Blizzard Entertainment has outlined the upcoming activities and features for World of Warcraft (WoW) players in the week starting February 12, 2024. The highlights include a celebration for Hearthstone’s 10-year anniversary and the launch of a new mode in WoW Hardcore.

Hearthstone Celebrates 10 Years

Starting March 11, Hearthstone will be celebrating its 10th anniversary, and WoW players are invited to join in on the festivities. Players who log into Hearthstone during the celebration period will receive a Fiery Hearthsteed mount in World of Warcraft at no extra cost. This offer is available from March 11 through May 14, but it’s important to note that the mount will not be accessible in WoW Classic games.

Additionally, from March 11 to March 18, players can engage in special Hearthstone matches located in the capital cities of WoW. Participating in these matches will give players the chance to face unique encounters, defeat iconic minions, and earn Hearthstone-themed rewards. More details about the event will be shared on the Hearthstone official site.

WoW Hardcore Introduces Self-Found Mode

On February 29, WoW Hardcore realms will welcome a new challenge with the introduction of Self-Found Mode. This mode requires players to start from level 1 and imposes restrictions such as no mail exchanges with other players, no auction house transactions, and no trading of any kind. The goal is to survive and thrive in Azeroth by relying solely on one’s ability to explore, gather, and craft the necessary items for survival.

Additional News and Events

The week also brings various events and news updates for WoW players:

• Lunar Festival: Honor Your Elders event continues through February 17, encouraging players to show gratitude and celebrate.
• Love is in the Air: This event runs until February 19, offering players a chance to spread love and joy in Azeroth.
• Dragonflight Dungeon Event: From February 13 to February 20, defeating the final boss in any Dragonflight dungeon will yield an extra item.
• PvP Brawl: Deep Six: This event also runs from February 13 to February 20, offering a unique PvP experience.
• Mythic Dungeon International 2024: Starting February 16, the MDI returns for Season 3, showcasing the fastest speedruns from top WoW teams.

As 2023 draws to a close, the World of Warcraft (WoW) team at Blizzard Entertainment reflects on a year of significant growth, innovation, and community engagement. Holly Longdale, the Executive Producer, extends heartfelt gratitude to the WoW community, acknowledging their vital role in the game’s evolution.

A Year of Milestones

The past year has been remarkable for WoW, with six Dragonflight content updates, a revisited Icecrown Citadel raid in the Wrath content updates, and the introduction of Classic Hardcore. The team’s commitment was evident at BlizzCon 2023 and through the exciting Race to World First in Dragonflight Season 3. Additionally, the Classic Season of Discovery added a fresh dimension to the game.

What’s Coming in 2024

Looking forward, WoW is set to receive three more content updates for Dragonflight before the launch of the highly anticipated “World of Warcraft: The War Within” expansion. These updates will conclude the current expansion’s narrative and set the stage for the next. Dragonflight Season 4 promises a revisit to dungeons and raids with updated rewards and new twists.

The community’s feedback will be crucial in the Spring/Summer during the alpha and beta testing phases of the War Within expansion. January 2024 will kick off with the Seeds of Renewal content update, currently under scrutiny on the public test realms (PTR).

Classic WoW Evolves

For fans of WoW Classic, updates are on the horizon with the introduction of “Self Found” support in Classic Hardcore, providing a new challenge for players. The adventure continues in Season of Discovery, and players can anticipate the launch of Cataclysm Classic in the first half of 2024.

In a new announcement made on June 28, 2023, Blizzard Entertainment has confirmed the arrival of Hardcore realms to World of Warcraft. These realms will push players to their limits, challenging their courage, determination, and survival skills in the mythical world of Azeroth.

This exciting addition is set to bring a new edge to the game, where not only is the environment and inhabitants formidable, but interactions with fellow players could have serious consequences.

As expected, these Hardcore realms come with a distinct set of rules, differing greatly from the existing realms. One of the most pivotal rules in the WoW Classic Hardcore realms is the concept of permanent death on the realm. In a massive shift from conventional gameplay, players won’t be able to resurrect their characters after death nor can they be resurrected by any spells or abilities. Even abilities that usually allow a character to cheat death won’t be applicable in this brutal new realm.

