Tag: Blizzard Entertainment

  • Overwatch Rush: Top-Down Hero Shooter Launching on Mobile

    Overwatch Rush: Top-Down Hero Shooter Launching on Mobile

    Key Takeaways

    1. Blizzard is developing a new mobile game called Overwatch Rush, designed specifically for mobile gamers.
    2. The game is in early development, with plans for testing in selected countries and areas.
    3. Overwatch Rush features 4v4 matches focusing on controlling a central point on a compact map.
    4. The game aims to provide a more relaxed combat experience compared to the original Overwatch.
    5. Community engagement is encouraged through a Discord server for updates on the game’s development.

    Overwatch has been gaining popularity again in the past few months, even prior to the launch of the Reign of Talon storyline. Taking advantage of this renewed interest, Blizzard has revealed that they are developing a mobile game titled Overwatch Rush. As the title implies, it takes place in the Overwatch universe but emphasizes a more relaxed and less demanding approach to combat.

    New Game for Mobile Players

    According to a blog entry from Blizzard and a video on YouTube, Overwatch Rush is described as an “entirely new game – not a port – designed specifically for mobile gamers.” At this stage, the game is still in the early phases, with plans to start testing in selected countries and areas. A different team at Blizzard is handling the development, separate from Team 4, the original creators of the franchise, who are currently “fully focused” on Overwatch.

    Gameplay Insights

    The almost four-minute video displays a match of ‘Control’ from a development playtest. It features a 4v4 configuration where both teams aim to control a central point on a compact map. While the intricate details and fast pace of Overwatch on PC and consoles may be reduced, the excitement of high-stakes confrontations appears to have been preserved.

    Future Plans and Community Engagement

    There are no set timelines for the game yet, so it remains uncertain when testing will begin. Although specifics aren’t mentioned, it seems likely that Overwatch Rush will be available on both Android and iOS platforms. Fans can check the Discord server for more updates and to keep informed about the game’s development. “Our goal is to keep expanding the Overwatch universe by introducing new adventures for players on all platforms. We will keep you informed on how everything is moving along,” states the Overwatch Rush team.

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  • Blizzard Showcase 2026: Key Updates on WoW, Diablo, Overwatch, Hearthstone

    Blizzard Showcase 2026: Key Updates on WoW, Diablo, Overwatch, Hearthstone

    Key Takeaways

    1. The “World of Warcraft – State of Azeroth” event will start on January 29, featuring executive producer Holly Longdale and game director Ion Hazzikostas.
    2. Fans can expect updates on current and classic server content, as well as a sneak peek of the upcoming expansion, Midnight, launching on March 2.
    3. Blizzard will also showcase other major titles, including Overwatch on February 4, Hearthstone on February 9, and Diablo on February 11 for its 30th anniversary.
    4. Johanna Faries, president of Blizzard Entertainment, promises an “outstanding program” and hints at ambitious future plans, leading up to the return of BlizzCon in September 2026.
    5. The livestreams will be free to watch on official game channels, with a detailed schedule available for viewers.

    The “World of Warcraft – State of Azeroth” event is set to begin on January 29. During this special presentation, executive producer Holly Longdale and game director Ion Hazzikostas will dive into the future of the enduring MMO. They will discuss not just the upcoming content updates for both the current and classic server versions, but fans are especially eager to see a sneak peek of features from the next major expansion, Midnight, which is slated for release following the global launch on March 2. Midnight represents another significant chapter in the ongoing World Soul Saga.

    Upcoming Streams

    In the weeks ahead, the company plans to showcase its other major titles. The team-based shooter, Overwatch, will take center stage on February 4, with Hearthstone following closely on February 9. To wrap up the streaming series, Diablo will be featured on February 11, a date that fans of the dark action RPG series shouldn’t miss, as the franchise is marking its 30th anniversary, promising some exciting celebrations.

    Future Plans

    Johanna Faries, the president of Blizzard Entertainment, assures the community that an “outstanding program” awaits. She highlights the company’s impressive three-and-a-half-decade history, while also revealing even grander ambitions for what lies ahead. This event will serve as a precursor to the in-person BlizzCon exhibition, which is scheduled to return officially in September 2026. Alongside the stream announcements, Blizzard has also released a video titled “The Next Chapter,” offering a visual exploration of the company’s history with around 400 physical artifacts from their archives. This serves as a homage to the significant moments and releases that have influenced the studio.

