Blizzard Entertainment
Blizzard Entertainment business and news from across the web.
Latest coverage
Popular World Of Warcraft Private Server Turtle WoW Ordered To Cease And Desist
Blizzard Entertainment has successfully obtained a cease and desist order against the popular World of Warcraft private server, Turtle WoW, following a legal battle over copyright infringement. The settlement, reached after a judge ruled in Blizzard's favor, mandates the immediate and permanent cessation of the private server's operation and distribution. While the settlement details are confidential, Blizzard plans to file for dismissal of the case by June 2026.
Fan Creates Overwatch x Borderlands Collaboration Concept Art
A Reddit user shared concept art for a potential collaboration between Blizzard's Overwatch and Gearbox's Borderlands. The fan-made art imagines how the distinct visual styles and gameplay mechanics of both franchises could merge, sparking community discussion about the possibility of such a crossover.
Blizzard wins injunction against vanilla World of Warcraft private server
Blizzard Entertainment has won an injunction against a popular World of Warcraft private server, Turtle WoW. While the specifics of a settlement are confidential, the ruling is expected to resolve the legal action entirely. This case highlights Blizzard's stance against unauthorized private servers, even for classic versions of the game.
Fan World of Warcraft servers face shut down as Blizzard wins Turtle WoW case
Activision Blizzard has won a copyright infringement lawsuit against the fan-operated private server network Turtle WoW. The District Court of California ruled in favor of Blizzard, ordering an immediate cease and desist for Turtle WoW and any successor projects. While a settlement has been reached, the ruling effectively signals the end for the third-party server group.
The Sunday Papers
This article rounds up recent discussions and investigations within the game development industry. Topics include the resurgence of the Australian game development scene, the risks of developers repeatedly making similar games, the creation of soundtracks for extraction shooters, the challenges of crowdfunding, and critical perspectives on the use of AI in writing.
Call of Duty Could Be Removed From Game Pass This Year – Rumor
A rumor suggests that Microsoft may remove the Call of Duty franchise from its Game Pass subscription service later this year. This comes despite the franchise's significant revenue generation for Xbox, including Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. The decision could be influenced by the performance of recent titles and the overall strategy for the franchise's future.
Former Perfect Dark Design Director is Now Working on Blizzard’s StarCraft Shooter – Rumor
A rumor suggests that Drew Murray, former design director for Perfect Dark at The Initiative, is now working at Blizzard Entertainment on a rumored StarCraft shooter. Murray's LinkedIn confirms his employment at Blizzard as an associate design director. The project is reportedly in early development and may utilize Unreal Engine.
World of Warcraft didn't scare the RuneScape devs, who were getting "tens of thousands of new accounts every single day" in 2004 and could barely build servers fast enough for the MMO to keep up
RuneScape developers at Jagex were not concerned about the launch of World of Warcraft in 2004, as they were experiencing rapid growth with tens of thousands of new accounts daily and struggling to scale their servers. RuneScape's success was attributed to its lightweight design, allowing for fast content implementation and compatibility with most computers of the era, differentiating it from Blizzard's offering.
Overwatch Season 2 is "modernizing" old heroes, and I'm ready for a Pharmercy revival
Overwatch Season 2 will introduce significant updates, including modernized kits for older heroes like Mercy, Pharah, and Reaper to enhance their functionality and utility. Associate game director Alec Dawson detailed these changes, alongside the return of post-match accolades and improvements to the competitive map selection system. Future plans include potential reworks for Sombra, Lifeweaver, and Roadhog, and exploring new social and competitive event formats.
Fan Artist Creates Magical My Little Pony x Overwatch Skin Concepts
A fan artist named asoduka has created crossover skin concepts for Overwatch heroes reimagined as My Little Pony characters. The art thoughtfully matches heroes and ponies based on personality and vibes, sparking discussion within the gaming community. While these concepts are not official, they highlight the creativity and community engagement often seen in fan art.
