World of Warcraft
News, coverage and analysis tracking World of Warcraft across the outlets.
Latest coverage
ArenaNet says Guild Wars 3 will make you "fall in love with MMOs." Here's why I think it could
ArenaNet aims to revitalize the MMO genre with Guild Wars 3, focusing on innovative 'Momentum' systems that allow for fluid movement and dynamic combat. Studio head Colin Johansen believes the game will attract both existing Guild Wars fans and new players seeking a fresh experience, potentially making them 'fall in love with MMOs.' The design prioritizes a cleaner UI and more action-oriented gameplay, a departure from traditional MMO mechanics.
MMOs Have “Stagnated,” Guild Wars 3 Studio Head Says
ArenaNet studio head Colin Johanson believes the MMO genre has stagnated, with many players still engaging with games over a decade old. He aims for Guild Wars 3 to introduce "wild, crazy ideas" to revitalize the genre by addressing approachability and respecting players' time, offering a less demanding experience than traditional MMOs.
CD Projekt Red isn't 'planning to rely on AI making complete games', and will still be 'predominantly using people' for The Witcher 4 and beyond
CD Projekt Red's joint CEO Michał Nowakowski stated that the company is not planning to rely on AI for making complete games and will continue to predominantly use people for development, including for The Witcher 4. While AI tools are being experimented with, they are seen as supplementary rather than core to the complex game creation process.
BlizzCon 2026 Preview: We’re So Back! | Official XBOX Podcast
The Official Xbox Podcast features a preview of BlizzCon 2026, with Blizzard's Senior Director of Global Events, Kiersten Crissman, detailing the upcoming event. BlizzCon 2026 will take place on September 12th and 13th in Anaheim, offering both in-person and online experiences with expanded programming, larger venues, and returning fan favorites like the Darkmoon Faire and Hearthstone Tavern. The event will also heavily feature esports competitions, including the Overwatch World Cup, and will be free to watch via livestream on official Blizzard channels.
BlizzCon posts its complete program schedule and other event details ahead of this year’s show
Blizzard Entertainment has released the full program schedule and other event details for BlizzCon 2026. The schedule includes multiple panels for World of Warcraft and links to watch major events on Twitch, YouTube, and Battle.net. Information on convention maps, registration, and on-site activities like the Darkmoon Faire is also available.
5 top tips from World of Warcraft housing creators for making amazing masterworks
This guide offers five top tips from World of Warcraft housing creators for building impressive in-game homes. Tips include utilizing lighting, adding clutter for realism, mastering housing controls, developing a storyline for builds, and blocking out major shapes before focusing on details.
World of Warcraft promises to find players who boosted their way to the top of Mythic Plus rankings
Blizzard Entertainment is investigating potential "boosts" or cheating in World of Warcraft's Mythic Plus rankings for Season 1. Players who achieved top scores for exclusive rewards like a flying mount are being scrutinized to ensure legitimate play. Game director Ion Hazzikostas confirmed a thorough review is underway, with results to be shared soon.
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.
