What will happen to World of Warcraft after the arrival of Microsoft? We investigate the possibilities

World of Warcraft, abbreviated WoW, is a computer system parlor game (MMORPG) of the US game designer Blizzard Entertainment through the Web. It was published in 2004 for the initial time, in Europe it showed up in 2005, later in other countries, amongst various other things in individual's Republic of China. Wow, received 2009 the Guinness World Document for the most prominent multiplayer online role-playing game. By July 2012, the game generated over ten billion US buck sales as well as made it one of the most successful computer game. To play World of Warcraft, a month-to-month charge has to be paid. There are additionally a cost-free Starter Edition connected with limitations. Since the relocation of the standard version, the Burning Campaign (2007), Rage of the Rich King (2008), Cataclysm (2010), Mists of Mandarin (2012), Warlords of Drano (2014), Myriad (2016), Battle For Zeroth (2018) and also Shadow lands (2020) released. In 2019, a re-publication of the fundamental variation as well as 2021 published a re-publication of The Burning Crusade.

• We dream: What if everything were for good?
• Yes but...
• And if absolute failure or status quo?
• Well or bad at the end this redemption?

One of the most sounded news of the history of video games appeared on Tuesday, January 18, 2022: Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard \ + King by the Sum of 68 billion dollars. A true cataclysm for many of us, this news has generated many reactions, especially from the community of World of Warcraft, the famous MMORPG of Blizzard Entertainment. Good or bad news? We try to recap all that could happen in this article.

We dream: What if everything were for good?

If we were exclusively optimistic, the first point that would seem more than a blessing would be the famous Game Pass. In short, it is an offer that, in exchange for approximately 10 or 12 euros a month according to the chosen formula, gives you access to a wide catalog of games on your PC and / or your Xbox. It is important to note that at the time of writing this article, Game Pass represents 25 million subscribers .

Precisely in the case of World of Warcraft, which is the game that interests us here, the incorporation of the Blizzard MMORPG to the list of games offered at the Game Pass will most likely would be a massive influx of players. Although it is unlikely that the 25 million subscribers identified by Microsoft put one foot in Zeroth, 10% of them would already represent approximately 2.5 million additional players, a considerable profit.

Moreover, it is the possibility of suppression of monthly subscription to WOW in favor of a subscription that would give access to the whole catalog of Game Pass what would encourage many players to take the step. For a bit cheaper than the original subscription price, you would have access to a hundred games, some of which are very recognized, including the recently acquired Blizzard Activision: What else could you ask for?

The other outstanding aspect of this acquisition is, without a doubt, the positive impact that Microsoft could have when inculcating a new era for Blizzard and, therefore, for World of Warcraft. While it is unlikely that the subsequent expansion to Shadow lands will obtain this alleged help by Microsoft, with the agreement scheduled to conclude in June 2023, the development of later patches could earn a lot. Amongst the greatest benefits, there is in particular a possible corporate culture, hopefully more healthy for employees, who could return much to motivate troops in creating content adapted to the demands of the community as a whole.

New talents could also join Blizzard Entertainment through this fusion with Microsoft, talents that have proven their worth in other games and in other studies also purchased by the firm. This could allow, in the short term, to expand the field of possibilities of World of Warcraft offering new perspectives and even some numbers of The Elder Scrolls Online, for example. As an example, here is a non-exhaustive list of Microsoft's recent successes as a video game developer (through previously acquired studies):

Microsoft also has some successes (not exhaustive) as editor:

Finally, the incorporation of World of Warcraft in the Game Pass could, to be given, suppose an unprecedented and defendant novelty by the community: L A possibility of playing with command or even in console. Although the idea makes some shudder, we see that such a port would not be absolutely aberrant. Blizzard had also started this project many years before, in Warlords of Drano in particular, and the idea seemed to have won more impulse with the development of Shadow lands and the integration of the possibility to play with a command.

This feature, which until now was limited and not very suitable for high-level games, could, as The Elder Scrolls Online or Final Fantasy XIV, evolve in favor of A completely new way of approaching the game and expanding one more time Reach. Between these companies. This is what it seems, with Game Pass, be, in our opinion, one of the best things that can happen to the game... except for some details we will comment at the next point.

Finally, and in a completely different area, World of Warcraft has several important basses: Classic and its sports tournaments (Arena World Championship, Mythic Dungeon International, The Great Push and Classic Arena Tournament).

One can legitimately ask what might happen to the classic versions. While Wrath of the Rich King bequeath soon, what will happen to Season of Mastery from 2021? What about expansions classic later including the expected Mist of Mandarin as the Messiah? Following the reasoning of a possible console port, how these versions would be added to Game Pass and therefore Xbox? A very nebulous topic for which few are really plausible hypothesis. The likely development could continue, however, it is unlikely that the game pad possible for these versions of the game...

