World of Warcraft
News, coverage and analysis tracking World of Warcraft across the outlets.
Latest coverage
World of Warcraft: Forever players find rule-breaking new items that defy 22 years of experience with the classic MMO
Players of World of Warcraft: Forever are discovering new items that break established rules of the classic MMO, offering abilities like mining without the skill or enabling new combat styles for mages. These rule-bending items, some inspired by Blizzard's Season of Discovery, suggest that the upcoming full release on November 4 will introduce significant changes beyond a simple remake.
WoW: Forever Aspires To Have A “Mandela Effect” On Players
World of Warcraft: Forever aims to evoke a 'Mandela Effect' in players by introducing new zones and visual improvements that feel familiar yet new. Blizzard Entertainment's senior art director Jeff Parrott and senior game designer Josh Greenfield discussed how they captured the essence of the original game's design and visuals to make players feel like they are returning home to a place they remember.
World of Warcraft: Forever isn't a remake of Classic or a bridge to modern WoW
World of Warcraft: Forever is positioned as a distinct third pillar separate from Classic and modern WoW, focusing on day-to-day adventures rather than world-saving heroics. Lead Game Designer Tim Jones and Lead Software Engineer Nora Mills clarified that it is not a remake of Classic or a bridge to the current version of the game.
Xbox's consolidation plans might mean you get a new Halo sooner, but history shows production line development makes for boring games
Xbox's strategy of consolidating studios and pushing for more frequent releases, exemplified by the Activision Blizzard acquisition and changes to the Halo team, risks creating a future of formulaic and uninspired games. The author argues that while such consolidation might seem efficient, history shows that annual releases and a focus on existing franchises often stifle creativity and lead to a homogenization of game design, potentially resulting in a less exciting gaming landscape.
I've been doing roleplay for 15+ years, and I don't think WoW: Forever needs a ruleset for it
The author argues that World of Warcraft: Classic's new 'Roleplaying' ruleset is an unnecessary and potentially detrimental addition. They contend that traditional roleplaying communities within WoW already manage in-character and out-of-character interactions effectively without strict rulesets, and that separating players into different rulesets for content like dungeons and raids will hinder social interaction.
Every game is about Goku eventually
This article humorously argues that all games eventually become about Goku, citing a Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered mod as an example. It also touches on the author's background in games journalism and experience with various titles.
World of Warcraft fans torn about whether Forever's Skyborne starting zone fits tonally with Classic WoW
Players are divided on whether the new Skyborne starting zone in World of Warcraft: Forever fits the tone of the original Classic WoW experience. Concerns have been raised that the introduction of elemental lords and raid-level threats before level 15 deviates from the grounded narrative approach promised by Blizzard.
WoW: Forever will live and die by the valley
The success of WoW: Forever hinges on its ability to recapture player nostalgia and provide a consistent experience, particularly in long-standing game modes like Alterac Valley. While the beta shows initial player interest, the true test will be whether the game can maintain engagement by offering a sense of continuity for aging MMO players.
We're thinking about X-Men videogames wrong
This article argues that the current approach to X-Men video games is misguided, suggesting a need for a fresh perspective on how to adapt the franchise. It touches upon the author's extensive experience writing about games and their expertise in various titles.
Xbox to Undergo New Round of Layoffs Affecting “Several” Employees, Will Consolidate Studios – Rumor
Xbox is reportedly preparing for another round of significant layoffs, potentially affecting hundreds of employees across multiple studios, including Blizzard. This follows previous job cuts and a stated need to 'reset Xbox' due to weakening business margins. The company is also consolidating some of its studios, with Ninja Theory, Compulsion Games, Double Fine Productions, and Undead Labs being divested.
Why World of Warcraft: Forever isn't for Azeroth's heroes, but for everyone else
World of Warcraft: Forever is positioned as a distinct third pillar of the franchise, focusing on life and community in Azeroth rather than grand heroic narratives. Lead designers Tim Jones and Nora Mills explain that the game emphasizes grounded stories, approachable gameplay, and social experiences, differentiating it from both modern WoW and existing Classic versions. The new title aims to provide a slower-paced, more personal journey with features like camping and a new Skyborne race, with a closed beta planned for November.
Blizzard warns World of Warcraft: Forever players it will 'very aggressively' punish anyone who buys gold with…
Blizzard Entertainment has announced a stricter stance against real-money trading (RMT) and gold buying in World of Warcraft, with senior game designer Josh Greenfield stating that offenders will be 'very aggressively punished.' The company aims to prevent severe inflation and maintain the integrity of the in-game economy, warning players that account bans are a potential consequence.
World of Warcraft raises a mug to toast the return of Brewfest
World of Warcraft is celebrating its annual Brewfest event, which runs until October 6th for both Retail and WoW Classic versions. The event features new rewards such as transmog sets, housing decor, and a Brewfest Bomber mount, alongside traditional activities like dining, drinking, and ram riding.
WoW Forever Shaman Spells – Class Overview And Changes
World of Warcraft Forever has introduced significant updates to the Shaman class, affecting spells, talents, and all three specializations. The changes include 16 new spells and talents, 95 modified abilities, and 8 removed talents, aiming to give Elemental, Enhancement, and Restoration Shamans more distinct identities and tools.
Alright WoW: Forever gamers, are we team HD models or team old school models?
This article discusses the choice between using the original, old-school character models or the newer, high-definition models in World of Warcraft: Forever. The author expresses a preference for the HD models, particularly for trolls, and asks readers which style they prefer.
World of Warcraft Forever beta sees ‘crazy’ numbers: ‘We’ve got something really special here’
Lead developer Josh Greenfield expressed amazement at the 'crazy' numbers and success of the World of Warcraft Forever beta, calling it 'something really special' based on his 17 years at Blizzard. He noted that the beta is effectively identifying and fixing problems, and Blizzard is actively banning testers for offensive names while maintaining its stance against shared mob tagging.
WoW: Forever has rendered me a min-maxing hypocrite, and here's how you can join me
The author, Harvey, discusses their internal conflict about min-maxing in the World of Warcraft beta, despite previously advocating against it. They admit to hoarding quests to maximize experience gains upon the level cap increase, acknowledging a hypocritical approach to the game's progression.
"You can't tell me this isn't WoW 2": Blizzard says World of Warcraft doesn't need a sequel thanks to Forever, but MMO fans say it already made one
Following the reveal of World of Warcraft: Forever, many fans are considering it a spiritual successor or "WoW 2" due to its significant revival of the original MMO's elements and new content. Blizzard itself has stated that a direct sequel is unlikely as Forever offers much of what a sequel would, and the developers seem to view it as a successor that will coexist with existing versions.
WoW: Forever mentally broke me with a boulder
The author shares their experience playing World of Warcraft, finding enjoyment in its old-school mechanics despite some frustrations. A particular quest, 'Rocks to Rest,' involving collecting eight sporadically spawning rocks, became a point of contention due to server-side node competition.
The brave adventurers of WoW: Forever are all called things like Take Meds and Skonch Prime
World of Warcraft is implementing a new two-name system for its upcoming 'Forever' megaserver, allowing players to choose more unique character names. Blizzard has stated that inappropriate names will result in the removal of beta access, though the article highlights several humorous examples of player-created names.
