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Shack Chat: What was your favorite reveal from BlizzCon 2026?
Shacknews staff members shared their favorite reveals from BlizzCon 2026, with StarCraft being a prominent topic of discussion. Announcements included the Monk class for Hearthstone, a new StarCraft shooter, and details on Diablo 5 and Overwatch.
World of Warcraft Forever will "very aggressively punish gold buyers," as Blizzard admits the MMORPG has been "too lenient"
Blizzard Entertainment announced that World of Warcraft Forever will "very aggressively punish" players who buy in-game gold, admitting past leniency. The developer is also banning GDKP guilds to protect the traditional guild structure and prevent new players from feeling disadvantaged. The company stated that account bans are a possibility for severe infractions.
30 years of Diablo with Diablo IV Devs Owen Leach and Dan Tanguay | Play History at Blizzcon 2026
Diablo IV Lead Encounter Designer Owen Leach and Design Director Dan Tanguay discuss their personal gaming histories and how these experiences have shaped their work on the game's Season of Hell's Legacy and the upcoming Amazon class. The interview was part of a 'Play History' segment at Blizzcon.
World of Warcraft follows up BlizzCon with WoW retail and Forever Q&A
Blizzard Entertainment held a developer Q&A following BlizzCon 2026 to address community questions about World of Warcraft retail and World of Warcraft Forever. The discussion covered upcoming faction-specific stories, new class/race combinations, a roguelike mode, transmog restrictions, and content for Wrath of the Lich King Classic. For World of Warcraft Forever, the developers confirmed GDKP will be absent, defended the Skyborn Elves, and stated plans to combat gold selling and RMT.
World of Warcraft: Forever's convinced me that we lost too much to modern MMO quest design
This article analyzes how World of Warcraft's quest design, particularly in its older iterations and expansions like 'Forever,' offers a more satisfying experience than modern MMO questing. It highlights elements like quest ordering, travel time, and level variety as key factors contributing to player engagement, contrasting them with the streamlined but less engaging approach of current MMOs.
As Fans Flood the World of Warcraft: Forever Beta, Dev Says It's Putting Up 'The Craziest Numbers I've Seen in 17 Years Working at Blizzard'
The beta for World of Warcraft: Forever has seen an overwhelming number of players, with a Blizzard developer stating it's generating 'the craziest numbers I've seen in 17 years working at Blizzard.' This massive player turnout has surprised the company.
Weekend PC Download Deals for Sept. 18: Steam Party-Based RPG Fest
This weekend's PC gaming deals include a Steam Party-Based RPG Fest with discounts on titles like Baldur's Gate 3 and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. Several publishers like Capcom, Square Enix, Sega, and Bandai Namco are participating in the Tokyo Game Show sales, while Ubisoft offers discounts and free copies of For Honor for its 40th anniversary.
"The craziest numbers I've seen in 17 years working at Blizzard": WoW Forever devs seem genuinely shocked the beta is so popular as they explain why their MMO servers keep breaking
The beta launch for World of Warcraft: Forever experienced significant server issues, surprising even veteran Blizzard developers. Senior figures like Josh Greenfield and Tom Ellis expressed shock at the overwhelming player numbers, which caused login queues and performance problems. The team identified and addressed bottlenecks in the regional realm and database performance, ultimately expanding server capacity.
Diablo himself is the reason Diablo 5 is coming instead of more Diablo 4 expansions, says project lead: "We needed…
Blizzard Entertainment has confirmed that Diablo 5 will be developed instead of further expansions for Diablo 4. Project lead Matt Zitterman stated that the decision was made to allow for fundamental structural changes necessary for the vision of Diablo 5, which will focus on the titular demon lord. Diablo 4 will continue to receive seasonal updates but no more major expansions.
I suck at Overwatch but I was dominating with new hero Doctrine, so I smell a nerf coming
The author, a self-proclaimed poor Overwatch player, found themselves surprisingly effective with the new hero Doctrine at BlizzCon 2026, leading to a prediction of an imminent nerf. Game director Aaron Keller acknowledged Doctrine's flexibility and high skill ceiling, while expressing uncertainty about his meta impact.
