World of Warcraft
News, coverage and analysis tracking World of Warcraft across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Blizzard eliminates 'small number' of roles in China
Blizzard Entertainment has eliminated a small number of roles in China as part of an operational model evolution in the region. Studio president Johanna Faries stated these changes are intended to strengthen regional publishing and product management capabilities. This news follows broader layoffs announced by Xbox, impacting thousands of employees across Microsoft's gaming division.
Past Midnight: building the next era of World of Warcraft
Blizzard Entertainment's Game Director Ion Hazzikostas discusses the current state and future of World of Warcraft, particularly focusing on the latest expansion, Midnight. He highlights the game's transition towards blending classic elements with modern features, addressing player housing, the solo experience, and the controversial changes to the game's addon policy. Hazzikostas emphasizes that World of Warcraft in 2026 offers flexibility for players of all time commitments and playstyles.
Xbox retreats again – but to where? | Opinion
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma announced significant layoffs affecting thousands of employees across various studios as part of a company 'reset' to focus on profitable franchises. This move raises questions about the future of Xbox's first-party strategy, its Game Pass subscription service, and the upcoming console generation, particularly given the high cost of components and the blurring lines between PC and console gaming.
World of Warcraft accidentally started another plague-spreading incident with a debuff
A debuff called Withering Contagion from the Brackenhide Hollow dungeon in World of Warcraft's Dragonflight expansion unintentionally spread outside its intended area during a recent Timewalking event. This caused players to die in unintended locations, reminiscent of the 2005 Corrupted Blood incident, though the bug was quickly fixed.
Xbox Wants To Entertain 1 Billion People Every Day. It Can’t Even Explain How
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma outlined a goal for the company to entertain over one billion people daily, a target that seems ambitious given recent layoffs and the current reach of Xbox services. While mobile games like Candy Crush and Minecraft, along with other Microsoft titles, contribute to daily active users, they fall significantly short of the one billion mark. The strategy for achieving this goal, particularly through mobile gaming and potentially third-party titles, remains unclear.
Blizzard devs in the dark for now as president of the World of Warcraft and Diablo studio says they "can expect to hear more" soon about Microsoft's plan for the studio as Xbox faces 3,200 job cuts
Amid significant layoffs impacting approximately 3,200 positions at Xbox, Blizzard Entertainment president Johanna Faries has communicated to staff that more details regarding the studio's future under Microsoft will be shared soon. While Blizzard's major franchises like World of Warcraft and Diablo appear largely untouched for now, the company is bracing for potential restructuring and changes in the coming months.
World Of Warcraft Just Got A Sequel To Its Most Literally Viral Moment
A player-induced in-game plague, dubbed 'Corrupted Blood 2.0', recently spread through World of Warcraft's Moonguard server, originating from the Dragonflight dungeon Brackenhide Hollow. This event mirrors a similar, more severe incident from 2005. Blizzard Entertainment quickly resolved the recent outbreak with a hotfix within hours.
New Xbox CEO Admits Game Pass Bet Has Not Worked Out
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma announced a strategic reset for the Xbox business, acknowledging that major bets like Xbox Game Pass have not grown at the expected pace. The plan includes mass layoffs and selling off studios, as the company shifts focus to higher priority projects. Sharma admitted the core business has weakened, leading to this significant shakeup.
Xbox's CEO wants its games to cater to 'more than a billion people each day', or 24 times more than the peak population of Steam, which is delusional
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma stated a goal for Xbox to entertain over a billion people daily, a figure significantly larger than the peak concurrent users of platforms like Steam or even the highest subscriber counts for games like World of Warcraft. This ambitious target is discussed critically in light of recent studio closures and layoffs within Microsoft's gaming division.
Xbox cutting 3,200 jobs and parting ways with Double Fine, Compulsion, Ninja Theory, and Undead Labs
Microsoft has initiated a significant restructure of its Xbox division, eliminating 3,200 jobs and parting ways with four studios: Double Fine, Compulsion Games, Ninja Theory, and Undead Labs. New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma stated the cuts are necessary due to underperforming bets on Xbox Game Pass and multiplatform releases, as well as a severe hardware crisis impacting component prices. The company aims to streamline operations, reduce management layers, and foster a more efficient development environment.
