Addons have been a standard tool for many players in World of Warcraft for years in combat and dungeons, but Blizzard does not seem completely satisfied with it and plans to restrict mods and similar programs. In an open letter, WoW developers discuss the topic in more detail.
What are addons in WoW? Addons like Northern Sky
or Deadly Boss Mods
are external programs that help players in various WoW content by displaying timers for buffs or signaling what action to take during specific mechanics. For many players, these tools have become commonplace.
As early as May, the head of WoW commented on a possible addon ban. It was argued that battles need to be made more complex through external addons in order to remain challenging.
In a current open letter to modders, the topic has been addressed again.
They want to restrict addons but also make the game more accessible
What do the developers behind WoW say about a possible addon ban? In an open letter to modders (via github.com), they explained the further course regarding addons and what approach can be expected.
The developers clarify that they currently do not wish to ban addons directly, but rather restrict them. Furthermore, they want to implement future changes with minimal impact on accessibility-related addons. However, they also explain that players who do not use external programs feel at a significant disadvantage. These players may feel excluded from competitive content.
To prevent this, they want to adjust the UI to make the game more accessible for all players. They announce that they want to make significant changes
to fights and encounters. Class mechanics should also become more accessible when the addon changes are implemented.
However, they also emphasize in the letter that WoW should remain challenging. If they ensure that addons are no longer used to solve mechanics, they could choose a different approach for future design decisions.
When will the changes to addons be released? So far, no specific release date has been announced, but they emphasize that players will be informed months in advance. They also want to incorporate feedback from players and modders regarding the changes. You can find all the information about the next patch here: WoW Patch 11.1.7 has a release date – all about the content and the one-button rotation
