World of Warcraft
News, coverage and analysis tracking World of Warcraft across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Massively OP Podcast Episode 566: Rock the Cradle of War
The Massively OP Podcast episode 566 covers EVE Online's Cradle of War expansion, the beta for EverQuest Legends, and Spirit Crossing's housing system. The hosts also discuss Throne and Liberty's progression, the use of AI in MMOs, and financial reports from companies like NCSoft and Square Enix.
The Daily Grind: Should game studios ban profanity in MMORPGs?
Blizzard Entertainment faced backlash over its customer support's handling of a World of Warcraft player's profanity, initially citing a non-existent rule against cursing. The company later clarified that profanity is judged on a case-by-case basis, not subject to a blanket ban, though the interaction raised questions about AI involvement in customer service.
Morning Interviews
Scott Miller, founder of Apogee, shared his extensive experience with World of Warcraft, noting over 1,000 hours played. He also discussed his preference for playing warrior characters in RPGs, enjoying a direct combat approach.
Choosing the Best World of Warcraft Boosting Service
This guide breaks down the world of World of Warcraft boosting services, explaining why they have become essential for players seeking to progress through endgame content like raids and Mythic+ dungeons. It details various boost types including self-play, pilot, and remote play, and compares top providers like Overgear, Blazingboost, and Epiccarry based on reliability, speed, security, and pricing.
MMO Week in Review: The Only Way to the Cradle of War
This week's MMO news roundup covers major announcements from EVE Online's Cradle of War expansion and Star Citizen's alpha 4.8 Tactical Strike. Guild Wars 2 launched The Only Way update, while Amazon's Lord of the Rings MMORPG fate remains uncertain. NCsoft and Pearl Abyss reported strong financial quarters, and various other MMOs like Farever, EverQuest Legends, and Subnautica 2 were discussed.
Scott Miller, founder of Apogee, has over 1,000 hours in World of Warcraft and always plays a warrior in any RPG: 'I like to get right in their face and pound away'
Scott Miller, founder of Apogee Software, discusses his extensive career in gaming and his current gaming habits. He has over 1,000 hours in World of Warcraft and prefers playing warrior characters in RPGs. Miller also shares his thoughts on recently played games like Far Far West, The Drifter, and Stray, and his ongoing work with Apogee Entertainment.
One Shots: Fast track to the MMO retirement home
This week's One Shots features community screenshots from various MMOs, including Final Fantasy XIV, Elite Dangerous, Fallout 76, and World of Warcraft. Players shared moments ranging from in-game transformations and scenic views to catching up on new content and showcasing character customization.
Claims that Mixtape will be delisted over music licenses are 'a lie,' says publisher
Claims that the narrative adventure game Mixtape will be delisted due to music licenses are false, according to publisher Annapurna Interactive and creative director Johnny Galvatron. Developer Beethoven and Dinosaur paid extra to secure perpetual licenses for the game's soundtrack, which features over two dozen licensed songs. This addresses concerns that the game might be removed from digital storefronts, a fate that has befallen other titles with licensed content.
Ancient MMO Final Fantasy 11 still has new things on the horizon 24 years after launch
Despite launching in 2002, the MMORPG Final Fantasy XI is still receiving updates, including a recent website overhaul. Game director Yoji Fujito expressed gratitude for the player community and stated the team's goal is to solidify the game's foundation to reach its 30th anniversary.
Check your inbox: Steam Controller reservations are coming through
Valve has begun sending out reservation emails for the Steam Controller, indicating that more units are becoming available after the initial sell-out. Recipients have a deadline to purchase their reserved controller before it is forfeited. Players are sharing their experiences on social media regarding the order of email distribution.
MMOs are better if classes are imbalanced—you just need to do it on purpose
This article argues that intentional class imbalance can improve the player experience in MMOs, fostering unique contributions and community interaction. While perfect balance aims for efficiency, it can lead to homogenization, making individual roles feel less special. The author suggests that embracing intentional imbalances, as seen in older MMOs, can create more engaging and memorable gameplay experiences.
