World of Warcraft
News, coverage and analysis tracking World of Warcraft across the outlets.
Latest coverage
World of Warcraft Forever elaborates on its campsites feature and horizontal progression plans
World of Warcraft Forever is introducing new features like campsites and horizontal progression. Campsites will offer temporary buffs and can be placed almost anywhere, while horizontal progression aims to keep older gear relevant through biome-specific effects and legacy systems. The developers are carefully balancing these systems to enhance player experience without forcing specific paths.
"A dried husk of a product": former Doom producer berates Microsoft for making Halo a "mid-tier" game and mourns the "financialisation" of AAA
Former Doom producer Andrew Willis criticizes Microsoft's management of franchises like Halo, arguing that the "financialisation" of AAA game development leads to a "dried husk of a product" and brand exhaustion. He contrasts this with Nintendo's perceived brand protection strategy and laments the displacement of creatives by executives focused on short-term gains.
Activision Blizzard sued by former employee over sexual harassment
Activision Blizzard is facing a lawsuit from a former employee alleging a pervasive 'frat boy' workplace culture that fostered sexual harassment and assault. The lawsuit details accusations of objectification, workplace pornography, and physical assault by male employees and supervisors. The company states it is taking the allegations seriously and strives for a respectful workplace.
World of Warcraft: Forever takes page out of retail's book as Blizzard confirms access to add-ons will be…
Blizzard Entertainment has confirmed that World of Warcraft: Forever will restrict 'computational add-ons,' such as combat mods and those that automate communication, similar to the retail version of the game. This decision, while controversial in the retail version, appears to be less unpopular for the upcoming Classic+ take, with some players suggesting it's not a significant issue given the expected content difficulty.
Experiencing BlizzCon 2026 and the returns of Starcraft, Diablo, and Warcraft
Blizzard Entertainment celebrated the return of BlizzCon with numerous announcements, including World of Warcraft: Forever, a new Starcraft open-world shooter, Diablo 5, and updates for Warcraft 3 and Overwatch. The event also highlighted the company's integration as a Microsoft subsidiary and celebrated anniversaries for Overwatch and Diablo.
Catch up on BlizzCon’s panels about the cozy housing of WoW Midnight and the new zones of WoW Forever
BlizzCon panels are now available for viewing, discussing the implementation of housing in World of Warcraft and the development of new zones for World of Warcraft Forever. The housing panel specifically addresses the challenges and progress of bringing player housing to the retail game, while the other panel touches on the evolution of existing zones and the creation of new ones for the upcoming version.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 579: BlizzCon breakdown
The Massively OP Podcast episode 579 breaks down the major announcements from BlizzCon, including World of Warcraft Forever, Wrath Remix, a StarCraft project, Diablo V, and a Warcraft III expansion. The hosts also briefly touch on news from The Lord of the Rings Online, Final Fantasy XIV, and Skate.
World of Warcraft: Forever has a new race you can't get without paying $30, and it's not the first impression fans were hoping for: "They are just blue elves"
Blizzard Entertainment's upcoming World of Warcraft: Forever expansion will feature a new race, the Skyborne, which is locked behind a $29.99 paywall. This pricing strategy has drawn significant criticism from fans on Reddit, who also feel the new race's design is uninspired and too similar to existing elf races. The company has yet to comment on the controversy.
"What would a WoW 2 give you that World of Warcraft: Forever isn't already giving you?" - Blizzard addresses the MMO elephant in the room
Blizzard Entertainment has revealed World of Warcraft: Forever, a reimagined version of the original game with new content and improved graphics, rather than a direct sequel. Executives Holly Longdale and Kris Zierhut explained that the existing engine and ongoing development of World of Warcraft make a sequel unnecessary and potentially less viable than evolving the current game. The company also mentioned future plans for Diablo 5 and a StarCraft shooter, while acknowledging the challenges and costs associated with creating a WoW sequel.
WoW Factor: BlizzCon 2026 paints a bright future for retail World of Warcraft
Blizzard Entertainment revealed several updates for World of Warcraft at BlizzCon 2026, including details on the final patch for The War Within, 'Eclipse,' which will feature a confrontation with Xal'atath. The company also teased the next expansion, The Last Titan, and announced a Wrath of the Lich King expansion remix. New features like the Talebound roguelike mode and significant transmogrification updates, allowing armor type restrictions to be lifted, were also highlighted.
