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World of Warcraft down to 6.8 million subscribers
According to today's Activision Blizzard earnings call, World of Warcraft is down to 6.8 million subscribers. That's a loss of 800,000 subscribers since the previous quarter. Once more, the losses are said to have occurred primarily in the Eastern market. We think it's safe to say a year without any new content carries the bulk of the blame for these losses. Historically, since WoW's subscriber peak in 2011, content droughts tend to see the largest drop in subscribers. It's also safe to say some of the losses will return with the release of Warlords of Draenor, though it's unlikely that all lost subscribers will be recovered -- and it remains to be seen how long recovered subscriptions will hang around.
Rusty Hearts shutting down on September 15th
It's been going only for three years, but the action MMO Rusty Hearts is being brought to an early end. Perfect World Entertainment announced today that it will be ending the game's run on September 15th. If you're not playing and were hoping to check Rusty Hearts out before it ends, you're already out of luck. PWE said that the game is no longer downloadable and won't will be accepting new ZEN deposits. It will remain playable until the 15th for current players, however, and PWE is refunding the past six months' worth of ZEN to use in the company's other titles. "We would like to thank all the fans who helped bring life to all the characters in Rusty Hearts. Your loyalty, dedication, and countless hours crawling through dungeons is what made it all possible. Rusty Hearts was a unique experience and will be cherished forever," the studio wrote.
US and EU Connected Realms updates
The lists for both the US and EU realms slated for the Realm Connections service have been updated with new dates and planned connections. Please note that if you are a player on an EU realm, your realm connections will be on a Wednesday. For US players, realm connections are scheduled for Thursdays. For more information on Realm Connections and what exactly they entail, be sure to check out Blizzard's official blog post about the service and its features. The following US realms are scheduled for connection on Thursday, August 7. Shadowmoon and Detheroc
Spend your gold to get the Alliance Chopper in Warlords
In a move that will come as a surprise to absolutely no one, the losing bike design from Azeroth Choppers will in fact be added to the game. Currently, the winning Horde-themed bike will be given, for free, to any account that logs into the game before September 30th. The Alliance bike, however, will be added to the game sometime after the launch of Warlords of Draenor, and be available for in-game purchase. Blizzard is being coy on the subject of cost, but their article emphasizes that it will cost "a pretty hefty sum of gold," so if you want it, best start saving now.
US Connected Realms update for July 25
The list of US realms scheduled for the Realm Connection service has been updated with new dates, and a new planned connection. Realm Connections take place on Thursdays, beginning at 5am PDT and ending at approximately 1pm PDT. If you're on a realm scheduled for connection, keep that in mind. The following list is for US realms only -- EU realms should take a look at the official forum thread for more information regarding the EU connection schedule. The following US realms are scheduled for connection on Thursday, July 24. Malfurion and Trollbane Ravenholdt and Twisting Nether The Venture Co and Maelstrom
SDCC: Warcraft movie details from Legendary Pictures panel
With San Diego Comic Con in full swing, people are starting to get to see previews and hear details about upcoming projects, and one of those projects is director Duncan Jones' Warcraft movie. During the Legendary Pictures panel, details were released about the movie (coming March 2016) and here's what our sources have to say about it. We're looking at an origin story, one that details how the First War got started. Durotan is the orc focus character, while Anduin Lothar plays this role for the humans of Azeroth. Duncan Jones, the director of the film, says he wants the movie to be accessible for everyone and that it's been fantastic working with Blizzard. The teaser trailer "Looks just like the game. Amazing. Stormwind and throne room looks exact (like that tiny glimpse we saw in an earlier photo.) Armor, gryphons, orcs in full cgi that look just like game trailers." The teaser trailer varies between the human and orc perspectives. We're told that there is a blend between CGI and live effects in the trailer and that it looks natural and clean. For now the teaser seems to only be available to view at SDCC, but if it goes up online we'll be sure to give it to you as soon as we can. This is a post in progress
