World of Warcraft
News, coverage and analysis tracking World of Warcraft across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Dwarf Fortress' creator says the industry's in shambles over AI and layoff-happy CEOs: 'Everyone I know, their bosses are slowly getting psychosis'
Dwarf Fortress creator Tarn Adams expresses deep concern over the current state of the game industry, citing widespread layoffs and the problematic integration of generative AI. He believes these trends are unsustainable and are leading to a 'psychosis' among industry leaders, drawing parallels to past economic downturns.
Blizzard doing 'a thorough scrub' of illegitimate World of Warcraft Mythic-Plus dungeon rankings, with more…
Blizzard Entertainment is investigating and scrubbing illegitimate rankings in World of Warcraft's Mythic Plus dungeons, particularly those achieved through paid carries. Game director Ion Hazzikostas confirmed a thorough review is underway for the recent season's top 1% rewards, which included a mount and title. The issue stems from players paying for boosts, which devalued the achievements of legitimate players and led to controversy.
Some of WoW's hardest dungeons and raids have gotten just a bit easier—that's on purpose, developers say
Blizzard developers are intentionally making some of World of Warcraft's dungeons and raids slightly easier to encourage greater player participation and improve the balance of roles. Changes include making Mythic Plus vault rewards more accessible and introducing flexible-sized "Lair" raid instances to ease players into Mythic difficulty.
World of Warcraft emulator pivots to new MMO called Ascension
Project Ascension, a World of Warcraft emulator, is shutting down its rogue server to develop a new MMORPG titled Ascension. The developers plan to maintain user accounts and transfer in-game currency for exclusive founder cosmetics. An opt-in alpha build is expected soon, with promises of significant progress already made on the new game.
Rumor: Xbox is considering TV adaptations of World of Warcraft, Elder Scrolls, and more
Xbox is reportedly in talks with Netflix, Paramount, and Universal to develop TV adaptations for several Microsoft-owned video game franchises, including Elder Scrolls, World of Warcraft, and Diablo. A new Halo adaptation is also being discussed, following the success of the recent Fallout series.
MMO Week in Review: Gamescom, Asura, and Ascension
Gamescom was the dominant event this week, bringing news for numerous MMOs including launch dates for Aion 2 and Path of Exile 2, and trailers for Dune Awakening, Sea of Remnants, and Cinder City. Star Citizen's Squadron 42 received another delay into 2027, while Guild Wars 3 revealed its Asura, and Blizzard shut down another World of Warcraft private server. Other news included updates for Throne and Liberty, Ultima Online, and The Division 2, alongside discussions on game design, AI training lawsuits, and the shutdown of the Project Ascension World of Warcraft emulator.
The MOP Up: Hearthstone hosts Azeroth’s Most Wanted
Hearthstone's Patch 36.4 introduces new Class Sets, an Arena season, and event rewards. This roundup also covers updates and events from various other games including No Man's Sky, Grim Dawn, ARC Raiders, Diablo, and Myth of Empires: Throne. Ubisoft is forming a player council for testing, and Thatgamecompany is expanding its publishing efforts.
Fresh World of Warcraft Midnight patch notes mean even more buffs in Blizzard's continued class tuning
Blizzard Entertainment has released new patch notes for World of Warcraft's Midnight update, focusing on continued class tuning. The changes aim to buff underperforming PvE specs and speed up PvP combat, with specific adjustments for Frost Death Knights, Havoc and Vengeance Demon Hunters, Druids, Hunters, Mages, Monks, Paladins, and Priests. A change to bonus rolls now restricts their use to encounters where loot is eligible.
I want MMOs to waste our time again
The author argues that modern MMOs like World of Warcraft are too efficient, prioritizing player progression over the sense of wonder and aimless exploration found in older titles like Star Wars Galaxies. While acknowledging the design improvements in current games, the piece highlights the unique magic of incidental encounters and the joy of simply existing in a persistent virtual world.