The introduction of permanent death takes the stakes in the World of Warcraft to an unprecedented level. Players will need to be strategic and cautious, as every action and decision could potentially lead to their character’s permanent demise on the realm.

Although this stark shift in gameplay may seem daunting, it presents an intriguing new challenge for seasoned players seeking a higher level of intensity in their World of Warcraft experience. This significant development adds another layer of complexity to the game, providing a fresh perspective on the rich and detailed world of Azeroth.

More information about the specific rules and the design choices behind them is yet to be released. But one thing is certain; the new WoW Classic Hardcore realms will test the very mettle of even the most seasoned World of Warcraft veterans. It is a world where only the strongest and most strategic will survive, making it the ultimate proving ground for players across the globe.

Over the past few months, the conversation around the world of classic World of Warcraft (WoW) has predominantly centered around the burgeoning hardcore scene.

A surge of players have explored this hardcore world, drawn to the distinctive appeal it offers. However, even as official servers have been confirmed for release later this summer, there remain many questions regarding the rules and allowances for these servers.

But it’s not solely the hardcore scene that has seen a resurgence on classic servers. In the midst of this growing hardcore narrative, the ‘regular’ classic servers have experienced a considerable influx of players, a phenomenon that has somewhat flown under the radar. And these aren’t just individuals casually perched on their bug mounts in Capital Cities, they’re players returning for Battlegrounds, open-world Player vs Player (PvP), raiding, and leveling on entirely new characters.

Despite the server’s phase of content stagnation and the absence of further updates, players are returning, willing to start anew. This trend suggests that it isn’t only hardcore players finding a renewed home in classic WoW.

Both hardcore and regular players are seeking something that cannot be provided by a single new server release. While the confirmation of hardcore servers is certainly a step forward, the question arises – is it also time for a rejuvenation of the 2019-esque vanilla classic?

The rise in the number of non-hardcore servers deserves exploration, delving into the reasons behind why players are returning to them. Blizzard should, perhaps, take into consideration the success of these servers, not just the hardcore servers, for the betterment of the game.

Vanilla WoW has always held its charm. Even when juxtaposed against The Burning Crusade (TBC) and Wrath of the Lich King, it offers a unique experience. With its distinctive features like no flying, 40-man raids, World Buffs, extensive stacking of buffs, dubious class balance, PvP ranking, a vast open world, and much more, it has a special allure. While some players might balk at the thought of returning to such a format, others eagerly anticipate a chance to relive these experiences.

Despite its quirks, the number of players returning to these servers is astonishing. Though precise player numbers are a closely guarded secret by Blizzard, a casual log-in and a stroll through Stormwind and Orgrimmar, or a walk through the leveling zones, show a robust player presence. This observation isn’t just limited to a specific server or region, but can be seen across various servers, indicative of the game’s popularity.

Players are flocking back to experience everything from the end game content to the PvP encounters. The appeal of classic WoW doesn’t rest solely on hardcore elements. A more casual, laid-back gaming style where a single death doesn’t spell the end for your character holds equal allure for many.

There’s clearly a demand for the classic WoW experience – the option to trade, to group, and if they die, to simply resurrect and continue on their merry way. It’s a less demanding and more relaxed experience than the hardcore version, free of the fear of griefing or losing your character. At the end game, there’s also less min-maxing or gatekeeping compared to the hardcore setting.

However, it’s not just about the number of players returning or the experiences they seek. The question at the heart of this conversation is why players are gravitating back to a version of the game with no further updates

World of Warcraft (WoW) players can look forward The Call of the Crusade, set to launch tomorrow on June 20, invites adventurers to joust, face the menacing dragon Onyxia, and prove their mettle in brand-new trials and challenges across the frosty expanses of Northrend.