    Live Streaming Details

    The detailed schedule for the livestreams (CET) for Blizzard Showcase 2026 has been made available. The broadcasts will be accessible for free on the official channels for each game.

    Blizzard

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  • Xbox Game Pass Adds 7 Activision Blizzard Retro Classics

    Xbox Game Pass Adds 7 Activision Blizzard Retro Classics

    Key Takeaways

    1. Seven classic Blizzard games from the 90s are now available on Microsoft’s Xbox Retro Classics streaming service, increasing the total to 95 games.
    2. All new titles, including The Lost Vikings 2 and Blackthorne, are accessible to every Game Pass tier, including Game Pass Essential users.
    3. The Lost Vikings, a significant puzzle-platformer, influenced cooperative gaming and features three Viking characters navigating an alien spaceship.
    4. RPM Racing and its sequel, Rock n’ Roll Racing, are part of the lineup, showcasing isometric racing and chiptune music covers from popular songs.
    5. Antstream Arcade plans to introduce more classic retro games in the future, supporting Microsoft’s goal of offering over 100 titles.

    Seven classic games from the 90s created by Blizzard Entertainment are now part of Microsoft’s Xbox Retro Classics streaming service, raising the total number of games to 95. These titles come from the early days of Blizzard, when they were known as Silicon and Synapse. All seven new games are available for every Game Pass tier, even Game Pass Essential users.

    Returning Titles and New Additions

    The revamped library also reintroduces the PlayStation version of The Lost Vikings 2, a puzzle platformer from 1997, which was not featured in the Blizzard Arcade Collection. These retro games predate Blizzard’s rise with Warcraft. Among them is Blackthorne, a platformer with rotoscope animation that resembles Prince of Persia, where players take on the role of Kyle “Blackthorne” Vlaros. Xbox Retro Classics includes both the 1993 Sega Genesis and 1994 SNES versions.

    Exploring The Lost Vikings

    The Lost Vikings, released on the SNES in 1993, lets players control three Vikings named Erik, Baleog, and Olaf as they navigate through an alien spaceship in a puzzle-platforming adventure. This game had a significant impact on cooperative gaming, influencing titles like the Trine series.

    The sequel, The Lost Vikings 2: Norse by Norsewest, was launched in 1997 and comes in two versions: the SNES edition retains the classic 2D style, while the PlayStation version showcases pre-rendered 3D sprites for a more refined appearance.

    Racing Through The Classics

    Completing the lineup is RPM Racing, a 1991 isometric racing game for the SNES that includes 128 upgradeable tracks, along with its sequel, Rock n’ Roll Racing, released on the SNES in 1993. This sequel is known for its amazing chiptune versions of songs like Black Sabbath’s Paranoid and Steppenwolf’s Born to Be Wild.

    Back in the day, Blizzard was in its early stages as Silicon and Synapse, a small team focused on creating ports and original games before they moved on to iconic projects like Diablo, StarCraft, and World of Warcraft.

    Gamers can enjoy this expanded selection of classic titles from the SNES, Genesis, and PlayStation through Game Pass on Xbox consoles, the Xbox PC app, or via cloud streaming on LG and Samsung Smart TVs or Meta Quest headsets.

    Future Classics on the Horizon

    This is only the start, as the team at Antstream Arcade has hinted at plans to bring back even more classic retro games in the upcoming year. This could help fulfill Microsoft’s promise of ‘100+ titles over time,’ with support from Activision Blizzard’s recent releases.

     

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  • World of Warcraft Midnight Beta Faces Lag Issues from Fish NPCs

    World of Warcraft Midnight Beta Faces Lag Issues from Fish NPCs

    Key Takeaways

    1. The main cause of server lag in the World of Warcraft: Midnight beta is linked to fish NPCs, which affect performance when too many players are near them.
    2. Players experienced delays of 10 to 30 seconds for basic tasks, prompting numerous complaints on Blizzard’s forums.
    3. Blizzard’s Lead Game Producer, Zorbrix, confirmed that the lag is primarily a code issue, not hardware-related.
    4. While fish were identified as a significant factor, other issues also contribute to server performance problems, leading to ongoing investigations and fixes.
    5. Despite deploying hotfixes, beta testers continue to face significant lag, highlighting the need for further testing before the official release on June 30, 2026.

    Blizzard has finally pinpointed the main reason behind the severe server lag that plagued the World of Warcraft: Midnight beta shortly after its launch on November 11. Surprisingly, it appears that the issue revolves around the fish NPCs. Beta testers reported their experiences to be akin to a point-and-click adventure, with delays of up to 30 seconds just to accept a quest from NPCs. Through some debugging efforts, Blizzard Entertainment has traced the problem back to the fish.

