World of Warcraft
News, coverage and analysis tracking World of Warcraft across the outlets.- One Shots: Mainlining malaria | Massively OverpoweredThis week's 'One Shots' feature highlights community screenshots from various MMOs, including Guild Wars 2, Elite Dangerous, World of Warcraft, and Final Fantasy XIV. Players shared their favorite in-game moments and visually striking environments, with a call for more submissions.
- MMO Week in Review: Guild Wars goes mobile, Bungie gets layoffsThis week's MMO news includes Guild Wars launching on mobile, Star Trek Online's new update, and Throne & Liberty's summer expansion. However, the industry also saw significant layoffs at Sony and Bungie, impacting hundreds of developers working on Destiny 2 and Marathon. Other news includes Valve's Steam Machine pricing, the ongoing Ashes of Creation lawsuit, and updates on Grand Theft Auto VI's online multiplayer.
- The Daily Grind: What concepts do MMORPGs keep trying to reinvent for a new generation?This article discusses how MMORPG developers often reintroduce older game design concepts as if they are new innovations. A ZeniMax Online Studios developer's comment about a new dungeon type is used as an example, highlighting how open dungeons were common in early MMOs like Ultima Online and EverQuest before becoming less prevalent after World of Warcraft.
- Blizzard moves ahead with its Project Ascension rogue server lawsuit by sending motion summons requestsBlizzard Entertainment has initiated legal proceedings against World of Warcraft rogue server Project Ascension by filing official summons requests. This action follows their previous shutdown of Turtle WoW and indicates a continued effort to protect the World of Warcraft intellectual property. Failure to respond within 21 days could result in a default judgment for Blizzard.
- Rumor: Microsoft’s next layoffs are poised to hit Blizzard, Bethsoft, and Undead LabsRumors suggest Microsoft is planning significant layoffs across several of its gaming studios, including Undead Labs, Blizzard Entertainment, and Bethesda Softworks. These cuts are reportedly the largest for Xbox and come as the company evaluates its recent Activision Blizzard acquisition. Unionized workers at Xbox are reportedly organizing to negotiate over potential job losses.
Bad news, Blizzard won't be running a fresh Season of Discovery server in WoW ClassicBlizzard Entertainment has confirmed there are no plans to launch a new official "fresh start" server for the Season of Discovery in World of Warcraft Classic. Senior Game Designer Josh Greenfield stated that opening and managing new servers requires significant resources and is not feasible given other ongoing development priorities. This news comes despite a recent community-driven "Fake Fresh" event that saw a surge in player numbers for the existing Season of Discovery servers.
Guild Wars 3 may have cracked the MMO code for tired millennialsArenaNet studio head Collin Johanson stated that Guild Wars 3 aims to respect players' time, allowing them to play as much or as little as they desire. This approach contrasts with many modern MMORPGs and live-service games that can feel like a second job due to mechanics like battle passes and repetitive tasks. The article suggests that if Guild Wars 3 can remain captivating without demanding excessive playtime, it could appeal to a growing audience of adult gamers.
State of Decay studio Undead Labs potentially up for closure, sources claim, with Bethesda and Blizzard also facing layoffsMicrosoft is reportedly planning significant layoffs across its gaming division, potentially including the closure of Undead Labs, the studio behind State of Decay. Bethesda and Blizzard Entertainment are also expected to face substantial job cuts as part of a company-wide "reset." Union workers are negotiating with management to protect jobs or secure severance packages amid these widespread reductions.- The best MMO and multiplayer deals from Steam’s 2026 summer sale and beyondSteam's 2026 Summer Sale is offering significant discounts on a wide variety of MMO and multiplayer titles, including bundles and individual game sales. Notable deals include discounts on Palworld, Guild Wars 2, Dune Awakening, Destiny 2 DLC, Elder Scrolls Online, and many more, with prices slashed across numerous genres and publishers.
- Casually Classic: What were vanilla World of Warcraft’s weaknesses?This analysis examines the weaknesses of the original World of Warcraft, focusing on enduring issues beyond temporary server problems. Key criticisms include broken and unbalanced classes, unrewarding quest rewards, an aimless endgame lacking variety beyond raiding, and poor in-game grouping tools that hindered player interaction.