MMO Hype Train: Is it smart or foolish for upcoming MMOs to embrace hardcore attitudes?
This article discusses the trend of upcoming MMORPGs embracing hardcore design philosophies, questioning whether this approach is wise or foolish. While some games like Embers Adrift and Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen have adopted more challenging mechanics, their success has been limited. The author notes the appeal of difficult games like Dark Souls but questions if there's enough demand for entire MMORPGs to be built around such a premise, especially given the inherent risks in the current market.
10 Games like World of Warcraft that'll take over your time next
This article lists 10 MMORPGs and RPGs that capture the essence of World of Warcraft, offering similar exploration, character customization, and progression. The list includes titles like The Lord of the Rings Online, Path of Exile, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Final Fantasy 14, and Guild Wars 2, catering to various player preferences from story-driven experiences to more relaxed, sandbox gameplay.
"It has been an honor": World of Warcraft fans gather in popular private server Turtle WoW to say goodbye as it ends 8-year run following Blizzard lawsuit
The fan-run private server Turtle WoW has shut down after an eight-year run, following a lawsuit from Blizzard Entertainment. Players gathered for a final farewell to the 'Vanilla+' server, which offered a classic World of Warcraft experience. The Turtle WoW team expressed their gratitude to the community and suggested Blizzard consider a framework for licensing fan servers.
Star Wars: The Old Republic's original director hadn't played a single MMO before launching its development studio: 'How the hell did they trust me with this much money?'
James Ohlen, the original director of BioWare's Star Wars: The Old Republic, revealed he had no prior MMO experience when development began. He discussed regrets about the game's launch content and a denied proposal to rename it Star Wars: The New Republic.
Turtle WoW players share one last goodbye as the fan World of Warcraft server shuts down for good
The fan-operated private server network Turtle WoW has officially shut down its servers after nearly eight years of operation. This follows a legal settlement between Turtle WoW and Blizzard Entertainment, which issued a cease and desist order. The community held a final farewell event before the servers went offline, marking the end of an era for many players.
Amazon Cancels Lord of the Rings MMORPG - GameHaunt
Amazon Games has cancelled its Lord of the Rings MMORPG, ending a partnership with Embracer Group due to high technical costs and a strategic pivot away from massive online worlds. This marks Amazon's second failed attempt at a Tolkien-based MMO. The company is still working on a smaller, single-player Middle-earth game, potentially developed by Warhorse Studios, while its other MMO, New World, is scheduled to shut down on October 31, 2027.
Massively Overthinking: Which MMORPG tutorials are actually effective – vs. functionally useless?
This article analyzes the effectiveness of MMORPG tutorials, distinguishing between those that genuinely teach players and those that are functionally useless. Contributors discuss examples like Albion Online's integrated newbie area and Star Wars Galaxies' lack of guidance, highlighting that successful tutorials often blend gameplay with instruction in a low-danger environment. The complexity of MMOs and varying player learning styles are identified as key challenges in tutorial design.
Amazon reportedly had a studio pivot away from a game 'everyone was excited by' to make something with more AI stuffed in it, then laid them all off anyway
Amazon Games reportedly shifted a development team away from an anticipated game to focus on incorporating more artificial intelligence, only to lay off the entire team afterward. According to sources, the team was working on a single-player game featuring AI-driven dialogue for special moves and convincing NPCs, with a demo planned for early 2026. Amazon Games head Jeff Gattis stated that AI was not the reason for the layoffs, attributing them to a strategic business shift.
One Overpowered WoW Class Just Defied Years Of MMO Design, So Of Course Blizzard Nerfed It
A group of five Guardian Druids in World of Warcraft recently cleared a +20 Mythic dungeon without healers or DPS, challenging traditional MMO design. This accomplishment led Blizzard Entertainment to nerf the Guardian Druid's Thrash ability, which had been overperforming due to recent buffs, impacting the game's balance.