    Lag Issues Emerge

    As soon as the Midnight beta for World of Warcraft went live, players quickly noticed lag problems, leading many to swarm Blizzard’s forums asking, “What’s up with the lag?” Complaints multiplied into the hundreds as gamers voiced their frustrations over delays ranging from 10 to 20 seconds for simple tasks like casting spells or looting items.

    Blizzard’s Response

    The Lead Game Producer for World of Warcraft, Zorbrix, addressed the situation, assuring players that the server delays were a major code issue concerning world servers and not due to hardware problems. By November, Zorbrix shared an update on Blizzard’s forums, saying:

    “We’re still working on it, but we think we’ve discovered a new problem. FISH! We have made many improvements to NPC behavior, allowing them to respond to players and their surroundings more naturally, instead of just wandering around aimlessly. And, for the most part, that’s working well in many areas.

    But with all the coastline in Midnight, it leads to a lot of wildlife, like fish, being spawned. That would be fine, but once a sufficient number of players get near the fish, this advanced NPC behavior activates, and, well… things start to smell fishy.”

    Additional Findings

    Nonetheless, Zorbrix noted that fish were not the sole factor contributing to the server lag issues. He indicated that developers had discovered “a collection of things causing degraded server performance and increased memory usage.” He mentioned that they would be employing some “mad science” fixes and added, “And if that doesn’t sort it out, we’ll have to do some more fishing. Either way, I’m hooked.”

    However, Zorbrix later issued another update, stating:

    “Unfortunately, the Fish may have just been a red herring. We did notice some overall performance improvements for the first hour following restarts, but memory usage has continued to rise as more players and instances of zones come into play, so we definitely haven’t found our silver bullet here.

    We have a few code hotfixes in testing, but we’ll need to keep at it and may have to run additional experiments.”

    Despite Blizzard deploying ongoing hotfixes, the effects have been minimal, as beta testers continue to report significant lag in crowded areas. While this is exactly what beta testing is intended for, some users on Reddit have a different perspective after spending a hefty $90 for the premium edition just to access the Beta. The developers of World of Warcraft are utilizing the Midnight beta as a stress test ahead of its official release scheduled for June 30, 2026.

     

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  • Blizzard Sues Turtle WoW Over World of Warcraft Classic+ Server

    Blizzard Sues Turtle WoW Over World of Warcraft Classic+ Server

    Key Takeaways

    1. Blizzard Entertainment has filed a lawsuit against Turtle WoW for using its code and trademarks without permission, claiming it harms the player experience.
    2. The lawsuit includes allegations of copyright and trademark infringement, as well as racketeering, and is filed in the Central District Court of California.
    3. Turtle WoW, started in 2018, offers custom content and unauthorized servers, claiming to profit from the popularity of World of Warcraft.
    4. Blizzard is seeking a complete shutdown of Turtle WoW, demanding the seizure of project data, transfer of earnings, and domain handover.
    5. Despite legal challenges, Turtle WoW has reassured its community that it plans to continue operating and is developing a new project, Turtle WoW 2.0.

    World of Warcraft creator Blizzard Entertainment has taken legal action against the operators of a network of fan-run private servers, which offer a different version of the game known as Turtle WoW.

    The lawsuit was filed on August 29, 2025, in the Central District Court of California. Blizzard accuses the group of using its code, trademarks, and other assets without permission, arguing that “Turtle WoW’s unauthorized servers harm the player experience in several ways.”

    Legal Details

    The case is listed under docket number 2:25-cv-08914 and includes allegations of copyright and trademark infringement along with claims of racketeering. Blizzard claims that Turtle WoW disrupts the WoW community, causes confusion, and presents potential security threats to players.

    Blizzard has emphasized the substantial investments of time and money it has made in developing, maintaining, and updating World of Warcraft. They assert that the defendants “have built an entire business on a large-scale, egregious, and ongoing infringement of Blizzard’s intellectual property.”

    Turtle WoW Background

    Turtle WoW started in 2018 as a free client for gamers and has accepted donations on its website. The servers offer custom content, modifications, and fan-created expansion stories that provide a deeper dive into the original lore of World of Warcraft.

    According to Blizzard, “Through Turtle WoW, defendants have found a lucrative way to exploit and profit from the popularity of the WoW game experience.” Specifically, they state that Turtle WoW claims to provide paid access to unauthorized “emulated” WoW servers, along with all software and tools needed to access these servers, including pirated versions of WoW adjusted for their unauthorized servers.