WoW: Forever doesn't allow GDKP, Blizzard says the new MMO's economy is "something we're taking very…
Blizzard Entertainment has announced that the upcoming MMO World of Warcraft: Forever will not allow GDKP (Gold Dragon Kill Points) loot systems. Senior game designer Josh Greenfield stated that the decision is to protect social experiences and prevent the system from overtaking traditional guild structures and creating barriers for new players. The company will actively monitor the game's economy to combat issues like real-money trading and botting.
WoW Factor: The lingering questions that hang over the head of World of Warcraft Forever
This opinion piece questions the direction of World of Warcraft Forever, highlighting concerns about the lack of playable Goblin characters at launch and the potential for conflicting design philosophies. The author worries that Blizzard may not have a clear vision for the game's future, risking it becoming directionless.
EverQuest Legends aims to retain its classic aesthetic while offering something uniquely new
EverQuest Legends aims to blend the classic aesthetic of the original EverQuest with modern quality-of-life improvements, offering features like a multi-class system and simpler travel. Developed by Game Jawn, the game is available on PC and will expand with the Rulers of Kunark expansion, which will explore new regions and lore.
World of Warcraft Forever’s first day of beta sees massive queues, lag, bugs, and plenty of early opinions
The first day of the beta for World of Warcraft Forever was met with massive server queues, lag, and bugs, surprising both players and developers. While some players managed to access the game and reported various issues, Blizzard Entertainment acknowledged the overwhelming demand and is working to address the problems.
Diablo 4 game director confirms 'the end is not nigh' despite Diablo 5's announcement and says players shouldn't worry, as 'we're going to be making content for a long time' — 'The train is not stopping'
Diablo 4 game director Brent Gibson has assured players that the game will continue to receive content support for a long time, despite the announcement of Diablo 5. He emphasized that the Diablo franchise is a universe, not just a series of games, and that the 'train is not stopping.'
Diablo 4 game director says it's 'liberating' to be done with expansions as Blizzard can continue the narrative through seasons instead — 'We completed the story, but the butterfly effect can take us anywhere'
Diablo 4 game director Brent Gibson stated that the team finds it 'liberating' to focus on continuing the game's narrative through seasons rather than expansions. Blizzard confirmed that Diablo 4 will not receive further expansions, with the story now progressing through seasonal content until the eventual launch of Diablo 5. This shift allows for more creative freedom in storytelling.
World of Warcraft Forever's messy first day leaves players frustrated over US servers
The beta launch for World of Warcraft Forever has been marred by significant server issues, particularly for players outside of North America, who are experiencing high ping due to the apparent lack of dedicated EU servers. Despite paying for early access, many users are frustrated with login queues, disconnections, and lag, leading some to request refunds.
World of Warcraft: Forever's beta is a laggy hell for some EU players (and yours truly), but there is a workaround
Players in the European Union are experiencing significant lag and disconnections during the beta test for World of Warcraft: Forever, with servers seemingly located only in the US. The issue can be resolved by using a VPN to connect through a US region, a workaround that has caused frustration among players who have already purchased beta access.
Diablo 5 senior director says some complex systems were 'deferred' to the endgame, so it could 'deliver the depth and mastery elements' without 'overwhelming our players who are enjoying spending a lot of time in the campaign and exploring the world'
Diablo 5 senior game director Joe Shely stated that the team is aiming to cater to all Diablo fans by strategically deferring complex systems to the endgame. This approach ensures that players who enjoy the campaign and exploration are not overwhelmed, while still providing depth and mastery for endgame enthusiasts. Narrative director Jennifer Hepler added that passionate advocates for each playstyle are present on the development team.
Warcraft 3 Devs On How Its New Expansion Bridges The Gap To WoW
Blizzard Entertainment developers Ian Hazzikostas and Brad Chan discuss the new expansion for Warcraft III: Reforged, titled Forsaken Kingdom. They explain how the expansion bridges the gap between Warcraft III and World of Warcraft and their history with real-time strategy games.