Blizzard is changing even more about World of Warcraft. Now in-game images are being altered – a provocatively dressed woman is turned into a plate of fruit.
The sexism and discrimination scandal at Activision Blizzard has triggered a lot of changes. Not only were employees fired, but there have also been changes made in the games. In Overwatch, for example, the cowboy McCree is being renamed, while in World of Warcraft numerous items, achievements, and NPCs are being renamed. Now, in-game images are also being modified – and erotic allusions are being removed.
What is being changed? Some graphics have been discovered in the game data of the upcoming Patch 9.1.5 that are being replaced or revised.
The first image shows a rather blurry depiction of a human woman in noble but fairly revealing robes. The wide neckline goes down to her navel. In the new image, the woman is significantly more covered up, resembles a sorceress more, and has considerably more details.
The second image also depicted a human woman in revealing clothing, lying among several pillows on a bed – the scene and clothing generally remind one of women in a harem. The image will be completely replaced by a plate of fruit.
While this adjustment can certainly be debated, at least the graphics of both images have been significantly improved, as they now use HD textures.
What kind of images are these? The images have basically existed since Vanilla times in World of Warcraft and were always decorative objects without greater utility, found in dungeons like Scholomance or later in Dalaran. They have been used sporadically for 16 years and can thus be found in many places in the game if one looks for them.
Why is Blizzard doing this? There has been no exact explanation as to why these images are now also being changed. However, they were deemed too offensive and inappropriate, which is why they will be changed in the upcoming Patch 9.1.5.
However, it is noticeable that this does not yet affect all images that are somewhat revealing. For example, there is still this image from Dalaran that has not been changed:
It is therefore quite possible that there is another reason behind the two altered images, which can currently only be speculated about – for example, that they were implemented by certain employees.
What is clear, however, is that Blizzard has been gradually adapting supposedly offensive content for a while now, not just since the scandal. A while ago, a dialog was changed, in which Sylvanas was previously referred to as “Bitch”. There have also been adjustments in other Blizzard games, such as Jaina’s neckline in Hearthstone was covered up and even the succubus was completely removed from the game.
This is how the community reacts: At least in the comments on wowhead and in the subreddit, the change is not being well received. In the WoW subreddit , a thread titled “Blizzard wants to respect women so they turned them into fruit” is currently trending, with the comment: “That’s a different form of objectification of women.”.
Many are concerned that now all more revealing content in World of Warcraft will gradually disappear and that a larger adjustment is on the way. Some warlocks are already worried about their succubus, while others are asking how Blizzard will adjust the section “Den of Mortal Delights” in the Black Temple – as it was actually a huge harem for Illidan and his Illidari, full of human women, elves, and erotic demons like Shivarra and succubi.
What do you think of this adjustment? Completely fine and a good step? Or exaggerated and silly?