    Future Developments

    The creators of Turtle WoW have also been advertising an upcoming project called Turtle WoW 2.0, describing it as “the Vanilla WoW client fully replicated in Unreal Engine 5.” Reports suggest that Turtle WoW has gained significant traction, becoming one of the longest-surviving Classic+ private servers, with claims of over 13,000 peak players and potentially hundreds of thousands of total users.

    In a surprising response on Discord, Turtle WoW reassured its community that the game is “going nowhere” and that the team is ready to confront legal challenges. Meanwhile, Blizzard is pursuing a total shutdown of Turtle WoW, demanding the seizure of all project data, a complete transfer of earnings, the handover of the Turtle WoW domain, as well as statutory damages and other costs.

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  • BlizzCon 2026 Dates Announced by Blizzard Entertainment

    BlizzCon 2026 Dates Announced by Blizzard Entertainment

    Key Takeaways

    1. BlizzCon is organized by Blizzard Entertainment and started in 2005, but has not occurred six times due to various reasons.
    2. The next BlizzCon will take place on September 12 and 13, 2026, at the Anaheim Convention Center.
    3. Speculation includes potential updates for Diablo 4, Overwatch 2, and a new expansion for World of Warcraft.
    4. Classic features like the Opening Ceremony, panels, Darkmoon Faire, and hands-on gameplay will return.
    5. No ticket prices are announced yet, but previous tickets were $299, with a possibility of price increases for 2026.

    BlizzCon is a popular gaming event put together by Blizzard Entertainment. This multi-day gathering, which started in 2005, is always full of exciting announcements and enjoyable activities for its fans. Even though it happens every year, it hasn’t taken place six times (2006, 2012, 2020, 2022, 2024, and 2025). Recently, it was confirmed that BlizzCon will be back in 2026.

    Dates and Venue

    Now that Microsoft owns Blizzard Entertainment, they have shared that the next BlizzCon will be held on September 12 and September 13, 2026. The Anaheim Convention Center, which has hosted the event for many years, will once again be the chosen location.

    Speculations and Features

    While Blizzard has not disclosed any specific plans for the upcoming BlizzCon, there are many rumors circulating. Fans are speculating about potential updates to Diablo 4 and Overwatch 2, along with a new expansion for World of Warcraft. According to the official press release, classic features like the Opening Ceremony, detailed panels, Darkmoon Faire, and hands-on gameplay will make a return.

    Ticket Pricing

    As of now, there’s no information available on ticket prices, but fans who are interested can sign up for notifications. The previous BlizzCon event had tickets priced at $299, which was a $70 increase since 2019, so it’s possible that prices could rise for BlizzCon 2026. The $799 Portal Pass might also see a price increase.

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  • Blizzard Working on New StarCraft Shooter, Release Uncertain

    Blizzard Working on New StarCraft Shooter, Release Uncertain

    Since the last expansion for StarCraft II in 2016 and the debut of StarCraft: Remastered in 2017, Blizzard’s famous StarCraft series has not seen any new content. However, prominent journalist and author Jason Schreier suggests that this might change soon. In a conversation on the Unlocked podcast, Schreier revealed that Blizzard is reportedly developing a StarCraft shooter again, this time under the guidance of Dan Hay, a former executive director from Far Cry with extensive experience in shooter game development.

    Skepticism Among Fans

    There is a significant amount of skepticism among fans regarding the game’s potential release. Blizzard has previously initiated two StarCraft shooter projects but did not complete them. One of the most notable examples is StarCraft: Ghost, a third-person shooter announced in 2002. Despite high hopes and numerous changes in development teams over twelve years, the project was officially canceled in 2014. Another initiative, codenamed Ares, aimed to create a first-person shooter reminiscent of Battlefield, but it too was scrapped in 2019.

    Renewed Hopes and Speculation

    While the origin of Schreier’s information remains uncertain, it has sparked renewed interest in the possibility of a StarCraft shooter. Discussions are already vibrant on Reddit regarding potential gameplay elements. Speculations cover a variety of scenarios, from gameplay similar to Left 4 Dead featuring Zerg adversaries to real-time battles inspired by Planetside.

    Upcoming Book Release

    Additionally, Jason Schreier’s latest book, "Play Nice: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Blizzard Entertainment," is set to be published on October 8. The hardback edition of the book is available for pre-order on Amazon for approximately $27.

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