World of Warcraft
News, coverage and analysis tracking World of Warcraft across the outlets.
Latest coverage
5 Marketing Mistakes Fan Conventions Make
This article analyzes common marketing mistakes made by fan conventions, such as over-reliance on social media and neglecting email campaigns or local community outreach. It highlights successful strategies employed by events like FanimeCon and MAGWest, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive marketing plan beyond just booking a venue and running ads. The piece also touches on the importance of networking with local fan communities and being present at other conventions to build direct connections with the target audience.
'Please be fake' — PlayStation fans panic as Sony seemingly introduces ridiculous new '30-day license check' on digital games
Sony is facing backlash from PlayStation fans over a rumored new '30-day license check' for digital games on PS5 and PS4. This feature, reportedly implemented after a March system update, requires consoles to connect to the internet at least once every 30 days to maintain access to purchased digital titles. While initially speculated to be a bug, user reports and PlayStation support interactions suggest the DRM measure is intentional, drawing comparisons to Microsoft's controversial Xbox One DRM policies from 2013.
Ex-Blizzard boss says World of Warcraft's devs are "accountable" for its struggles, as patch 12.0.5 woes persist
Former Blizzard president Mike Ybarra has criticized current World of Warcraft developers, suggesting they are not as dedicated as the original team and that the game will continue to decline without more personal sacrifice. The article argues that Ybarra's comments are out of touch with modern game development practices, which prioritize work-life balance over excessive crunch, and are hypocritical given his own history of layoffs.
World Of Warcraft 2 Was Something Former Blizzard President Advocated For
Former Blizzard president Mike Ybarra stated that he advocated for a 'World of Warcraft 2' during his tenure as a way to reset the long-running MMORPG. Ybarra also pushed for more focus on raids and core player experiences over casual content. He clarified that as president, he had limited direct influence on game design decisions, with the game director ultimately holding creative vision.
Blizzard brought Korn out of its 4-year hiatus to write a song for Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred, confirming that nu metal is…
Blizzard Entertainment has partnered with the band Korn to create a new song, "Reward The Scars," for the upcoming Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred expansion. The song and its accompanying music video, featuring the demon lord Mephisto, aim to evoke nostalgia and complement the game's dark themes. Korn's lead singer, Jonathan Davis, is a known gamer and former World of Warcraft guild leader.
In lamenting World of Warcraft’s decline, ex-Blizzard boss is trying to find the guy who did this
Former Blizzard president Mike Ybarra has been critical of World of Warcraft's current state on Twitter, suggesting the game needs a complete reset. This criticism comes despite Ybarra's own tenure being marked by declining player numbers and controversial studio decisions, including a studio meeting that demoralized staff and a handling of profit-sharing bonuses and remote work policies that led to significant talent loss.
Final Fantasy 14's promised 'public fields' redesign could fix complaints I've had about the MMO for…
This article discusses potential improvements to Final Fantasy XIV's open-world design, focusing on the 'Public Fields' and quests. The author expresses delight that Square Enix plans to address complaints about the beautiful but empty zones, drawing comparisons to dynamic events in World of Warcraft and Guild Wars 2. Director Naoki Yoshida has acknowledged the issue and promised more dynamic content and quest improvements.
Tre guldkorn från Blizzards tidiga år
This article looks back at the early years of Blizzard Entertainment, when the company was known as Silicon & Synapse. It highlights three Super Nintendo Entertainment System titles: The Lost Vikings, Blackthorne, and Rock n' Roll Racing, showcasing Blizzard's early genre diversity and design philosophy before their major success with PC titles like Warcraft and World of Warcraft.
Blizzard's former president says 'WoW has to reset' over disastrous patch, and I really wouldn't go…
Former Blizzard president Mike Ybarra stated that World of Warcraft needs a significant 'reset' due to a disastrous recent patch, though the article argues the game's core offerings are strong. Ybarra suggested a complete team overhaul might be necessary, but the author believes the game is showing signs of ill health rather than being on life support, citing past issues like long patch droughts.
