World of Warcraft Archives

AppWizard

July 3, 2026

GOG Makes Classic PC Game for Free

GOG is offering the 2004 game Nexus: The Jupiter Incident for free for a limited time of two days and 17 hours. After this promotional period, it will return to its standard price. If claimed during the promotion, it will remain permanently in the user's GOG library as a DRM-free copy. The game was developed by Mithis Entertainment and published by HD Interactive, and it has a Metacritic score of 77, a 4.4 out of 5 stars rating on GOG, and an 86% approval rating on Steam. The intellectual property is currently held by THQ Nordic.

AppWizard

June 30, 2026

ESA Claims Private Minecraft Servers Are ‘Illegal’ and ‘Piracy’ in Stop Killing Games Hearing

The California State Senate hearing on the Protect Our Games Act raised questions about the legality of private Minecraft servers. Assemblyman Chris Ward noted that games like Minecraft and Call of Duty have successfully used community servers, while Jennifer Gibbons from the ESA argued that these servers are illegal and unapproved by Microsoft, labeling them as piracy. Gibbons stated that the ESA has two lawsuits against private servers for infringing on intellectual property rights. In contrast, Minecraft's official stance encourages the creation of third-party servers, which are vetted for compliance with community standards. The ESA maintains that private servers infringe on publishers' rights. The USTR's Notorious Market Report referenced by Gibbons does not specifically target community servers for connecting friends but focuses on those bypassing subscription services. The Protect Our Games Act did not advance but will be reconsidered. An ESA representative later clarified that private servers hosting copyrighted content without authorization infringe on publishers' rights and highlighted concerns about safety standards on these platforms.

AppWizard

June 27, 2026

Discussion time: Most big MMOs are seasonal now—do you prefer it that way, or do you loathe the FOMO checklist?

Massively Multiplayer Online games (MMOs) are increasingly adopting a seasonal structure, with titles like Final Fantasy XIV, World of Warcraft, and The Elder Scrolls Online implementing named seasons. This shift aims to address player fatigue from extensive power grinds, offering a reset mechanism that allows for a more level playing field. In contrast, games like Old School RuneScape, EVE Online, and Project Gorgon focus on permanent progress without seasonal resets. Guild Wars 2 utilizes a hybrid model, combining major patches with a horizontal progression system.

AppWizard

June 27, 2026

Riot teases League of Legends Classic, with a full reveal coming in two weeks

Riot Games has confirmed the existence of League of Legends Classic after low-poly character models were leaked from public test servers. The announcement was made by executive producer Paul "Pabro" Bellezza in a skit titled "200 Years of Experience." A full reveal of the Classic mode is scheduled for July 11 during the MSI Finals. The video description suggests that the Classic mode may evolve over time, raising questions about the use of original currencies, the potential return of the Twisted Treeline 3v3 map, and the fate of old rune pages and quintessences. The announcement taps into nostalgia for the game's earlier versions, which had different mechanics and visuals compared to the current game. A previous fan-made server called Chronoshift was shut down by Riot, who indicated that a retro version was forthcoming.

AppWizard

June 26, 2026

Looks like there’s no firm favourite for 2026’s GOTY just yet, though there are two standouts

As of mid-2026, standout games in the gaming industry include Mixtape, Lego Batman, and Crimson Desert. A recent poll indicated that Resident Evil Requiem is leading with 16% of votes, followed by Crimson Desert at 12%, and 007 First Light at 9%. Slay the Spire 2 and Forza Horizon 6 each received 8%, while Pragmata and Mewgenics garnered 7% and 5%, respectively. A tie occurred at the bottom of the poll between World of Warcraft: Midnight and Bungie's Marathon, each with 383 votes.

AppWizard

June 14, 2026

Blizzard sues to kill another World of Warcraft private server for ‘large scale, egregious, and ongoing infringement of [its] intellectual property’

Blizzard Entertainment has filed a lawsuit against Project Ascension, a private World of Warcraft server, claiming it operates a substantial business model based on significant infringement of Blizzard's intellectual property. Project Ascension reportedly attracts over a million players and allows in-game item purchases through Donation Points, generating millions for its operators. The server is allegedly hosted on "bulletproof" servers linked to the Russia-based Aeza Group, which has been targeted by the U.S. Department of the Treasury for cybercrime. The Turtle WoW server previously faced similar legal action from Blizzard, and there has been no public response from Project Ascension regarding the lawsuit. Community sentiment appears to be one of resignation towards the situation.

AppWizard

June 13, 2026

Final Fantasy 11 is one of the greatest MMOs of our time

Revisiting Final Fantasy 11 after nearly two decades evokes nostalgia but highlights a diminished community. The game approaches its 20th anniversary, and while familiar landscapes remain, the sense of belonging has faded. The introduction of NPC party members allows solo players to progress more quickly, altering the gameplay that once emphasized teamwork. This change raises concerns about the value of achievements earned without shared experiences, as the vibrant social dynamics have been replaced by messages from players selling items. The author grapples with the desire to reach max level while questioning the worth of solitary accomplishments.

AppWizard

June 9, 2026

Guild Wars 3 won’t have a ‘battle pass fee buried in it’, says studio head: ‘We’re not gonna hold their time hostage’

Massively Multiplayer Online games (MMOs) have integrated live service features like seasonal content and battle passes, with varying outcomes. World of Warcraft has successfully implemented a free battle pass-like system through its Trading Post, enhancing player engagement. In contrast, Guild Wars 2's studio head Colin Johanson has stated that Guild Wars 3 will avoid a battle pass model, aiming for a more balanced player engagement. He noted that contemporary battle passes resemble subscription services and expressed concerns about overwhelming players, while also recognizing the issues with minimal rewards in games. The contrasting approaches of these titles illustrate the challenge developers face in balancing monetization and player satisfaction.

AppWizard

June 6, 2026

Guild Wars 1 and 2 will continue to get updates even after Guild Wars 3 is out: ‘We are not replacing your favorite games’

ArenaNet confirmed that the development of Guild Wars 3 will not end support for Guild Wars 2 or the original Guild Wars, as both will continue to receive updates "for the foreseeable future." Colin Johanson stated, "We are not replacing your favorite games. We'll be supporting them." Players can expect a slight slowdown in new content for Guild Wars 2 as the focus shifts to Guild Wars 3, but several smaller updates are planned, including an optimization pass, a revival of the Hall of Monuments system, and an updated version of the Zhaitan fight. Guild Wars 2 will continue to receive expansions even after the launch of Guild Wars 3.

AppWizard

June 6, 2026

Question time: How often do you actually talk to strangers in MMOs?

Developers of MMOs are increasingly creating solo-friendly content to accommodate players with busy lives, such as those with 9-5 jobs and family commitments. In Final Fantasy 14, players can complete most main story quests solo, while World of Warcraft has introduced solo-friendly endgame activities like Delves and Prey. The design of these games has shifted to prioritize casual content that requires less coordination, with classes becoming more self-sufficient. The author expresses a preference for solitary gaming experiences, valuing interactions with a close-knit community over broader social engagement. A poll is suggested to gauge readers' social interaction styles within MMOs.