World of Warcraft
News, coverage and analysis tracking World of Warcraft across the outlets.
Latest coverage
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.
Massively Overthinking: Does the MMORPG genre have a nostalgia problem?
This article discusses whether the MMORPG genre suffers from a nostalgia problem, with various writers debating the trend of classic servers and re-releases. While some see it as a financial crutch or a sign of stagnation, others view it as a valid form of game preservation or a necessary move in a risk-averse industry. The discussion highlights differing player attitudes and the potential for these throwback experiences to coexist with innovation.
I Played WoW: Forever On A Controller, And That’s Big News
Blizzard Entertainment has announced that World of Warcraft: Forever will feature full controller support at launch, a significant development for the MMORPG series. While in alpha during a BlizzCon demo, the controller implementation worked surprisingly well, offering intuitive controls for combat and interaction, though inventory management remains cumbersome. This move could pave the way for potential console versions and improves accessibility on PC.
WoW’s Claudia Christian Dives Into Xal’atath’s Evolution
Claudia Christian discusses the evolution of the character Xal'atath within World of Warcraft. The interview delves into the nuances of portraying the character's development and motivations.
FF14's new roguelike mode's leaderboards were accidentally encouraging players to min-max all the fun out of it, so it'll be 'postponing the start of Crucible Rankings'
Square Enix has postponed the start of rankings for Final Fantasy XIV's new roguelike mode, the Crucible of the Unbroken, due to issues with combat balance and gameplay mechanics. The current ranking system inadvertently encourages players to ignore interesting mechanics and "min-max" their way to victory for rewards like a mount, leading to player dissatisfaction.
Bad news for shaman tank hopefuls—World of Warcraft: Forever won't have Season of Discovery's zany class design just yet: 'But never say never, y'know'
World of Warcraft: Forever will not include the experimental class designs like healing mages and shaman tanks seen in Season of Discovery. Senior game designer Josh Greenfield stated that while lessons learned from Season of Discovery are carried over, the 'forever' version aims to stay closer to the original WoW class identity, though future experimentation is not ruled out.
World of Warcraft Forever elaborates on its campsites feature and horizontal progression plans
World of Warcraft Forever is introducing new features like campsites and horizontal progression. Campsites will offer temporary buffs and can be placed almost anywhere, while horizontal progression aims to keep older gear relevant through biome-specific effects and legacy systems. The developers are carefully balancing these systems to enhance player experience without forcing specific paths.
"A dried husk of a product": former Doom producer berates Microsoft for making Halo a "mid-tier" game and mourns the "financialisation" of AAA
Former Doom producer Andrew Willis criticizes Microsoft's management of franchises like Halo, arguing that the "financialisation" of AAA game development leads to a "dried husk of a product" and brand exhaustion. He contrasts this with Nintendo's perceived brand protection strategy and laments the displacement of creatives by executives focused on short-term gains.
Activision Blizzard sued by former employee over sexual harassment
Activision Blizzard is facing a lawsuit from a former employee alleging a pervasive 'frat boy' workplace culture that fostered sexual harassment and assault. The lawsuit details accusations of objectification, workplace pornography, and physical assault by male employees and supervisors. The company states it is taking the allegations seriously and strives for a respectful workplace.
World of Warcraft: Forever takes page out of retail's book as Blizzard confirms access to add-ons will be…
Blizzard Entertainment has confirmed that World of Warcraft: Forever will restrict 'computational add-ons,' such as combat mods and those that automate communication, similar to the retail version of the game. This decision, while controversial in the retail version, appears to be less unpopular for the upcoming Classic+ take, with some players suggesting it's not a significant issue given the expected content difficulty.
Experiencing BlizzCon 2026 and the returns of Starcraft, Diablo, and Warcraft
Blizzard Entertainment celebrated the return of BlizzCon with numerous announcements, including World of Warcraft: Forever, a new Starcraft open-world shooter, Diablo 5, and updates for Warcraft 3 and Overwatch. The event also highlighted the company's integration as a Microsoft subsidiary and celebrated anniversaries for Overwatch and Diablo.
