World of Warcraft: 'Boundless potential to keep the game going for another 20 years' | BBC News

World of Warcraft is celebrating its 20th birthday this year and some of the game's most senior bosses have told the BBC there is "boundless" potential and "easily" enough stories to keep the game going for another 20 years.
Since Microsoft's merger with World of Warcraft's maker Activision Blizzard last year, there has been speculation about the future of some games, with a survival game project widely known as Odyssey scrapped, and 1,900 members of Activision Blizzard staff laid off.
Fans were even more concerned after BlizzCon, an annual gaming convention, was cancelled for 2024.
BBC Newsbeat spoke to the bosses before the BlizzCon cancellation, with World of Warcraft's vice president and executive producer Holly Longdale and associate game director Maria Hamilton saying they have been given Microsoft's "full support" and didn't rule out potential crossovers with games such as Elder Scrolls.
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Credit: Cosplay image of Lisa.J by Daniel Boczarski, Getty Images and Activision Blizzard
#WorldOfWarcraft #Gaming #BBCNews

[@mikiggs]

Asmongold is going to make a 2 hour video from this.

[@DragonHeart613]

Looking forward to it.

[@arcadealchemist]

I don't think he cares to be honest , there are bigger things to talk about now

[@WelshGhost1337]

Haha Very true, can't wait

[@DragonHeart613]

@@arcadealchemist Asmon is one of the bigger WOW KZbinrs. He cares.

[@Nasiruify]

BALDY

[@derekgornall]

WoW making the news 20 years after 2004 is a glorious thing to behold. We are still here!!!

[@moos5221]

addiction is strong indeed.

[@nowherebrain]

let it die already.

[@Deaiden]

BBC going for that IGN bread

[@DaRkLoRd-rc5yu]

Might as well ign are terrible

[@morolakeazeez8891]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤q​@@DaRkLoRd-rc5yu

[@Cjmacj]

They've been reporting on games since the 80s, there was a dedicated game magazine on Ceefax for years, not as good as Channel 4's Digitiser but the point is they've reported on games for decades. The memes never told you that, did they?

[@Viviorkogaming]

Losers thirsty for likes.

[@Si0nWilliams]

🤣🤣🤣

[@MikeChatman]

WoW ruined my life. Damn do I miss it lol

[@niklasmoquist6116]

...and it still keeps ruining mine. Loving it. :)

[@darkbright08]

u miss wow or your life?

[@Moe_L]

Can u blame the game like u blame a drug for it's addictiveness. Or was it the circumstances that u were living in that time that got u addictive in the first place?

[@MikeChatman]

@@Moe_L I blame you. Go away weirdo

[@heli398]

Holy bbc news on video game promotion...

[@moos5221]

9:17 "We consider ourselves global" and yet since 20 years only NA has a bug report forum that is moderated by blizzard.

[@chriskay1449]

You do realize that any bug fixed in NA is done to every server in existence right? That means nothing.

[@moos5221]

@@chriskay1449 you are right, what you wrote means nothing. you think that players who encounter bugs and are not in NA don't want to report their bugs in a bug report forum?

[@Smartiezs]

@@chriskay1449 it is about reporting the bugs mate, someone in eu encountering a bug and getting zero response doesn't make sense. they disencourage people in eu from reporting with this behaviour. not even adressing the issue of foreign languages here

[@chriskay1449]

@@Smartiezs Just because you aren't getting a response does not mean they do not know and aren't working on it. Plenty of people report bugs on the bug report forum that don't get a response, but thee bug gets fixed.

[@Smartiezs]

@@chriskay1449 true, but why have moderation in us forums then, when it serves no purpose? often when i look at the moderation in us forums it is asking for hardware configs, so if they ask for that info it has to be relevant and that info is simply not being asked in eu. does it matter in the grand sheme, probably not as they get "enough" bug reports in us alone, but it is common curtesy to provide support in forums

[@KentRoads]

RuneScape is a British MMORPG that has been going 25 years, nothing from BBC.