Overwatch’s Sierra Strikes Cammy’s Iconic Pose in Stunning Fan Art
Fan art depicts Overwatch's Sierra character in Cammy's iconic pose from Street Fighter, blending elements from both franchises. The artwork by @seifortt has gained significant attention on social media, highlighting the creativity within gaming communities. This crossover celebrates the shared appeal of strong, athletic female characters in both Overwatch 2 and Street Fighter 6.
Get ready to play Overwatch's most popular maps even more in season 2 as Blizzard tweaks the voting process to…
Blizzard Entertainment is altering Overwatch's map voting system for season 2, making it more likely for the most popular maps to be selected. The change will ensure that the map with the majority of votes automatically wins, potentially reducing player choice for less popular maps.
Ex-Overwatch Director Says Tracer's Butt Was Never "Nerfed"
Former Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan stated that Tracer's butt was never 'nerfed' in the game, despite a controversy over a victory pose shortly after the original Overwatch's debut. Kaplan also discussed his departure from Activision Blizzard and shared his views on players criticizing games they haven't played.
WoW's next patch drops in just over a week, bringing a whole heap of world content and yet another gearing method…
World of Warcraft's upcoming patch, scheduled for April 21, will introduce new overworld content including void assaults and incursions, alongside a new method for upgrading Mythic and Hero-tier gear. While not a major content update with a new raid, the patch aims to provide players with more activities for endgame progression and cosmetic collection.
'Two Hells collide' — Doom: The Dark Ages and Diablo Immortal unite in a limited-time crossover event,…
Blizzard Entertainment has announced a limited-time crossover event between Diablo Immortal and Doom: The Dark Ages, titled 'The Slayer's Reign,' running from April 15 to May 13. The event introduces Doom-inspired gameplay, enemies, and rewards, including new weapons, cosmetics, and a boss fight against the Cyberdemon.
World of Warcraft: Midnight’s first post-launch content update arrives later this month
World of Warcraft: Midnight's first post-launch content update, Patch 12.0.5, will arrive on April 21st, introducing new activities such as Void Assaults, Ritual Sites, and the Voidforge for gear upgrades. The update also features a new hide-and-seek PvP mode called Decor Duels set in Silvermoon City, with rewards including a mount and toys. Additionally, a trailer for the Midnight Arena World Championship has been released.
'We Actually Didn't Nerf Tracer's Butt' — 10 Years On, Former Overwatch Boss is Still Being Asked About That Pose Change
Former Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan continues to be asked about a controversial pose change for the character Tracer, even a decade later. The discussion highlights the lasting impact of community reactions on character design and development decisions within the gaming industry.
Overwatch Fans Think New Omnic Hero Could Be Six Gun Killer
Overwatch fans are speculating that the next Omnic hero could be the 'Six Gun Killer' character featured on a poster in the Hollywood map. This theory gained traction on Reddit due to the description of a new Omnic hero wearing a brimmed hat, which matches the background lore character. While some fans are excited about this potential deep-cut reference, others remain skeptical, suggesting Blizzard might introduce an entirely new character or that the description could fit multiple designs.
'It stayed exactly the same': Jeff Kaplan takes us back to 2016 by confirming that Blizzard did not change the…
Former Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan has addressed the long-standing community discussion about Tracer's character model, confirming that Blizzard Entertainment never altered the size of her posterior. Kaplan stated that only one of Tracer's poses was changed shortly after the original Overwatch's release due to player feedback, and the model itself remained consistent. He also briefly mentioned his new multiplayer action-survival FPS game, The Legend of California.
10 years later, Overwatch co-creator Jeff Kaplan debunks the game's first controversy: "We actually…
Former Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan addressed a decade-old controversy regarding a victory pose for the character Tracer, often referred to as 'Tracer's butt-troversy.' Kaplan stated that fan recollections of the pose being altered were a Mandela Effect, as Blizzard never changed it.