World of Warcraft
News, coverage and analysis tracking World of Warcraft across the outlets.
Latest coverage
WoW Factor: Midnight revives World of Warcraft’s tradition of uneven quality
The latest World of Warcraft expansion, Midnight, returns to the series' tradition of uneven quality, featuring a stunning revamp of Silvermoon City but a largely dull and trope-filled leveling campaign. While the expansion introduces new mechanics like the opt-in 'Prey' system for added challenge, its narrative struggles with predictable plot points and a lack of focus on Blood Elf culture, disappointing players who expected a more mature and engaging story.
Pocketpair Suggests 'A Decade of Continuous, Massive Updates' Is 'Probably Not On the Cards,' But Teases It 'Wouldn't Rule Out A Palworld 2.0' - IGN
Pocketpair, the developer of Palworld, has indicated that a decade of continuous, massive updates is unlikely due to engine limitations and the nature of survival crafting games. Publishing head John Buckley suggested that while a 'Palworld 2.0' is not being ruled out, the focus is on expanding the current game without making it feel like a chore for players.
RuneScape Subscription Now Costs As Much As World of Warcraft
Jagex has increased the monthly subscription price for RuneScape, bringing it to the same cost as World of Warcraft. This is the second price hike in less than two years, a move that has frustrated long-time players who valued RuneScape as a more budget-friendly alternative. The article discusses the business reasons behind the increase and its potential impact on player retention and competition within the MMORPG market.
Buffs, Nerfs, and Bugs
Blizzard Entertainment implemented a nerf to a World of Warcraft item, but players discovered an exploit that allowed for rapid global travel. This loophole enabled players to traverse the game world significantly faster than intended.
Palworld Updates Will Continue After 1.0, But Not Like No Man’s Sky, Says Publishing Head
Pocketpair's publishing head John Buckley stated that while Palworld will continue to receive updates after its 1.0 release, it will not follow the decade-long, massive update model of games like No Man's Sky. He cited engine limitations and the game's linear progression system as reasons why such extensive, long-term support is unlikely. Buckley also mentioned the possibility of a Palworld 2.0 in the future, but emphasized that the studio's current focus is on the 1.0 release.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 557: Adrift in a sea of MMOs
The Massively OP Podcast episode 557 covers recent MMORPG news including World of Warcraft: Midnight's launch, AdventureQuest Worlds Infinity's successful Kickstarter, and updates for The Lord of the Rings Online and The Elder Scrolls Online. Hosts Bree and Justin also briefly mention Fallout 76's Backwoods update.
Blizzard nerfed this WoW item, but players found an even better loophole that allowed them to travel across the planet…
Players discovered a loophole in World of Warcraft that allowed for rapid travel across the game world using a newly introduced item. Blizzard initially attempted to patch the exploit, but a subsequent hotfix has provided a compromise, turning the item into a reliable teleportation device to Silvermoon City, similar to a hearthstone.
My Old School Runescape membership now costs more than World of Warcraft's, and I wonder when the price hikes will end
The author expresses concern over the rising membership costs for Old School RuneScape, noting that its monthly price now exceeds that of World of Warcraft. This price increase prompts reflection on the trend of escalating subscription fees in online games.
RuneScape's monthly membership now costs as much as a World of Warcraft subscription as Jagex announces its second…
RuneScape developer Jagex has announced a second price increase for its monthly membership, raising it from $13.99 to $14.99 per month and annual memberships from $99.48 to $131.88 per year. This change makes RuneScape's monthly subscription cost on par with World of Warcraft's in the US, and more expensive in some European regions. Jagex claims the increase will support an ambitious development roadmap, though players have expressed significant dissatisfaction with the perceived decrease in value.
WoW: Midnight's new Prey mechanic is the coolest system the MMO's added in a while, but it needs to be…
The new Prey mechanic in World of Warcraft: The War Within expansion is an engaging addition that allows players to be ambushed in the open world. While the normal and hard difficulties are currently underwhelming, the upcoming nightmare mode and potential for unique target behaviors offer promise for the system's future.
Still humming with life 21 years later, Konami's Master of Epic is a wonderful time capsule of the experimental…
Master of Epic, a Japanese-only MMORPG released in 2005 by Hudson Soft and now published by Konami, is examined as a time capsule of experimental MMO design. Despite a slow start and a unique skill system that rewards player experience over traditional leveling, the game has maintained a dedicated niche audience due to its immersive, friction-filled gameplay that encourages player attention and exploration.
World of Warcraft players revolt over ‘comically overpriced’ cash shop housing items
Players of World of Warcraft are expressing outrage over the high prices of new cosmetic housing items available in the in-game cash shop. Initially, decor packs were priced at $25, with individual items like a cherry blossom tree costing $7.50. Following backlash, one pack was repriced to $2.50, but many players still consider the items 'comically overpriced'.
Dragon Age creator says he 'had to take out half' of the quests in Dragon Age 2 once he found out they only had 16 months to make it: 'BioWare as a team did not know how to make a small game'
Dragon Age 2's lead writer, Mike Laidlaw, revealed that the team had only 16 months to develop the game, forcing them to cut nearly half of the planned quests. He stated that BioWare as a team struggled with the concept of creating a smaller-scale game due to the tight deadline.
Gang Of Dragon Studio Reportedly Has Funding Pulled By NetEase
NetEase has reportedly pulled its funding from Nagoshi Studio, jeopardizing the development of its first game, Gang of Dragon. The decision, made in May, cited the estimated $44.4 million needed for completion. Nagoshi Studio is currently seeking a new publishing partner, but NetEase is only open to negotiations if the studio can cover the costs of existing assets.
MMO Week in Review: Midnight’s proper launch, Ashes of Creation’s legal battle
This week's MMO news roundup covers the official launch of World of Warcraft Midnight, a legal battle involving Ashes of Creation's former boss Steven Sharif, and the debuts of Bungie's Marathon and Equinox Homecoming. Several games, including Highguard and Eldegarde, are also announced to be sunsetting.
The best CRPG docuseries on YouTube just covered Ultima 8 with a 3-hour retrospective
A YouTube docuseries by Majuular, focusing on CRPGs, has released a three-hour retrospective on Ultima VIII: Pagan. The series explores the game's history, development, and its significant influence on the CRPG genre, despite Ultima VIII not being the most acclaimed entry in the series.
One Shots: What Santa does in the off season
This week's One Shots column features community screenshots from various MMOs, including World of Warcraft and Warframe. Players shared their in-game moments, from in-game events and character customization to exploring game worlds.
WoW's recent revamp of Silvermoon for Midnight is so good, I'm starting to wonder if the MMO's model of a 'new exciting continent every 2-3 years' was ever the right way
The upcoming World of Warcraft: Midnight expansion's revamp of older zones like Silvermoon is praised for its detail and scope, prompting a discussion on whether Blizzard's traditional 'new continent every few years' model is optimal. This approach focuses on enriching existing areas rather than constantly introducing new ones, potentially avoiding the 'continent creep' issue common in long-running MMOs.
All World of Warcraft Expansions, Ranked
This article ranks all World of Warcraft expansions and discusses recent changes in patch 12.0.1, which followed the Midnight expansion prepatch. The prepatch introduced significant alterations to mods, character classes, and the game's user interface.
World of Warcraft: Midnight talks PvP challenges, Season 1, soundtrack, and housing packs
Blizzard Entertainment has detailed upcoming Player versus Player content for World of Warcraft: Midnight Season 1, including the new Slayer's Rise battleground and world PvP objectives. The article also mentions the release of the official 31-song soundtrack and various in-game purchases for housing and mounts.