[@selimgure]

Because RuneScape doesn't really buy ads.

[@MikeChatman]

Runescape sucks tho

[@soapflavour7547]

@@MikeChatman so does wow

[@Joini50]

Wasnt it created by a Russian guy that couldn't play WoW so he made a lesser version of it that required inferior specs to run?

[@The_Shan96]

@@Joini50 Runescape is older than WoW

[@yungliquidfire8605]

Day 1436 still no invincible

[@andrescastro9243]

Nice to see @Lisa. J on the cover image on a BBC news video, you should give her credit

[@EmanSLived]

No name tags??? great professional work from BBC =P

[@viktoras1236]

I understand the wish to include every new generation of players into the game but when it comes to storytelling that often mentioned word "whimsical" can become childish. I stand by an opinion that WoW devs need to invest more into the team that's responsible for the story. In my humble opinion, young players are open and more than able to absorb a more complex dialogues, twists in speech and etc. Classic WoW has this darkness and grimey layer of storytelling where you are the lowlife, scoundrel and nothing more but then also you eventually reach this phase where NPCs tell you "please hero, save the world". I remember that dread of unknown I felt 15 years ago while playing TBC and now I can see my son having that same dread in Classic (not showing him the way). But when he switches to retail there's little room for him to search for answers by himself, everyone takes you by the hand in there. In modern WoW you are a demigod straight away and everyone talks to you as if you're a "chosen one". Despite this, thank you, nice interview))

[@BearPawSwipe]

That is assuming "young" players have the capacity for that now which is debatable.

[@jamespond863]

So, all the toxicity is PVPs fault... Such a lazy arguement and now we see exactly why PVP doesn't get the proper due care and attention. Now we see why they don't make any effort for it. Toxicity is throughout the game, including PVE, as a player for most of the time, Blizzard doesn't gove a damn about toxicity.

[@Spladoinkal]

So THAT'S why they got rid of all the fun PVP stuff in the game: They blamed everything bad on it. What they didn't realize is how many people played the game BECAUSE of the cool PVP. They deleted their fanbase lol.

[@CoachDan202]

@jamespond863 @@Spladoinkal Two toxic PVP players ^

[@Spladoinkal]

@@CoachDan202 lol

[@Altrantis]

Pretty sure most toxicity is in raiding and mythic+

[@ShirleyDeeDesigns]

I was introduced to WOW almost 8 years ago by a couple coworkers, one has been playing since it started and I can’t imagine NOT playing, I am hooked! There is so much to do in the game. I’m not a hardcore player, am in my 60s and still have a lot to learn, but still enjoy it so much.

[@user-gf1zg5yc7r]

Just came back to the game and I’m having a blast. Hyped for the new expansion.

[@milkzuk6908]

LONG LIVE WARCRAFT

[@leonmeekel5486]

Meanwhile half life 1 fans blowing up casseroles in a microwave for 26 years straight:

[@jamesoakley4570]

speak to Gabe

[@denarIhsan50]

Holly and Maria ❤

[@Armando.Krijnen]

They both are amazing and passionate people with a heart for the community! ✌🏽

[@alexandreturgeon9831]

I play this game for a decade, I still want to play but I don’t have a computer anymore lol

[@titanicsosroblox]

Luckily you dont need a really expensive PC to play this

[@SAGEWOLF]

elder scrolls online xbox thank me later

[@Smartiezs]

get a used pc or even any used m1 apple, it plays really well on those. you really don't need much to run wow and even less for classic wow

[@BegToDiffer99]

Thoroughly enjoying hardcore and season of discovery. Good job,Blizzard.

[@MarkTheMadMan]

As much as i don't mind Holly and the other Devs, Chris Metzen should be doing this interview

[@arizothwow1]

?? Doesn't make sense.

[@Smartiezs]

nah he is Executive Creative Director, he manages the warcraft franchise narrative, not any other part of the game content

[@AAKhanivore]

Holly is absolutely the right person!