- Vague Patch Notes: Who owns the eras of an MMO?This analysis explores the concept of ownership in MMORPGs, questioning who truly owns specific eras or versions of a game that evolves over time. It argues that while players form strong attachments, the ultimate ownership and decision-making power rests with the development studio, such as Blizzard Entertainment for World of Warcraft. The article suggests that accepting this reality and engaging with the current version of a game is more productive than dwelling on past iterations.
- GameStop CEO Came Up With Plan To Buy eBay On The Toilet, Wants It To Become Re-Seller Of Digital Gaming ItemsGameStop CEO Ryan Cohen has proposed acquiring eBay for $56 billion, outlining a vision that includes creating a marketplace for digital gaming items like skins and weapons. While eBay has rejected the offer, Cohen believes this market has massive potential utility beyond physical collectibles. He also plans to cut costs and expand live commerce if the takeover is successful.
The Ultimate Summer Sale Pairing: Steam Sale Meets GeForce NOW DiscountsNVIDIA's GeForce NOW is offering discounts on its Ultimate and Performance memberships to coincide with the Steam Summer Sale. This promotion allows players to stream PC games purchased on Steam via the cloud, eliminating storage and hardware requirements. New games like Dark Scrolls and The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales are also joining the GeForce NOW library.
I always forget to cancel free trials, so I'm sticking with Newegg's anti-Prime Day deals this weekNewegg is running its Fantastech sale concurrently with Amazon's Prime Day, offering numerous deals on PC gaming hardware, components, and accessories. The article highlights various discounts on items like GPUs, CPUs, monitors, and gaming chairs, encouraging readers to find better prices than those offered by Amazon. It also provides advice on navigating marketplace sellers and checking for price protection.
Diablo 4's Overwatch crossover skins have been revealed and they are completely cursed: "Mercy looks like a…Players are expressing dissatisfaction with the new crossover skins in Diablo 4, themed after Overwatch. Many find the skins unappealing and unfitting for Diablo 4's aesthetic, with particular criticism directed at the Mercy skin. Concerns were also raised about the high pricing of past collaborations with World of Warcraft and StarCraft, and the overall store pricing in Diablo 4 compared to other games like Fortnite.- Massively OP Podcast Episode 570: Card Wars 3The Massively OP Podcast episode 570 covers various MMO industry news, including Guild Wars' card game, a potential ArcheAge revival, and Richard Garriott's interest in Ultima. Discussions also touch on World of Warcraft's upcoming patch, Dungeons and Dragons Online's new race, and EverQuest Legends pre-orders.
New Guild Wars card game “Mistbound” announcedArenaNet and NC Corporation have announced Mistbound, a new collectible card game set in the Guild Wars universe for mobile and PC. The game features a dynamic 5x3 grid with directional movement for units and commanders, offering deep strategic gameplay inspired by Guild Wars 2's professions. Mistbound will be free-to-play with monetization hooks similar to other live service titles.
Warframe dev says 'no one is celebrating' Destiny 2 winding down: 'A game is healthy when you have…Warframe's community director Megan Everett expressed sadness, not celebration, over Destiny 2 winding down, emphasizing that healthy competition benefits the entire gaming industry. She believes that having strong competitors like Destiny 2 pushes games to improve, and it's a shame to see a game with a dedicated player base reach this stage, especially when support seems to have arrived too late.- World of Warcraft’s Midsummer Fire Festival calls out to the party pyros in the houseWorld of Warcraft's annual Midsummer Fire Festival event is now live in both retail and WoW Classic versions until July 5th. This year's retail version introduces new aerial quests, an Ahune boss fight, a new painted roc mount, additional faction achievements, and transmog items.
Someone Made A Single-Player Version Of World Of Warcraft, Powered By AIA World of Warcraft player has created a private server populated by 1,800 AI-powered bots that mimic real players by completing quests, leveling professions, and engaging in combat. These bots utilize DeepSeek AI for communication, though their actions are not influenced by the AI. The concept has drawn mixed reactions, with some seeing potential for single-player MMO experiences and others viewing it as a dystopian example of the 'dead internet theory'.