Catch up on BlizzCon’s panels about the cozy housing of WoW Midnight and the new zones of WoW Forever
BlizzCon panels are now available for viewing, discussing the implementation of housing in World of Warcraft and the development of new zones for World of Warcraft Forever. The housing panel specifically addresses the challenges and progress of bringing player housing to the retail game, while the other panel touches on the evolution of existing zones and the creation of new ones for the upcoming version.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 579: BlizzCon breakdown
The Massively OP Podcast episode 579 breaks down the major announcements from BlizzCon, including World of Warcraft Forever, Wrath Remix, a StarCraft project, Diablo V, and a Warcraft III expansion. The hosts also briefly touch on news from The Lord of the Rings Online, Final Fantasy XIV, and Skate.
World of Warcraft: Forever has a new race you can't get without paying $30, and it's not the first impression fans were hoping for: "They are just blue elves"
Blizzard Entertainment's upcoming World of Warcraft: Forever expansion will feature a new race, the Skyborne, which is locked behind a $29.99 paywall. This pricing strategy has drawn significant criticism from fans on Reddit, who also feel the new race's design is uninspired and too similar to existing elf races. The company has yet to comment on the controversy.
"What would a WoW 2 give you that World of Warcraft: Forever isn't already giving you?" - Blizzard addresses the MMO elephant in the room
Blizzard Entertainment has revealed World of Warcraft: Forever, a reimagined version of the original game with new content and improved graphics, rather than a direct sequel. Executives Holly Longdale and Kris Zierhut explained that the existing engine and ongoing development of World of Warcraft make a sequel unnecessary and potentially less viable than evolving the current game. The company also mentioned future plans for Diablo 5 and a StarCraft shooter, while acknowledging the challenges and costs associated with creating a WoW sequel.
WoW Factor: BlizzCon 2026 paints a bright future for retail World of Warcraft
Blizzard Entertainment revealed several updates for World of Warcraft at BlizzCon 2026, including details on the final patch for The War Within, 'Eclipse,' which will feature a confrontation with Xal'atath. The company also teased the next expansion, The Last Titan, and announced a Wrath of the Lich King expansion remix. New features like the Talebound roguelike mode and significant transmogrification updates, allowing armor type restrictions to be lifted, were also highlighted.
Blizzard finally told players where the big sword in WoW went after 8 years, and I'm just bummed out a reveal this…
Blizzard Entertainment has revealed the fate of the large sword introduced in World of Warcraft: Legion after eight years, confirming it is a spike pointed towards Azeroth's worldsoul in the upcoming Midnight expansion. The author expresses disappointment that this reveal was made through an interview rather than an in-game environmental storytelling moment, contrasting it with Final Fantasy XIV's narrative approach.
WoW Devs Confirm Paladins Are A “Dad Class”
World of Warcraft senior game designer Josh Greenfield confirmed that the Paladin class is officially considered a "dad class." He explained that the class's dependable, supportive, and armored toolkit aligns with common stereotypes associated with fatherhood.
Gold Miner vs. Smart Casual: Why Buying Your Way Through WoW Is Just Time Management | Invision Game Community
This article analyzes the economic strategies within World of Warcraft, comparing 'gold miners' who grind for in-game currency with 'smart casual' players who purchase it. It argues that for the modern player base, buying gold is a more efficient use of time, akin to outsourcing tasks in real life, and that the game's design often treats progression like a second job.
Evening Reading - September 14, 2026
This edition of Shacknews Evening Reading covers a variety of gaming news, including reviews for Marvel's Wolverine and Final Fantasy 7, details on Diablo 5's release window, and the shelving of The Last of Us Part 2 multiplayer mod at Sony's request. It also touches on the Steam Deck pre-order availability and mentions the use of AI in content creation.