[@RisqueRique]

20 years, 20 minute video. Fabulous.

[@MrJimm3h]

I have rank 14 on my CV

[@yesteryearr]

The World Soul Saga is gonna be awesome! Exciting!

[@michaelboard2807]

Things will always change in wow but my only wish is that they still preserve all the content they have made over the last 20 years so there will always be an option to go back

[@Cathie46]

I am a fan that also played closed beta in 2004 and have never looked back. I have been playing since, spend tons of my time collecting mounts and transmogs. There are a ton of us, who were older then and have been playing since and still

[@solomonkane8136]

Started playing in 06 and was hooked until BFA and quit in Shadowlands. I started back for classic. I think ranked solo battlegrounds and delves are a good direction, but retail ruined professions and so much else…

[@sebastianaminoff9703]

Here's one idea. Classic Plus!

[@Tyranno-Bore-Us]

I can tell you as one of the few people who was there to be an elitist PVP player during the vanilla days, it was nice 😁

[@Animadroids]

It can become 100 years old game if they implement technological and gameplay improvements.

[@cyndrigaming]

Holly Longdale is a QUEEN!! We love her

[@Hellblazecc]

She sucks

[@gsp1995]

I hope they return to what made Vanilla so special.

[@grahameosheadrums]

Glad the game is still doing well, otherwise it would be the end of the world.........of warcraft.

[@titanicsosroblox]

Holly is amazing! WoW is really coming back!

[@UnitedUA]

Been playing since Warcraft II in 1998! 🤘 I play WoW!

[@64rsimpson]

Thank you for this interview. Particularly liked the question on what new players Blizzard was hoping to attract, but a nice mix of questions to create a fun interview.

[@Gwyned]

I hope we see dark ranger as class not talent choice and same for warden necromancer and blade master

[@dIggl3r]

you know

[@philipgant2820]

I’m excited for delves

[@fwam2k7]

Didn’t expect to see bbc posting about wow lol

[@Armando.Krijnen]

Me neither lol, I was blinking my eyes for like 10 times if I saw it correctly xD

[@user-db5cs9rn6j]

The Wow is, or was, such a great part of my life and up to cata it was so great. The greatness was that we then had heroes and guild that we looked upon. An epic weapon was truly epic and you had to put in the time and effort in to get it.

[@benjaiboy]

love the Classic game mode

[@Made4Fan]

2:16 Noooice.

[@danielbarnett5764]

In olden days, an entire evening would be dedicated to get just 1/10th of a level (out of 60 levels). Dungeons had a low chance of loot you wanted. You had to actually fly to dungeons or raid where ppl would leave and sonetimes be frustrating. As a result, your class really meant something. It was a major investment. You lived your class with absolute pride and respected each other knowing they really learned how to play their class. Most ppl want a new version of wow in unreal engine. The engine needs to improve and maybe the playstyle too. The community is very so grateful for the experiences WoW has given, the needed escapism that most of us all seek, the shared challenges, guild communities, and adding a lot of smiles and more tension that the scariest horror movie. Thank you Blizzard ❤

[@Vt-gm3pz]

wow has become a part of my life keep going ❤

[@zMadmonk333]

Not really. Blizzard knows it's going downhill, they even canceled Blizzcon this year... Which would have coincided with the launch of the new trilogy they are supposedly proud of. If they don't believe in their own game, why would we?

[@arceptor]

Why hold a blizzcon with nothing to show off

[@zMadmonk333]

@@arceptor the launch of a new game and trilogy isnt something to show off? Unless it's trash, then maybe it was the right call.

[@arceptor]

@@zMadmonk333 they did say they would host future blizzcons, i bet they will have one in 2025 to show off midnight

[@lilithvanderzwaan552]

The game is wonderful, certainly more casual friendly. Which is good when I can find some time to play in between. I like that with the new profession system, you have gained yet another way you can play the game in a meaningful way. So looking forward to the Warband style of play, and building upon it. Dragonflight has been the best expansion overall hands down they ever made. Looking forward to exploring in the World soul saga, it looks breath taking. Even the old world has its charm, really nice to just relax and explore, doing some old quests enz.