US Connected Realms update for July 18
The list of US realms slated for the Realm Connection service has been updated with new dates and new planned connections. If you are on a realm that is scheduled to be connected, be aware that Realm Connections take place on Thursdays rather than during Tuesday maintenance. Scheduled realms are brought down at approximately 5am PDT, and back up at approximately 1pm PDT. And just in case you're wondering what exactly this Realm Connection process will do for you, the player, Blizzard has a handy blog on the subject that explains things in detail. The following US realms are scheduled for connection on Thursday, July 24. Deathwing and Executus, Kalecgos, and Shattered Halls Gilneas and Elune
Warlords of Draenor: Ashran preview
The zone preview train keeps chugging along. First we had Talador, Gorgrond followed, and now we're given a look at Ashran. Built upon the remnants of an ogre civilization, Ashran looks deceptively like a nice enough island just off the coast of Tanaan Jungle. And it probably would be a lovely place to visit if not for the never-ending tug-of-war between the Horde and Alliance taking place in the central region of the zone. Then again, this might just be just your kind of excursion. In Ashran, the Horde and the Alliance continue their long tradition of ruining everything they touch. Though home to the new faction hubs, Ashran is primarily a PVP zone with "world PVP" in mind -- though it maintains the essential elements of a battleground. Objectives are based around a tug-of-war, though it involves pushing rather than pulling. Each faction pushes down a lane toward the opposing faction's base, capturing points along the way. A powerful Ogre King awaits players at the central hub, aiding whichever faction can prove their might. A faction with dwindling resources will spawn NPC captains to aid them, some of which are named for known PVP personalities in the community. Beyond the battleground elements, Ashran also has several other points of interest that will aid their faction's efforts and provide currently unspecified rewards. The zone preview also explains there are numerous personal goals littered throughout the island, encouraging players to venture out and find them -- luring more players into potential PVP conflict. Head over to Battle.net for the full details.
US Connected Realms update for July 7
The list of US realms slated for the Realm Connection service has now been updated with new information regarding upcoming dates for the service. Players on realms that have been scheduled for connection should be aware that connections take place on Thursdays, and the scheduled realms will be down for the service from 5am PDT until approximately 1pm PDT. There are two sets of scheduled dates, as well as a few realms that have been added for an upcoming realm connection, with no date scheduled just yet. The following US realms are scheduled for connection on Thursday, July 10. Ysera and Durotan Zuluhed and Andorhal, Scilla and Ursin
The Dark Below is real
Remember The Dark Below? The speculation and the agony? The short-lived controversy? Even after it was revealed to be a hoax, there were still a few who insisted that The Dark Below really was a thing. In a nutshell, they were right. The Dark Below really truly is an expansion. Just not for WoW. You may have heard of Destiny, the much-anticipated upcoming MMO from Bungie -- the studio famous for its creation of the Halo franchise. It's to Bungie that The Dark Below belongs, and it's the title of Destiny's first expansion. You see, those interested players who purchase one of the two Destiny collector's edition releases: Destiny: Ghost Edition or Destiny: Limited Edition will get special access to the Destiny Expansion Pass, which includes Expansion 1: The Dark Below, and Expansion 2: House of Wolves. So there you have it, everyone. The Dark Below is alive and well, albeit in an altogether different virtual universe, owned and developed by a different studio in a different state. Thus ends forever the mystery of The Dark Below. May it rest in peace, and live up to its, uh, Destiny.