WoW server suffers outbreak after a debuff breaches containment, giving me flashbacks to a 21-year-old incident so large…
A debuff called Withering Contagion from the Dragonflight expansion of World of Warcraft unexpectedly spread through the Moon Guard US server's capital cities, causing widespread player deaths and drawing comparisons to the 2005 Corrupted Blood incident. Blizzard Entertainment has since hotfixed the bug, but the event highlights emergent sandbox gameplay possibilities in MMOs.
World of Warcraft patch 12.1 finally lets you put Pepe in your house
World of Warcraft patch 12.1 will allow players to place the popular Pepe cosmetic item in their player housing. Players can purchase the 'Mechanically Indistinguishable Pepe' for Community Coupons from new vendors. This update also allows Pepe to perch on the player's head, providing a buff for an hour.
World of Warcraft patch 12.1 finally lets you put Pepe in your house
World of Warcraft patch 12.1 introduces the ability for players to place the popular Pepe cosmetic item in their player housing. This update allows Pepe to perch in designated areas within player homes or accompany players with a buff. The 'Mechanically Indistinguishable Pepe' item can be purchased with Community Coupons.
Boss themes, sagas, and Goblin Jazz: How World of Warcraft's music reflects a shifting Azeroth
Blizzard Entertainment's music team discusses the evolution of World of Warcraft's soundtrack, from its early ambient roots to the thematic depth of the current Worldsoul Saga. Lead Composer Leo Kaliski, Music Director Derek Duke, and Principal Producer Charlotte Pyle highlight how music has become integral to the MMORPG's narrative and player experience, balancing nostalgia with innovation, including experimental pieces like the Goblin Jazz album.
This little orb's going to be sitting on my minimap for the rest of WoW's current expansion, and I…
The author analyzes World of Warcraft's latest borrowed power system, the Omnium Folio, finding it to be an uninspired and bland addition. Despite its optional nature, the system's lack of interactivity and visible impact makes it feel like a mandatory chore rather than a satisfying progression mechanic.
World of Warcraft shows off its quality-of-life improvements for Curse of Ula’tek
The upcoming Curse of Ula’tek update for World of Warcraft will introduce several quality-of-life improvements, including making Voidforge services available in Silvermoon, a one-time profession reset, reduced housing decor costs, and the option to display map coordinates by default. The update also addresses recurring bugs and adds a "Back" button to the Achievement tab.
Vague Patch Notes: The struggle of expansions against MMO identity
This analysis explores the challenges and identity shifts inherent in MMO expansions, using examples like Final Fantasy XIV and World of Warcraft. Expansions that introduce new areas can either seamlessly integrate or create a jarring tonal clash, impacting the game's overall feel and player perception.
The Daily Grind: What tools do you consider essential for playing MMOs?
This article discusses the essential tools players consider necessary for enjoying MMORPGs, beyond just the game itself. Essential items include a decent PC or console, a keyboard and mouse, a headset with a microphone, and browser access for wikis and communication platforms like Discord. The author also notes the common use of game mods, with Project Gorgon being an exception.
Clair Obscur is flawed on purpose, says director: 'Games that try to be perfect, that try to fix all their flaws—they're usually just really boring'
Guillaume Broche, creative director for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, believes that games with intentional imperfections are more endearing and less boring than those striving for unattainable perfection. He argues that flaws contribute to a game's personality, much like they do in people, and that embracing 'jank' can be a source of fun and character.
Massively Overthinking: Unbundling the MMORPG genre, 12 years later
Industry figures like Raph Koster discuss the 'unbundling' of the MMORPG genre, where its core components like live services and subscription models have been adopted by other game genres. The article explores what truly defines an MMORPG in the current landscape, with contributors suggesting elements like persistent virtual worlds, community, and a unique 'glue' holding disparate game elements together, rather than just player count.