MMO Week in Review: Evercold, Aion 2, and EQ Legends
This week in the MMORPG genre saw the reveal of Final Fantasy XIV's 'Evercold' expansion for January 2027, alongside confirmations for Aion 2's global launch this year. Several other titles like Embers of the Uncrowned, RF Online Next, Palia, EverQuest Legends, and Loftia also had significant updates or beta launches.
A Japanese visual novel where you're a pet hamster doted on by three sisters is back on Steam
The visual novel Sweet Hamster Days, where players control a pet hamster doted on by three sisters, is set for a Q3 release on Steam, Epic Games Store, and DLsite. This marks the game's second announcement after being previously pulled from Steam due to 'various circumstances'. The game's Steam page indicates frequent nudity and sexual content.
Turtle Beach announces the Command Series
Turtle Beach has announced its new Command Series line of gaming peripherals, including keyboards, a keypad, and mice, designed to compete with Corsair's Stream Deck. The series features integrated Command Touch Displays for customizable shortcuts and stream control, with models like the KB7 TKL keyboard and MC7 wireless mouse offering advanced features and integrations with software like OBS and Streamlabs. The new products are compatible with Windows 10/11 PCs and are available for pre-order with staggered global launch dates in May and July 2026.
Lord of the Rings Online now lets you follow in Bilbo's hairy footsteps by buying up property and retiring to an iconic city
Lord of the Rings Online has introduced player housing in Rivendell, allowing players to purchase virtual properties in the iconic elven city. This feature coincides with the game's 19th anniversary and also includes new missions at the Prancing Pony with limited-time rewards.
The Legend of Zelda and World of Warcraft shaped Fable 2's no-death system, but Peter Molyneux had to fight for it
The unique no-death system in Fable 2 was influenced by player experiences with The Legend of Zelda and World of Warcraft, according to creator Peter Molyneux. Instead of traditional death and reloading, Fable 2's characters recover from near-fatal damage with new scars, a design choice Molyneux had to advocate for.
The Daily Grind: Do you still have any MMO boxes in your home?
This article discusses the trend of players moving towards digital game purchases and questions whether MMORPG players still keep physical game boxes for collector's items or display purposes. The author reflects on their own decision to discard old World of Warcraft boxes in favor of digital options.
After 21 years, Guild Wars Reforged now lets you name yourself like a World of Warcraft character, so now I'm just John
Guild Wars Reforged has implemented an update allowing players to use single-word character names, a change that comes 21 years after the original game's release. This update, developed by ArenaNet, also brings improved controller support and Steam Deck verification to the MMORPG. The game is available on Steam for $19.99.
WoW came back from the brink because Blizzard ran it like a live service game—but now that same tactic's…
World of Warcraft's resurgence is attributed to Blizzard's adoption of a live service model with strict adherence to roadmaps, preventing content droughts. However, this rigid schedule has led to the release of buggy patches, suggesting a need for more flexibility and potentially longer development times, even if it means occasional delays. The article argues that MMOs, with their invested player bases and diverse content, can afford a less frantic release pace than typical live service games.
Most MMOs have so many expansions, it's hard to keep track of them all—can you tell our clever fakes from the…
This article presents a quiz designed to test players' knowledge of massively multiplayer online (MMO) game expansions. It challenges readers to distinguish between real and fake expansion names for popular titles like World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy 14, and Guild Wars 2.
WRUP: Jason Jason is our new town name edition
This week's "What Are You Playing" roundup features staff and community members discussing their weekend gaming plans. Titles mentioned include Guild Wars 2, Palia, Red Dead Online, Final Fantasy XIV, World of Warcraft, and Age of Mythology: Retold. A bonus question asks which fast food restaurant they would hypothetically control for petty reasons.
The Daily Grind: What’s your favorite or most nostalgic MMO player gathering spot?
This article discusses nostalgic and favorite player gathering spots within MMORPGs, citing examples like Goldshire Inn and Limsa Lominsa's fountain. It prompts readers to share their own memories of these social hubs where players engage in activities like trading and fashion displays.