The forthcoming update features the much-anticipated Titan Rune Dungeons—Defense Protocol Beta. This presents a new higher-level difficulty where players will face powerful creatures and bosses boasting dangerous new effects, increased health, and enhanced damage. To add to the thrill, bosses defeated with the Defense Protocol Beta active will reward loot from the 10-player version of Ulduar. The final boss will also award a unique currency, Sidereal Essence, which can be exchanged for Hard Mode Ulduar gear rewards from the Animated Constellation vendor located in Dalaran. Players can activate this challenging mode at the entrance of a Heroic dungeon through the Mysterious Device.

The update also introduces the Crusader’s Coliseum: Trial of the Champion. This 5-player dungeon brings players head-to-head with champions from either the Horde or Alliance, culminating in a final confrontation with representatives of the Argent Crusade and the infamous Black Knight. The coliseum, located at the Argent Tournament, promises to test player mettle and skills in thrilling jousting battles.

In addition to the Coliseum challenge, the Argent Tournament itself is introduced as a new quest hub. Located north of Sindragosa’s Fall in the Icecrown zone, the tournament offers a variety of new quests and daily quests. This tournament experience will allow players to display their jousting prowess and earn unique rewards.

For PvP enthusiasts, the update marks the beginning of the Wrath of the Lich King PvP Classic™ Season 7. The season brings with it the Isle of Conquest battleground, opening up 40 vs. 40 epic battles between players. New Alliance and Horde Fortresses are also ready for conquest by brave warriors.

On June 22, at 3:00 p.m. PDT (6:00 p.m. EDT), the Trial of the Crusader and Trial of the Grand Crusader raids will become available. These challenging 10 and 25-player raids feature five intense trials that will test team coordination and prowess in the heat of battle.

In a blast from the past, players will once again get a chance to face off against Onyxia in a revamped level 80 version of this iconic encounter. It’s time to re-experience the thrill of battling this formidable dragon in her lair.

In a shocking and potentially calamitous turn of events, Blizzard Entertainment has ignited a firestorm within the World of Warcraft (WoW) community with its controversial decision to introduce WoW Tokens to the Wrath of the Lich King Classic edition. This surprise move, announced on the official WoW site, has sparked passionate debates, outrage, and even threats from a significant portion of the player base to abandon Blizzard’s servers in favor of private ones.

The WoW Token, an existing feature in the modern WoW version, is a secure system that enables players to swap in-game gold for real-world money. While accepted by the current player base, the introduction of this feature into the Classic servers, which aim to authentically replicate the WoW gaming experience of yesteryears, has been met with an uproar. Many dedicated players view this addition as an encroachment on the ‘Classic’ spirit, turning the once merit-based game into a potential pay-to-win platform.

As this controversy unfolds, numerous community leaders, including popular WoW streamer Asmongold, have voiced his discontent, expressing concerns about the potential damage to the game’s economy and the overall gameplay experience, and even calling it worse than Pay-to-Win. Critics argue that WoW Tokens, by their very nature, disrupt the carefully balanced gameplay and dilute the sense of achievement that comes from earning in-game items and gold through dedicated play.

Quin69 also weighed in on the subject calling the decision to add tokens to WotLK “Pathetic” and calling Blizzard a “Dogsh*t company”.

In the face of this turmoil, Blizzard has attempted to justify its decision. In an elaborate post on the official WoW site, the company insisted that this step wasn’t taken lightly. It attributed the introduction of WoW Tokens to the unrelenting demand for in-game gold and the illicit Real Money Trading (RMT) market that it fuels. Despite Blizzard’s best efforts and the banning of tens of thousands of bots each week, the company conceded that they will never completely eliminate ‘bots’ or illicit RMT. WoW Tokens, they argue, serve as a tool to mitigate this issue and keep the gameplay experience fair for everyone.

However, these assurances have largely fallen on deaf ears, failing to placate a frustrated and increasingly vocal section of the player base. The controversy has even spilled over to the WoW Classic subreddit, a key community hub for players. Amidst the chaos, one of the subreddit’s moderators temporarily removed a critical rule against private server discussions. The rule, known as Rule 4, was later reinstated by other moderators, adding further fuel to the fire.

