World of Warcraft
News, coverage and analysis tracking World of Warcraft across the outlets.
Final Fantasy 14's promised 'public fields' redesign could fix complaints I've had about the MMO for…This article discusses potential improvements to Final Fantasy XIV's open-world design, focusing on the 'Public Fields' and quests. The author expresses delight that Square Enix plans to address complaints about the beautiful but empty zones, drawing comparisons to dynamic events in World of Warcraft and Guild Wars 2. Director Naoki Yoshida has acknowledged the issue and promised more dynamic content and quest improvements.- Tre guldkorn från Blizzards tidiga årThis article looks back at the early years of Blizzard Entertainment, when the company was known as Silicon & Synapse. It highlights three Super Nintendo Entertainment System titles: The Lost Vikings, Blackthorne, and Rock n' Roll Racing, showcasing Blizzard's early genre diversity and design philosophy before their major success with PC titles like Warcraft and World of Warcraft.
Blizzard's former president says 'WoW has to reset' over disastrous patch, and I really wouldn't go…Former Blizzard president Mike Ybarra stated that World of Warcraft needs a significant 'reset' due to a disastrous recent patch, though the article argues the game's core offerings are strong. Ybarra suggested a complete team overhaul might be necessary, but the author believes the game is showing signs of ill health rather than being on life support, citing past issues like long patch droughts.- MMO Week in Review: Evercold, Aion 2, and EQ LegendsThis week in the MMORPG genre saw the reveal of Final Fantasy XIV's 'Evercold' expansion for January 2027, alongside confirmations for Aion 2's global launch this year. Several other titles like Embers of the Uncrowned, RF Online Next, Palia, EverQuest Legends, and Loftia also had significant updates or beta launches.
A Japanese visual novel where you're a pet hamster doted on by three sisters is back on SteamThe visual novel Sweet Hamster Days, where players control a pet hamster doted on by three sisters, is set for a Q3 release on Steam, Epic Games Store, and DLsite. This marks the game's second announcement after being previously pulled from Steam due to 'various circumstances'. The game's Steam page indicates frequent nudity and sexual content.
Turtle Beach announces the Command SeriesTurtle Beach has announced its new Command Series line of gaming peripherals, including keyboards, a keypad, and mice, designed to compete with Corsair's Stream Deck. The series features integrated Command Touch Displays for customizable shortcuts and stream control, with models like the KB7 TKL keyboard and MC7 wireless mouse offering advanced features and integrations with software like OBS and Streamlabs. The new products are compatible with Windows 10/11 PCs and are available for pre-order with staggered global launch dates in May and July 2026.
Lord of the Rings Online now lets you follow in Bilbo's hairy footsteps by buying up property and retiring to an iconic cityLord of the Rings Online has introduced player housing in Rivendell, allowing players to purchase virtual properties in the iconic elven city. This feature coincides with the game's 19th anniversary and also includes new missions at the Prancing Pony with limited-time rewards.
The Legend of Zelda and World of Warcraft shaped Fable 2's no-death system, but Peter Molyneux had to fight for itThe unique no-death system in Fable 2 was influenced by player experiences with The Legend of Zelda and World of Warcraft, according to creator Peter Molyneux. Instead of traditional death and reloading, Fable 2's characters recover from near-fatal damage with new scars, a design choice Molyneux had to advocate for.- The Daily Grind: Do you still have any MMO boxes in your home?This article discusses the trend of players moving towards digital game purchases and questions whether MMORPG players still keep physical game boxes for collector's items or display purposes. The author reflects on their own decision to discard old World of Warcraft boxes in favor of digital options.
After 21 years, Guild Wars Reforged now lets you name yourself like a World of Warcraft character, so now I'm just JohnGuild Wars Reforged has implemented an update allowing players to use single-word character names, a change that comes 21 years after the original game's release. This update, developed by ArenaNet, also brings improved controller support and Steam Deck verification to the MMORPG. The game is available on Steam for $19.99.
WoW came back from the brink because Blizzard ran it like a live service game—but now that same tactic's…World of Warcraft's resurgence is attributed to Blizzard's adoption of a live service model with strict adherence to roadmaps, preventing content droughts. However, this rigid schedule has led to the release of buggy patches, suggesting a need for more flexibility and potentially longer development times, even if it means occasional delays. The article argues that MMOs, with their invested player bases and diverse content, can afford a less frantic release pace than typical live service games.
Most MMOs have so many expansions, it's hard to keep track of them all—can you tell our clever fakes from the…This article presents a quiz designed to test players' knowledge of massively multiplayer online (MMO) game expansions. It challenges readers to distinguish between real and fake expansion names for popular titles like World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy 14, and Guild Wars 2.- WRUP: Jason Jason is our new town name editionThis week's "What Are You Playing" roundup features staff and community members discussing their weekend gaming plans. Titles mentioned include Guild Wars 2, Palia, Red Dead Online, Final Fantasy XIV, World of Warcraft, and Age of Mythology: Retold. A bonus question asks which fast food restaurant they would hypothetically control for petty reasons.
- The Daily Grind: What’s your favorite or most nostalgic MMO player gathering spot?This article discusses nostalgic and favorite player gathering spots within MMORPGs, citing examples like Goldshire Inn and Limsa Lominsa's fountain. It prompts readers to share their own memories of these social hubs where players engage in activities like trading and fashion displays.
- Buffs, Nerfs, and BugsBlizzard Entertainment has apologized for the numerous bugs and exploits, including an "X-ray vision" bug, that were present in the recent World of Warcraft patch. The company stated they will improve future updates.
- WoW Factor: Where World of Warcraft Midnight’s story went wrongThis analysis critiques the narrative of World of Warcraft: Midnight, arguing that its story has been a significant disappointment despite strong gameplay. The author points to issues with the explanation of plot points like the Sunwell's transformation into the Dawnwell and the Blood Elves' apparent abandonment of their magic dependency, which is presented with little in-game explanation. The article suggests that the story lacks the expected drama and threat for a dark middle chapter and fails to adequately address the consequences of major events.
WoW devs apolgies for yet another badly launched patchBlizzard Entertainment has issued an apology to World of Warcraft players for the numerous bugs and issues present in the recent 12.0.5 'Midnight' patch. The company acknowledged that the launch did not meet their standards and has been working to address player frustrations with hotfixes. The article notes a recurring pattern of problematic patch launches and suggests that Blizzard may need to slow down its content cadence to ensure better quality.
World of Warcraft "will continue to decline" unless the MMO gets a "reset," says former Blizzard…Former Blizzard Entertainment boss Mike Ybarra stated that World of Warcraft needs a "reset" to reverse its ongoing decline, particularly following a recent bug-filled patch. The developers have apologized for the issues and promised improvements to the game's stability and content delivery.
How to Play World of Warcraft Efficiently When You Have Limited Time | Invision Game CommunityThis guide provides strategies for playing World of Warcraft efficiently with limited time, emphasizing setting clear goals, prioritizing weekly content, and batching activities. It also suggests using addons, considering boosting services, joining a guild, logging out strategically, and accepting that not all content can be experienced to maximize enjoyment and progress.
As World of Warcraft 12.0.5 hotfixes come thick and fast, Blizzard admits the patch "wasn't up to standard"Blizzard Entertainment has acknowledged that the recent World of Warcraft patch 12.0.5 launch was below their standards due to numerous bugs impacting core systems and class balance. The studio is working to fix the issues and has apologized to players for the disruption, promising improved communication and development practices moving forward.