Destiny reveals beta dates, expansion pass, and special edition pricing
It's open war across the cosmos, and your wallets look to be the first casualty in Destiny's interplanetary conflict. Bungie announced today that it will be pre-selling two DLC packs and revealed the contents of its special editions. The studio also said that the PlayStation beta will start on July 17th, with the Xbox beta kicking off a week later on July 23rd. Despite the name, the Destiny Expansion Pass isn't for full-fledged expansions but for the first couple of post-launch content additions. The first pack, The Dark Below, will explore an ancient tomb underneath the Moon's surface. Bungie is promising exclusive PlayStation content for both expansion packs. Players can buy the expansion pass for $34.99 or individual packs for $19.99 apiece. Alternatively, thrifty Destiny fans can pick up one of the special editions that come with the two DLC packs included. These packages include the Digital Guardian Edition ($89.99), the Limited Edition ($99.99), and the Ghost Edition ($149.99). While the editions each contain a different mix of goodies, by pre-ordering any of them players will have early access to weapons, gear, and emblems. Bungie also released the official beta trailer, which you can watch after the break.
EU Connected Realm updates for July 4
The list of EU realms slated for the Realm Connection service has been updated with new information and new realms in regards to upcoming dates for the service. Please note that the realms scheduled for connection next week are only tentatively scheduled -- that information might change. Players on the realms listed as scheduled may want to keep an eye on the official forum thread just in case there are any changes made. At the present time, there are no additional updates for US realms, this list is for European servers only. The following EU realms are tentatively scheduled for connection on Wednesday, July 9. English Realms (PvE) Khadgar and Bloodhoof (PvE) Bronze Dragonflight and Nordrassil German Realms (PvE) Tichondrius and Lordaeron (PvE) Arygos and Khaz'goroth Russian Realms (PvP) Король-лич and Седогрив
Molten Corgi pet officially on the way
Players have been asking for a corgi pet in game for years, and they are finally getting their wish, according to a tweet made by Senior Game Designer Jonathan LeCraft earlier today. Screenshots were posted of a Molten Corgi -- a fiery pup that is every bit as adorable as you'd expect. Of course, the first question on everyone's mind was whether or not the pooch was, in fact, really going to be available. LeCraft tweeted again to reassure everyone that yes, this is in fact a real pet. As yet, we still don't know where players will obtain the pet, or if it will be an in-game or Blizzard Store item. For now, the announcement itself is good enough for me -- we'll likely get more details soon enough.
Hearthstone tournament bans female competitors
No girls are allowed to compete in Finland's Assembly Summer 2014 Dota 2, Ultra Street Fighter IV, and Hearthstone tournaments, which are open to men only. According to the International e-Sports Federation's rules, the genders of competitors in e-sports are separated to help the competition be recognized as a "true sport." In response to complaints, the IeSF posted the following on their Facebook page: "The decision to divide male and female competitions was made in accordance with international sports authorities, as part of our effort to promote e-Sports as a legitimate sports." And while this means separate but equal style treatment for some events, for others -- like Hearthstone -- it means women simply can't compete at all. At Assembly Summer 2014, women aren't allowed into these tournaments because if they won, they wouldn't be allowed into the IeSF men-only world finals. Markus Koskivirta, head admin of the Assembly Summer 2014 Hearthstone IeSF Qualifier, speaking to PC Gamer, said that the Finnish eSports Federation is lobbying for equal rights for male and female gamers... but with the long and strange tradition of segregated e-sports (StarCraft competition often has such divisions), that could be a long time coming. Though the IeSF says it wants to promote female gamers by hosting women's only events, the end result of this is to keep women on the outskirts of pro gaming by relegating their participation to smaller events and smaller stages. All this goes towards suggesting that women aren't good enough to compete with the men -- something that in an all-digital "sport" is difficult, at best, to justify. We all love the same games, so why can't we play them together?
Auction houses will be cross-faction in Warlords of Draenor
Developer Ion "Watcher" Hazzikostas dropped something of a bomb on the forums late last night: the Horde and Alliance auction houses will be merged in patch 6.0. Watcher confirms that a major reason behind this change is faction imbalance. The faction with the smaller population on any given server often struggles to maintain a lively economy. With the auction houses merged, we have to wonder what will happen to the neutral auction houses scattered across Azeroth. Will they continue on as an alternate black market or be eliminated entirely? Facilitating trade between the Horde and the Alliance was the entire purpose of the neutral auctioneers -- a purpose rarely utilized by players for anything other than transferring their own items between characters across faction lines. Update 11:00 a.m. EDT: We now know that neutral auction houses will become integrated into the cross-faction auction houses. In other words, there will no longer be neutral auction houses -- just one massive interconnected auction house system per-server.