The community response to this debacle has been overwhelmingly negative. One user, DJ_Marxman, questioned Blizzard’s claims about banning bots: “When they say they’re banning bots at that rate, I just simply do not believe them… If you were actually trying to ban them, then the obvious places would not be filled to the brim with obvious bots 24/7.”

Other users expressed their disillusionment with Blizzard and the state of the subreddit. Vandrel posted, “This subreddit has been pretty bad for awhile but the mods decided to throw a fit and kill it yesterday.”

As this crisis unfolds, the potential for a significant exodus looms large over WoW Classic. Whether Blizzard will reconsider its decision or double down on its stance remains to be seen. This saga serves as a testament to the ever-evolving dynamics of the gaming community and a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining the delicate balance between game progression and the preservation of classic gameplay.

Blizzard Entertainment has once again stirred the pot of its player base by announcing the introduction of WoW Tokens to the Wrath of the Lich King Classic edition of World of Warcraft. According to a post on the official World of Warcraft website, the controversial move is designed to allow players to exchange in-game gold for additional game time. This decision has sparked heated debate among fans, with several vowing to return to private servers in protest.

WoW Tokens have existed in the current version of World of Warcraft for some time, serving as a secure, sanctioned method for players to exchange real-world money for in-game gold (and vice versa). However, their introduction into the Classic servers, which are designed to replicate the game’s experience from its earlier years, has drawn significant backlash.

Blizzard emphasized that WoW Tokens would not be transferable between the Wrath of the Lich King Classic servers and the regular World of Warcraft servers. Additionally, they would not be available in the World of Warcraft Classic Era.

High-profile community members, including renowned WoW streamer Asmongold, have spoken out about the move, expressing dissatisfaction and concern about the potential impact on the game’s economy and the overall gameplay experience. This backlash reflects a portion of the player base’s sentiment, which views this addition as an infringement on the spirit of the ‘Classic’ experience.

The contention lies primarily in the perceived pay-to-win nature of WoW Tokens. Critics argue that their introduction disrupts the balance of the game and diminishes the sense of achievement associated with earning in-game items and gold through gameplay.

However, Blizzard insists that the WoW Token system is a secure and convenient way for players to exchange gold for game time. The company has yet to respond to the community uproar.

As it stands, this controversial move may impact the popularity of Wrath of the Lich King Classic, with disgruntled players threatening to migrate back to private servers. It remains to be seen how Blizzard will handle this situation, but the community will undoubtedly be watching closely.

The icy winds of Icecrown continue to blow in WoW’s Northrend, heralding the highly anticipated ‘Call of the Crusade’. Players are invited to rise to the challenge of the Titan Rune Dungeons—Defense Protocol Beta, marking an elevated difficulty level featuring creatures and bosses endowed with new dangerous effects, along with enhanced health and damage.

In a reward for their dauntless bravery, bosses defeated with the Defense Protocol Beta engaged will offer loot from the 10-player version of Ulduar. The final boss carries the promise of an exclusive new currency, ‘Sidereal Essence’. Players can exchange this essence for rewards from 10-player Hard Mode Ulduar gear at the Animated Constellation vendor in the magical city of Dalaran.

On the same day, players can journey to the Crusader’s Coliseum at the Argent Tournament for the ‘Trial of the Champion’, a challenging 5-player dungeon. The Argent Tournament itself is set to commence, featuring new quests and daily quests while providing an opportunity for players to showcase their jousting skills for attractive rewards.

Two days later, on June 22 at 3:00 p.m. PDT (6:00 p.m. EDT), players can answer the ‘Trial of the Crusader’ and ‘Trial of the Grand Crusader’, in both 10 and 25-player versions. This raid challenge will prove a rigorous test of teamwork and strategy, offering potential spoils for those successful.

Additionally, the gates of the Level 80 Onyxia’s Lair will be thrown open for brave adventurers to face Onyxia herself in this revamped encounter, and fans can also anticipate the kickoff of the Wrath of the Lich King PvP Season 7.

After four years of virtual adventuring, the gaming community is ready to gather once again at the Anaheim Convention Center for BlizzCon 2023. Blizzard Entertainment announced that the eagerly anticipated event will take place from November 3-4.