[@chrisbenn]

WoW is very toxic! If you do anything with randoms like M+ everyone is sitting looking at damages meters ready to trash on you if you do not do the damage they think you so be doing!

[@triniscout]

stop being dog shit?

[@Armando.Krijnen]

I think WoW is not so toxic, I met quite a lot kind and cool people... I have a very bad experience with the League of Legends community (but also, in LoL, there are nice people)

[@Raphael11001]

Mythic plus and mythic raids are a high stress environment. If you do it with randoms and mistakes happen, it's common for people to explode and blame each other. Competitive PvP is the same. But everything else is pretty chill.

[@IggyCotton]

Myself, From Beta to Now.. Still Playing. FOR THE HORDE!

[@Hopyboby]

great questions

[@catopwnzify]

I love the game the amount of grind and never feeling like my toon got strong made me drift off the series. It’s a fun MMO but people who have family and jobs it’s a big no no.

[@stevenseibel9216]

Asmons got this

[@Scar626]

Uhm . . What is this headline / story? By the BBC no less. I clicked this video, spotting the Red and White icon in my peripheral, confusing and mistaking it for the IGN icon.

[@FFVogter.-em6zz]

“Boundless potential that is being bled out”.

[@alexanderajax2956]

Can't wait for Asmon to react on this

[@Gravesmasher23]

Remove Mythic raid. Let it be easier, would bring in more people. Mythic is too hard and gate the cool tmog.

[@jimdavies9354]

I never played WoW. The only mmo I played with a monthly subscription is FFXIV. I tend to stay away from games with real players online because of social anxiety. I even play Battlefield 2042 with bots so I don't have to play against other people. However, I'm glad video games are making an impact, even on bbc news.

[@celadras]

Still survival hunters suffers in the game :/

[@Nightstalker314]

10:00 about that "block list": still limited to 50.

[@moos5221]

Yeah, you will run into 50 people to block every month, including toxic and idiotic players but also bots and boosters etc.

[@KenJKnight]

If you need to block more than 50 people maybe the problem is you.

[@shaleenthepunk8568]

Nice to see a BBC report on the game I've grown up with. I actually like the BBC far more than most American news outlets as well as a rural American (way too much Trump on the news to me; I prefer having a foreign perspective on him especially). I watch the PlutoTV channel that BBC set up sometimes.

[@brooklyn8295]

I will add to that... I can't stand the robot corporate talk and demeanor. Anyways, I've been playing since beta. You guys are doing an amazing job. Keep it up!

[@Gstee112]

I have been playing wow for 18 years. :) and I don't plan on stopping.

[@selimgure]

2:16

[@m1k300003]

😂😂

[@auro1986]

they don't have ideas like bbc that shows real action compared to their virtual videos

[@BadGuyKryptonite]

Fun is for casuals...bring back the challenge

[@Hi-fd4cw]

You realize if they made content solely for people like you, they’d be making no money, right? Casuals are what makes Blizz money. You are not a priority, so don’t act so entitled

[@Lisa.J]

It keeps hiding my comment for some reason, but I'm the cosplayer in the cover photo. Didn't know my photo was being used until a friend sent this to me.

[@eliasaldahan9295]

First played in 2011.

[@Elysian777]

Best: Vanilla, BC, WotLK. Next best: Legion. Worst: Shadowlands, ugh. The only xpac I didn't even bother to level my vanilla era mains. I was out in 2 weeks. Dragon is better. Waiting to see what happens from here out and playing a little Classic SoD. Or was.. until they brought Incursions. Incursions added too much Fomo and pulled people out of the world. Somewhat ruined it to see empty spaces all of a sudden. Sort of wrecked community engagement and piled everyone into a concentrated space and a grind. Felt too much like retail.

[@ilmstreams]

This BBC reporter lad is mighty cute lol. Also, good interview on one of my favorite games!