Project Ascension World of Warcraft emulator is shutting down following apparent Blizzard lawsuit settlement
Blizzard Entertainment has reached a mutual agreement with the World of Warcraft emulator Project Ascension, leading to its shutdown on September 4, 2026. The lawsuit accused Project Ascension of intellectual property infringement and generating millions of dollars through its cash shop. The developers plan to shift focus to a new project unrelated to Blizzard games.
WRUP: Here are the items that you have gotten mustard stains on edition
This week's 'What Are You Playing' roundup features community and staff discussing their weekend gaming plans. Titles mentioned include City of Heroes, Lord of the Rings Online, Palia, The Division 2, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Guild Wars Reforged, Eternal Strands, and World of Warcraft. A bonus question asks about preferred fruits, with responses ranging from oranges to coconuts.
World of Warcraft private server Project Ascension confirms shutdown in "mutual agreement" with Blizzard
Project Ascension, a popular network of World of Warcraft private servers, will shut down all its emulated realms on September 4, 2026, as part of a mutual agreement with Blizzard Entertainment. This closure follows similar shutdowns of other private servers like Turtle WoW and Stormforge. The Project Ascension team will shift its focus to developing new projects unrelated to World of Warcraft.
Casually Classic: What clues did Season of Discovery hold for WoW Classic Plus?
The article analyzes Blizzard Entertainment's Season of Discovery for World of Warcraft Classic as a precursor to a potential 'Classic Plus' version of the game. It examines the experimental features introduced, player feedback, and lessons learned that could inform future Classic WoW developments, particularly regarding lore integration and game balance.
World of Warcraft fans celebrate the life of Peter Cullen, the voice actor for the MMORPG’s 2001 trailer
Fans of World of Warcraft are mourning the passing of Peter Cullen, the voice actor who narrated the game's original 2001 cinematic trailer. Cullen, who also famously voiced Optimus Prime and Eeyore, died at the age of 85. His iconic voice introduced many players to the MMORPG before its 2004 release.
The Daily Grind: What’s the right number of buttons for an MMO hotbar?
This article discusses the optimal number of buttons for an MMORPG hotbar, exploring player preferences and design challenges across various games like Guild Wars, Lord of the Rings Online, World of Warcraft, and Star Wars Galaxies. It questions why a universally accepted 'sweet spot' for hotbar design remains elusive despite player feedback.
Netflix is likely pleased as punch with the GTA 6 extended look, which more than doubled its web traffic
Netflix experienced a significant surge in web traffic, with user counts increasing by 125%, following the debut of the Grand Theft Auto 6 extended look on its platform. While the streaming service largely handled the load, the move has raised questions about Take-Two's decision to partner with Netflix for the trailer's initial release, especially given the trailer's subsequent availability on YouTube.
Xbox is reportedly pitching movie and TV adaptations for "more than a dozen games" – including Elder…
Xbox is reportedly pitching movie and TV adaptation rights for over a dozen of its games, including Halo, The Elder Scrolls, World of Warcraft, and Diablo, to major streamers like Netflix, Paramount, and Universal. Microsoft is seeking around $300 million for potential deals, aiming to capitalize on the current trend of successful video game adaptations in Hollywood.
Massively Overthinking: Are you your own worst enemy in MMORPGs? How?
This article discusses how players often ruin their own enjoyment of MMORPGs through excessive overthinking, setting unrealistic expectations, comparing games unfavorably, and consuming too much external information. Contributors share personal anecdotes about rushing through content, burnout, and the negative impact of social media on their gaming experience.
Vague Patch Notes: Resenting structure and blaming guidance in MMOs
This article analyzes the evolution of game structure and guidance in MMOs, contrasting early titles like Final Fantasy XI with more modern experiences like Final Fantasy XIV. It discusses how the 'bump method' of exploration in older games has been replaced by more direct questing and guidance, and how this shift impacts player experience and perception of game openness.
WoW Factor: Yes, there really is too much to do in World of Warcraft Midnight
The author expresses feeling overwhelmed by the amount of content and weekly tasks in World of Warcraft's latest patch, "Curse of Ula'tek." Despite the game's history of content droughts, the current eight-week patch cycle is perceived as too fast, leading to an exhausting experience for players, especially those with multiple characters.