Blizzard finally told players where the big sword in WoW went after 8 years, and I'm just bummed out a reveal this…
Blizzard Entertainment has revealed the fate of the large sword introduced in World of Warcraft: Legion after eight years, confirming it is a spike pointed towards Azeroth's worldsoul in the upcoming Midnight expansion. The author expresses disappointment that this reveal was made through an interview rather than an in-game environmental storytelling moment, contrasting it with Final Fantasy XIV's narrative approach.
WoW Devs Confirm Paladins Are A “Dad Class”
World of Warcraft senior game designer Josh Greenfield confirmed that the Paladin class is officially considered a "dad class." He explained that the class's dependable, supportive, and armored toolkit aligns with common stereotypes associated with fatherhood.
Gold Miner vs. Smart Casual: Why Buying Your Way Through WoW Is Just Time Management | Invision Game Community
This article analyzes the economic strategies within World of Warcraft, comparing 'gold miners' who grind for in-game currency with 'smart casual' players who purchase it. It argues that for the modern player base, buying gold is a more efficient use of time, akin to outsourcing tasks in real life, and that the game's design often treats progression like a second job.
Evening Reading - September 14, 2026
This edition of Shacknews Evening Reading covers a variety of gaming news, including reviews for Marvel's Wolverine and Final Fantasy 7, details on Diablo 5's release window, and the shelving of The Last of Us Part 2 multiplayer mod at Sony's request. It also touches on the Steam Deck pre-order availability and mentions the use of AI in content creation.
How WoW Forever Handles Its Massive Set Of New Quests
Blizzard Entertainment announced WoW Forever, a new iteration of the classic World of Warcraft experience, featuring over 1,000 new quests and four new zones. Senior game designer Josh Greenfield discussed how these new quests aim to capture the charm and storytelling of the original game, while also embracing darker themes. WoW Forever is set to release on November 4 and will include updated class designs, revamped systems, and expanded race and class options, accessible via an existing WoW subscription or through the $80 Warcraft Forever Collection.
World Of Warcraft: Forever beta starts this week - here's how to get access
Blizzard Entertainment has announced that the beta for World of Warcraft: Forever will begin on September 17, 2026. Access to the beta can be guaranteed through pre-ordering specific editions of the game, or players can sign up for a chance to receive an access key. World of Warcraft: Forever is an evolution of World of Warcraft Classic, featuring improved visuals and new content.
World of Warcraft 2 isn't happening because Blizzard isn't sure what a sequel to the MMO would "give you…
Blizzard Entertainment principal designer Kris Zierhut stated that a direct sequel to World of Warcraft, referred to as World of Warcraft 2, is unlikely to be developed. He explained that the ongoing development of the original MMO and the upcoming World of Warcraft: Forever provide continuous improvements and new experiences, making a complete restart unnecessary. Zierhut emphasized the strength of the existing engine, infrastructure, and lore, questioning what a sequel could offer that the current game doesn't already provide.
Blizzard say Battle.net isn't looking to fight Steam and Epic for supermassive storefront supremacy, despite recently nabbing The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077
Blizzard Entertainment's Battle.net storefront is not aiming to compete with Steam or the Epic Games Store for sheer volume of games. Instead, senior vice president Andrew Guerrero stated that Battle.net will maintain a focused approach, curating a selection of high-quality titles that appeal to their core audience, including recent additions like The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077.
World of Warcraft Forever aims to combat dungeon boosting, says ‘no plans’ for WoW Tokens
Blizzard Entertainment has stated that its upcoming World of Warcraft Forever will not include the WoW Token or paid character boosts, at least for now. The developers have also significantly reduced XP gained from killing monsters in dungeons, while increasing XP from completing dungeon quests to combat instance spamming and paid boosting services.
In a big change for Blizzard, it sounds like the new StarCraft shooter won't be a live-service game
Blizzard has revealed that the new StarCraft game, slated for release in 2030, will be a narrative-driven, open-world shooter with a definitive beginning, middle, and end, departing from the company's recent focus on live-service titles. Project leader Dan Hay described it as a 'box product' that players can purchase and experience fully, with opportunities to explore the world and engage in activities at their own pace between story missions. While acknowledging StarCraft's legacy as an RTS, Blizzard is carefully considering future directions for the franchise.