[@theonlymoo5e]

Have the Diablo monsters invade the World Of Warcraft universe

[@unclvinny]

Dragonflight is my favorite expansion, and I've played them all. Great job y'all. (Now quit laying people off...)

[@Spladoinkal]

Data-driven game development doesn't work. For instance: When you funnel the WoW players in a certain direction, OF COURSE the players are going to play that way, you're coercing them into it. It's silly, because Activision-Blizzard, which is the same company that makes both WoW and Call of Duty, is seeing the fallout from using data-driven development in Call of Duty. The players of Call of Duty were asking for one thing but the data was telling Activision something else so Activision ignored them and now the players are leaving. Each COD has a smaller player base than the last when it could be thriving. WoW is ALSO going into a downward trend. You could argue that the playerbase is shrinking due to the age of both games and I'm sure there's merit to it but remember both games have diehard fanbases, the type of fanbases that will stick around if you just give them what they're looking for.

[@atx5127]

Went back to WoW after 10 years. Send me more gold and purple loot Blizz...

[@goktugonvermez8140]

FOR DA HORDE, FOR DA DARKSPEAR

[@Dtv8564]

I want Warcraft 4

[@matthewkeating-od6rl]

Wow catta launching today. I think they need to really look at what ashes of creation is doing I question if wow developers can develop a game that competes with that. Unless it's just vapor ware like star citizen.

[@Neon-Flux]

I played for 10 years only game

[@katcrescent9856]

You guys used a photo of a cosplayer @lisa.jski Should definitely credit her and photographer that took the photo as you used it without her permission.

[@Icellina]

This ☝🏻☝🏻☝🏻☝🏻

[@majed2488]

BBC running out of money XD

[@Devonellah]

I LOVE it!! :) I started playing in 2007 - Mid Burning Crusade... I fell in Love -- and have been playing ever since :)

[@ub3rfr3nzy94]

BBC been doing some gaming news more lately, trying to push into that space?

[@NiekVL]

Maria's answer around 17:30 makes absolutely no sense. How can there be problems with representation and character races when all the most popular characters were orcs, elves, trolls, taurens etc?

[@MarkTheMadMan]

She's obviously taking about all the stuff they removed from the game since the Afrasiabi akward leaving incident... like (as an example) the the female human voice over that used to say things like "Why does everyone automatically assume i know tailoring and cooking". .. not allowed in today's politically correct world

[@russellf.3396]

Around 99% of wow players hate that woke stuff - and she would love to make wow more woke due to recent political trends. It calls activism. Even if wow players are against it. Plz - remove those ppl for game development 🥹

[@ChronoCryptic]

@@russellf.3396Where did you get that 99% statistic 😂😂 Most people in the game are empathetic lol sorry buddy you’re in the minority

[@ignaciocarda6004]

@@ChronoCryptic While I would agree completely that 99% is completely not true, I would also argue that the MAJORITY of people do not condone the woke stuff.

[@timbob2974]

@@ChronoCryptic if you play wow the majority of players hate it. for example on classic everyone i talk to laugh at retail stupid woke stuff. its not even a men thing but women too. and not like egirls but actual moms that are therapist or nurses. i have been doing gdkps since classic came out and everyone makes fun of it. the only people who get angry on the game are very woke people. like you cant even make a none offensive joke. those type of people. so yes the majority of players hate this. there is even a joke when blizzard is censoring something or making a new gay overwatch character it means something bad is happening to them. next day blizzard has new scandle...they're just a shit company that use lgbtq for profit like every company.

[@jamesoakley4570]

Wow Retail sucks. i only play Wow Classic. its a far better MMO experience

[@Icellina]

Way to use cosplayers/photographers images without giving them credit- if you’re going to use their hard work for your thumbnail, make sure to give them credit- the cosplayer front and center is someone who worked hard to get into the crown championships of cosplay, show her some respect!