Warlords of Draenor: Guild leveling and guild perk changes
Players on the Warlords of Draenor beta have noticed something a little different about guild perks in the new expansion -- a large portion of them have simply been removed entirely, including both the Fast Track and Cash Flow perks. While some assumed this was likely a bug, it turns out this is part of change that has been planned for guild leveling. Namely, guild leveling is being by and large removed from the game. Or, if you want to think of it in a slightly different fashion, all guilds will automatically be what level 25 once was. Why the changes? Watcher hit the forums to explain, and to point out that the perks people normally associate with guilds aren't really going away entirely. Some of them, like Ride Like the Wind or Honorable Mention will just be rolled into the game as default behavior, rather than offered as a perk of any kind. So yes, while the perk is getting removed, we won't really see a change -- flight paths will simply go 25% faster by default. The Cash Flow perk, however, is being flat out removed, and Watcher had some really good points as to why this is being changed.
EU Connected Realm updates for June 27
The list of EU realms slated for the Realm Connection service has at last been updated with new information and new realms in regards to upcoming dates for the service. At the present time, there are no additional updates for US realms -- this list is for European servers only. The following EU realms are scheduled for connection on Wednesday, July 2. English Realms (PvE) Darkspear and Terokkar (PvE) Aszune and Shadowsong (PvP) The Maelstrom and Karazhan/Lightning's Blade/Deathwing (PvP) Frostwhisper and Zenedar/Bladefist German Realms (PvE) Malygos and Malfurion
New human male model revealed
Blizzard has just revealed the revamped human male model, coming in Warlords of Draenor. Like previous reveals, the new model's increased fidelity is immediately obvious. The work done on his facial structure will be appreciated, too -- though he does bear a striking resemblance to Tarzan. In the reveal, Art Director Chris Robinson also mentions that select work-in-progress models will be hitting the Warlords of Draenor alpha in the near future. The final versions of those models will be revealed on the website.
US Connected Realms update for June 20
The list of US realms slated for the Realm Connection service has now been updated with new information regarding upcoming dates for the service. Players on realms that have been scheduled for connection should be aware that connections take place on Thursdays, and the scheduled realms will be down for the service until approximately 1pm PDT. Please note that the realms listed below are all US realms -- there are no updates for EU servers at this time. The following US realms are scheduled for connection on Thursday, June 26. Alterac Mountains and Balnazzar, Gorgonnash, The Forgotten Coast, and Warsong Gnomeregan and Moonrunner
Patch 5.4.8 hotfixes for June 17
A short list of hotfixes for patch 5.4.8 have been released and posted to the official blog. Although a small round, these hotfixes include the adjustment to the Bloody Coin drop rate mentioned yesterday -- the drop rate is now 100% upon landing a killing blow on a level 90 character. This is an additional adjustment to hotfixes last week that addressed the Censer of Eternal Agony, Bloody Coins, and Fire-Watcher's Oath. In addition, players may now use the Nightmarish Hitching Post in both Arenas and Rated Battlegrounds. Rygarius June 17 Creatures NPC vendors selling Tier-16 armor pieces now have significantly more health. Items Fire-Watcher's Oath: Players transformed into an Ordon Fire-Watcher now have a 100% chance to gain Bloody Coins on killing-blows against level-90 characters. Note that there's still a short internal-cooldown on earning Bloody Coins. Nightmarish Hitching Post is now usable in Arenas and Rated Battlegrounds. Bug Fixes Resolved an issue where the Nightmarish Reins buff could cause players on a flight path to travel slowly. Resolved an issue where players may receive duplicate letters in-game for purchases made on the store. source
