual property rights and do not meet safety standards, despite community pushback and the failure of the Protect Our Games Act to pass in its current form.
State of Decay studio Undead Labs potentially up for closure, sources claim, with Bethesda and Blizzard also facing layoffs
Microsoft is reportedly planning significant layoffs across its gaming division, potentially including the closure of Undead Labs, the studio behind State of Decay. Bethesda and Blizzard Entertainment are also expected to face substantial job cuts as part of a company-wide "reset." Union workers are negotiating with management to protect jobs or secure severance packages amid these widespread reductions.
Rumor Mill
A previously dismissed leak regarding the Warcraft franchise may have revealed significant upcoming plans for the series from Blizzard Entertainment. The article suggests that information previously considered unreliable might now be accurate, hinting at major developments.
Someone is playing World of Warcraft Classic on their mobile. Yes, they're a heathen.
A Reddit user has successfully streamed World of Warcraft Classic to a mobile device using Nvidia's GeForce Now cloud gaming service. While the setup is described as 'cursed' and features a non-customizable interface with some latency, the user found it surprisingly enjoyable. This development raises questions about the future of MMORPGs on mobile platforms, especially with other titles like Final Fantasy XIV Mobile in development.
Blizzard’s Unannounced StarCraft Title: The Hard Facts
Evidence suggests Blizzard Entertainment is developing a new AAA open-world shooter set in the StarCraft universe, moving away from its Real-Time Strategy roots. The project is built on Unreal Engine and led by former Far Cry executive producer Dan Hay, indicating a significant shift in franchise direction and development strategy.
Weekend PC Download Deals for June 26: Steam Summer Sale and friends
Multiple PC gaming storefronts, including Steam, GOG.com, and Epic Games Store, are hosting major summer sales with thousands of deals. Notable discounts are available on titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, DOOM: The Dark Ages, and Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition. Some platforms also offer free titles or additional discounts for subscribers.
Diablo III’s 39th season, Shades of the Nephalem, is slated to launch tonight
Blizzard Entertainment announced that Diablo III's 39th season, Shades of the Nephalem, will launch tonight at 8 p.m. EDT. The season introduces the 'Shadows of the Past' feature, where activating Shrines or Pylons spawns a shadow clone of the player's class with a predetermined build. New cosmetics, including a pet named Belphegor, and a rotation of Conquests and class sets are also included.
First impressions: Multiplayer co-op shooter SWAPMEAT brings the meat with a glizzy on the side
SWAPMEAT is a co-op, roguelite shooter with a unique meat-themed aesthetic, developed by One More Game. Featuring former developers from Blizzard Entertainment titles, the game offers a third-person perspective with randomized gear and abilities for each run. It recently launched on Steam and is available for under $10 during the summer sale.
Casually Classic: What were vanilla World of Warcraft’s weaknesses?
This analysis examines the weaknesses of the original World of Warcraft, focusing on enduring issues beyond temporary server problems. Key criticisms include broken and unbalanced classes, unrewarding quest rewards, an aimless endgame lacking variety beyond raiding, and poor in-game grouping tools that hindered player interaction.
Vague Patch Notes: Who owns the eras of an MMO?
This analysis explores the concept of ownership in MMORPGs, questioning who truly owns specific eras or versions of a game that evolves over time. It argues that while players form strong attachments, the ultimate ownership and decision-making power rests with the development studio, such as Blizzard Entertainment for World of Warcraft. The article suggests that accepting this reality and engaging with the current version of a game is more productive than dwelling on past iterations.
Issues and Activism
Overwatch players are expressing significant dissatisfaction with the high cost of new in-game skins, leading to a revolt within the community. This backlash highlights ongoing player concerns regarding the monetization strategies employed by Blizzard Entertainment.
Blizzard says fine, it'll "split the difference" with Diablo 4 players outraged over Mythics, keeps core changes in-tact to ensure the ARPG's "long-term health"
Blizzard Entertainment has adjusted its controversial changes to Mythic items in Diablo 4 following player backlash. While the core changes remain to ensure long-term build diversity, Mythics will now feature two guaranteed stats instead of being entirely random, with one of those also being re-rollable. This compromise aims to balance player desires for powerful, unique items with the studio's goals for the game's longevity.
MMO Business Roundup: EA’s latest layoffs, Overwatch’s pricy cosmetics, and GAAS nuance
This business roundup covers recent events in the MMO industry, including layoffs at Electronic Arts affecting recruitment, customer support, trust and safety, and IT teams. Former Path of Exile developer Chris Wilson shared nuanced views on live service games, acknowledging drawbacks like problematic monetization and player demands. Additionally, Overwatch's high-priced Nyan Cafe cosmetic skins have drawn community backlash.
Diablo 4's Overwatch crossover skins have been revealed and they are completely cursed: "Mercy looks like a…
Players are expressing dissatisfaction with the new crossover skins in Diablo 4, themed after Overwatch. Many find the skins unappealing and unfitting for Diablo 4's aesthetic, with particular criticism directed at the Mercy skin. Concerns were also raised about the high pricing of past collaborations with World of Warcraft and StarCraft, and the overall store pricing in Diablo 4 compared to other games like Fortnite.
The new Overwatch Nyan Café skins claw their way to eye-watering prices
Overwatch has introduced new 'Nyan Café' cosmetic bundles, featuring 'ultra skins' for Kiriko and Sierra, which are priced significantly higher than previous legendary skins. The community has reacted negatively to the cost, with the full bundle costing 9,900 Overwatch Coins, equating to approximately $100 USD for the highest tier of skins and associated items.
Overwatch charges nearly $100 for cosmetic bundle introducing a new skin rarity, and even cat maid outfits aren't…
Overwatch has introduced a new cosmetic bundle, the Nyan Cafe, priced at 9,900 OW Coins (approximately $100), which includes two new 'Ultra Skins' and three Legendary skins. This pricing, significantly higher than previous bundles, has sparked backlash from players who criticize the rising cost of in-game items and the introduction of a new, more expensive skin rarity. While some players express dismay and call the pricing insulting, others, like Doja Cat, have praised the new outfits.