BlizzCon has been an annual gathering for players of Blizzard’s highly popular games, including World of Warcraft, Overwatch, and Hearthstone, among others. For the past few years, due to the global pandemic, the convention transitioned to an online platform. This year, however, marks a long-awaited return to an in-person format.

“Whether you’re coming to hang out with friends you only ever get to see online, celebrating epic moments in the games we love, exploring what’s on offer in the convention center halls, or eager to learn what’s next for our universes, BlizzCon is being created for you,” stated the official announcement from Blizzard Entertainment.

BlizzCon is more than just a convention. It’s a gathering place for players who share a deep-rooted passion for Blizzard games, serving as a platform for friends to meet in person, players to immerse themselves in their favorite gaming universes, and for all to celebrate iconic moments in gaming history.

While the convention provides an in-person experience, Blizzard Entertainment understands that not everyone can physically attend the event. Therefore, they will also offer online features so players around the world can still be part of the excitement and announcements.

Details about the event, including ticketing information, cosplay competition guidelines, and more, will be released next month. For those eager to secure accommodations for the event, Blizzard Entertainment has opened up hotel blocks for booking.

For more information about BlizzCon 2023, follow Blizzard Entertainment on Twitter and keep an eye out for further updates from the company.

As the release of patch 3.4.1 and Ulduar approaches, players have been discussing the transfer and new character creation restrictions on some of the largest realms in the US and EU. While these realms are not currently experiencing queues, their population is still larger than what the realms were designed for and queues could return with the release of future content.

However, the developers of World of Warcraft (WoW) have recognized that PvP has been cross-realm for almost the entirety of WoW’s existence and that realm restrictions hinder players from utilizing team-less Arena that was added in Wrath of the Lich King Classic. As a solution, they have implemented a system that allows players to group with players on other realms and queue into Arena matches and Battlegrounds together.

This functionality has been enabled on the Wrath Classic PTR, and the developers encourage players to test it out with friends. To invite a player from a different realm, players need to type /invite playername-realmname. For example, if a player on the Classic PTR Realm 1 wanted to invite “Aggrend” from the Classic PTR Realm 2, they would type /invite Aggrend-ClassicPTRRealm2. The group leader can then queue for Battlegrounds or Arenas as normal, and players will join the same match and be placed on the same team.

Please note that this system can only be used to allow players on the same faction to group with each other cross-realm. Additionally, this system can only be used to queue for PvP and will not allow players to join the group leader’s layer in the outdoor world or enter non-BG, non-Arena dungeons or raid instances with the group leader. Party chat functions as expected, but group members on separate realms may not directly interact with each other outside of Arenas and Battlegrounds.

The developers of WoW welcome feedback and bug reports for this new system. They thank players for their bug reports and feedback for patch 3.4.1 and look forward to seeing players tackle Ulduar, Titan Rune Dungeons, and everything else present in Phase 2 of Wrath Classic when 3.4.1 releases soon.

Read the full update on the WoW forums.

It’s finally time for the legendary raid to become available in Wrath of the Lich King Classic.

Brann Bronzebeard is leading an expedition to the ancient Titan city of Ulduar in the next content phase of the popular online game “Wrath of the Lich King Classic.” Starting January 17th, players can take part in the Dungeon and Raid Emblem Changes, with a new type of Emblem – the Emblem of Conquest – becoming available. They will also be able to participate in the Argent Tournament and a new arena season.

On January 19th a new raid, Ulduar will be open, it’s a massive facility built by the Titans, to unearth its mysteries and claim the rewards therein.

Read the full update on the offcial WoW Classic site.

If you’re a fan of World of Warcraft, then you’ll be excited to know that the Wrath of the Lich King Classic servers are now live in all regions! This means that players can log in and experience the game as it was back in 2008.

If you’re not familiar with Wrath of the Lich King, it was the second expansion for World of Warcraft and introduced a number of new features, including the Death Knight class, Northrend as a new continent, and more.

If you’re looking for a trip down memory lane, or just want to experience one of the best expansions in World of Warcraft, then be sure to log in and check out the Wrath of the Lich King Classic today!