As for sporting events, it's hard to say if they return to last. However, if this were the case, it might be interesting to see its evolution. Cash prizes have been controversial for a long time because they are considered too low (rightly) it changes the situation the arrival of Microsoft and its alleged healthy culture in the balance? A very interesting question that we hope to discover the answer. Finish at this point mentioning the Race to World First: Did you finally do something with this tournament, formalizing and framing seriously entire ecosystem We ask a lot, but these are factors that could make people dream if they explode all its potential: New partnership, new hope!

Yes but...

Even if Activision Blizzard can have a bright future ahead, nothing is certain for World of Warcraft. MMORPG still has a niche style of play and, as is without Game Pass particular, it is unlikely that a wave of new players set foot on Zeroth, the world of Korea or in an MMORPG next years. These developments previously assumed could only take place under the circumstances mentioned above, and as discussed above, nothing is certain.

Moreover, if these changes (and others) will be held, could involve drastic changes in the style of game players. In the current version of World of Warcraft, the command as such is not intended to be exploited only is designed to allow players who can not sit (or stand) in front of a computer playing quiet from your bed.

Add a feature like this could completely change the face of gaming as we know. While working in Final Fantasy XIV, the most famous example of this is mainly because the Eve mechanics involve high level patterns fixed, that might seem dances raids during which players must dodge techniques assiduously. World of Warcraft has the mechanics, however, the gameplay remains more focused on much more random patterns that require responsiveness and adaptability: A system that is not well suited to control the game once again.

Does the World of Warcraft community is ready to welcome new players but also a new style of play designed to fit over? Hard to say. Some would probably agree, however, some teeth are already starting to cringe at the mere mention of this idea. The visualization is a very taboo subject in WoW , and Microsoft in the driver's seat is likely to pass first more than ever plane.

And if absolute failure or status quo?

Microsoft is hard to talk about without mentioning the fairly recent failures of the company. First line is, of course Scale bound, one of the exclusive planned for Xbox One finally canceled because the study that was supposed to be behind Platinum Games, was Now the altar and was fiasco in an infernal desarrollo loop. Blow to a study that also gave birth to Near Automata or Bayonne ta, amongst others.

Going back a bit to the past, we can also point out the famous case of Bungee Studios that, until 2007, was a study of Microsoft. noteworthy that at the origin of the famous (and excellent) Halo saga exclusively for the Xbox consoles since 2001, separated from the Master Chief and Microsoft in 2007. While developers Bungee wanted to evolve differently than creating Halo games , Microsoft did not see it that way, so he went to the end of the contract between the two parties finally broke. The parent company prevented ultimately and according to employees at the time, Bungee evolve otherwise it was not through the prism of Halo.

Finally, and more recently, we can also mention the sad case of Lion head Studios and its expected Fable Legends , an RPG of action that was supposed to take place a few hundred years before the events of the first delivery of the Fable license. While development had begun in the summer of 2012, before officially announcing a year later, in October 2012, Microsoft announced the dismissal of 10% of Lion head workers, most of whom were reclassified within the parent company. Unfortunately, Lion head Studios would end up closing permanently in March 2016.

If we mention these specific cases it is because it is licensed by all known (Fable, Halo). What would happen if tomorrow World of Warcraft will not generate enough money? What if the development was too expensive? What if Microsoft simply would like to stop interested in the MMORPG? This type of scenarios is a risk that is now subject to Blizzard Entertainment. Of course, we are talking about legendary franchises such as Warcraft, Diablo, Star craft, Call of Duty or Crash Bandicoot whose elimination seems very complex, but seeing everything that has been seen in the industry All these tracks are possible.

However, we can remember that The Elder Scrolls Online, also developed by a study acquired by Microsoft, follows its cheerful path for several years despite a much less resounding success than World of Warcraft. However, the mandatory subscription was abandoned in 2015 in favor of an optional subscription. Since then, The Elder Scrolls Online also joined the Game Pass.

Well or bad at the end this redemption?

It is, as we specify at the beginning of the article, Impossible to have a definitive opinion on this issue at the moment and until the first content is deployed under the control of Microsoft, at the end of 2023 or even 2024. However, the Fears are as important as expectations for many World of Warcraft players. While some almost naively expect a Wow 2, others are more confusing and believe that they have finally discovered the true Wow killer that some have been waiting for years.

In our opinion, there are two possibilities that seem more likely:

1. Microsoft will definitely change completely the game with your Game Pass and the Port to Consoles, that could be both beneficial for the game as a felling to the veteran players, or on the contrary satisfy to a large part of the community current and future
2. Nothing changes will change and the cycle will continue while Blizzard opens the way cheerfully on his side under Microsoft's eye without betting on a game Pass or a Port in consoles. Supposedly, a better corporate culture and a lower focus on financial results could lead to important changes in the game without changing your community or not changing anything at all