[@finger00]

Pretty sure the image came from Getty images as stated in the credit area 🙃

[@courtneyk9755]

reply numbers or whatever lol

[@courtneyk9755]

@@finger00 i think the BBC could figure out how to find her. Or ya know, use an image where they know the source

[@courtneyk9755]

thank you

[@courtneyk9755]

trying the same thing you did

[@GerlockArgentDawnUS]

Keep making content, I will keep playing it.

[@paulowen3271]

Open beta. played paladin before the massive changes that they implemented at launch

[@xxxx2935]

. ( EXODUS ) 22 : 18.. "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live." Thank you for your time.

[@kirasolari]

The unaccredited Slyvanas pictured in the Thumbnail is @lisa.jski

[@user-vy5qx1xq5b]

I want to bring this beautiful world of Warcraft to life as a full theme park attraction. Please Blizzard Company contact me please

[@red_bull1540]

FIX MMR!

[@Wraith983]

Lol wut BBC and WoW?

[@user-ro7sp1rz4b]

Controversy has been reported since Min Hee-jin's press conference that "Hive" is related to pseudo-religion Comments on the new jeans OMG music video uploaded to KZbin's hive channel have been deleted and manipulated in real time As a fan of New Jeans in Korea, I hope this controversy will be publicized

[@codipherus66]

17:30 concerned about the representation...

[@wowfoelifewarcrack3297]

greatest game of all time

[@AdrianDrott]

wow will never hit the same as it did back in the day tbh. its time for a sequel rather than expansions imo.

[@jimmangz]

Blizzard is so lost. They said a whole lot of nothing. When you appeal to everybody you end up appealing to nobody.

[@tekamer6566]

You are lost so lost in fact you haven’t heard what they did in the past 2 years

[@KenJKnight]

True!

[@triniscout]

you aren't excited for Blackduin Lothar DEI mohawk disabled lesbian power?

[@M3di3valG]

Mobile Games! Nooooooooooooo!

[@collectiblesnrandomstuff544]

I lost a good girl that loved me very much do to me being hooked on wow , that was over 10 years ago , I regret it but yet still in 2024 I can’t stop playing wow . I’m 45 now, I feel like it’s over for me so who cares at this point

[@Pontelad]

i have played wow for 16-17 year now as my main and only game yes i have had breaks away when the game has been poor, they are right about making it more accessible both my kids played during bfa they lasted maybe 1 month after hitting max level and quit main reason was the constant grind and constant daily's they hated it i showed them the changes and they are said the will wait and see if it any better, me yeah i am a (retail andy) and think the recent changes are awesome, However as much as i love wow its main let down is the Lack of customer service years ago my main account got permanent banned i have tried over and over to get it over turned and get the lovely AI response and had to make a new account anyways personal grudges aside and yes this comment is still a little biased but i see more and more people getting perma banned recently with no way to get i over turned and if these guys/gals wasn't streamers or know big named streamers they would still be banned for example Asmon, paye, Erosium among overs if they are going to perma ban like paye said in a recent video they should be able to appeal to real people at customer server not AI that constantly refuse your appeal and this should be for all players not just players with big fan bases as blizzard only care about the big streamers that bring the viewers in, this is the main negative about wow and the only negative thing i explain to new players and my children and i quot a Blizzard gm *A Blizzard GM can ban any account whenever they like and there is nothing you can do about it, also another GM will not over turn another GM's decision* these are written responses i got trying to appeal a ban so game play changes in wow are awesome the customer service is still in the dirt, just my experience with wow i'm putting out there so people don't get high expectations of customer service as there isnt non.

[@SAGEWOLF]

Elder Scrolls online - a W.o.W. Veteran ~ thank me later

[@NicholasLi10]

World of Warcraft destroys FF14 and those who say FF14 beats WOW is so wrong.

[@jamesoakley4570]

I play both. FF14 has better things to do outside questing but Wow classic has a better questing system. I dont play retail so FF14 is better than retail.

[@RiogaRivera]

sure men enjoy you battle royal🤣 and see you on your next BlizzCon event💀