Report: Blizzard Knew Warcraft 3 Was a Mess and Launched It Anyway

Report: Blizzard Knew Warcraft 3 Was a Mess and Launched It Anyway

Warcraft 3 was hailed as a smashing success when it launched way back in 2002. It was one of the first truly modern real-time strategy titles, and it made meaningful improvements over Warcraft 1 and 2. It was also easy to mod and play online — the entire MOBA genre grew out of modded Warcraft 3. Even with all that going for it, the game was looking old and busted when Blizzard announced a remastered version in 2018. Fans were hyped, but the launch did not live up to expectations. According to a newly leaked document, Blizzard knew the game was a mess, but it released it anyway.

According to a report from Bloomberg, Warcraft 3 was doomed by mismanagement and financial pressure from Blizzard’s parent company, Activision. Warcraft 3: Reforged launched in January 2020, and it was clear out of the gate that so much of the promised content was missing — the updated cutscenes were nowhere to be seen, and Blizzard dropped its plans to record new dialog. Even the online ranking ladder was gone. Fans started demanding refunds with such frequency that Blizzard started offering instant refunds. There are a lot of parallels to the Cyberpunk 2077 fiasco, but this was a remake that was never expected to make a boatload of money. That, as it turns out, was part of the reason the project was so hobbled.

The leaked documents from an internal “postmortem” of the launch called out Blizzard’s decision to keep accepting pre-orders as the project unraveled. “We took pre-orders when we knew the game wasn’t ready yet,” they said. The files also recommend that Blizzard should resist the urge to ship games before they are done in the future. Gee, you think?

Apparently, a big part of the push to get Warcraft 3: Reforged out the door was coming from Activision management. They didn’t see Warcraft 3 as something that would become a billion-dollar product, which is probably true. However, Activision pressured Blizzard to focus on its flagship franchises that were making tons of money like Overwatch and Diablo IV. The Warcraft project reportedly never got the funding it needed, leading developers to cope with “exhaustion, anxiety, depression and more for a year now.” Again, this is a direct quote from Blizzard’s analysis of the project.

Years back, this all would have come as a surprise. Blizzard was seen as one of the most reliable and customer-focused developers. However, times change and Blizzard has been accused of more than making bad games. It’s currently the target of a lawsuit in California that accuses the company of fostering a “frat boy” culture in which female employees are harassed and underpaid. The Classic Games team that worked on Warcraft 3: Reforged has since been disbanded, but Blizzard promises ongoing support. It’s hard to trust that Blizzard will get it right this time, though.

Continue reading

Pretty Sure We’re Prepared This Time: Blizzard Confirms Burning Crusade Classic
Pretty Sure We’re Prepared This Time: Blizzard Confirms Burning Crusade Classic

Blizzard has confirmed that World of Warcraft Classic is getting a partner. Step through the Dark Portal once again when The Burning Crusade Classic comes online.

Blizzard’s Diablo II Remaster Will Support 20-Year-Old Save Files
Blizzard’s Diablo II Remaster Will Support 20-Year-Old Save Files

Blizzard is working on a remastered version of Diablo II, and it will be very faithful to the original. How faithful? Blizzard producer Matthew Cederquist confirms save files from the original game will work with the remaster, allowing you to finish the quest you started two decades ago.

Blizzard Dropped True Ultrawide Support From Diablo II: Resurrected Because It Breaks the Game
Blizzard Dropped True Ultrawide Support From Diablo II: Resurrected Because It Breaks the Game

After nerfing 21:9 ultrawide support in the last phase of the beta, Blizzard has now explained the reason: true ultrawide support breaks the game.

Microsoft to Acquire Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion
Microsoft to Acquire Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion

With its recent acquisition of ZeniMax complete, Microsoft is scooping up another gaming heavyweight: Activision Blizzard. Microsoft says the $68.7 billion deal will make it the third-largest gaming company in the world after Sony and Tencent.