The announcement of WoW Classic was one of the most striking news from Blizzcon 2017. However, there is still an indeterminate time between the announcement and the release. Why is it taking so long?
“If there were a switch – we would have flipped it.”
The desire for servers where old expansions or WoW Classic is running is as old as “The Burning Crusade”.
But for a long time Blizzard did not want to fulfill this wish. It went so far that Blizzard maintained the reputation of not listening to its player base.
Game Director J. Allen Brack says in an interview with PC Gamer that he is not exactly sure how it came about, but the idea developed that Blizzard was vehemently against Classic servers. However, there was always an internal desire at Blizzard to find a way to keep old expansions running.
“If we could flip a switch, and Classic WoW would run again, we would do it. We would flip that switch.” But according to Brack, there are numerous issues that need to be resolved and still need to be resolved before WoW can be like it was in 2005.
It’s not just about the game, but also the emotions
One of the most significant reasons why the team hesitated so long with their decision is the perspective of the players. Playing Classic does not mean experiencing Classic. So what exactly makes Vanilla WoW so special?
Many players fondly remember the positive aspects of the game. Things that they enjoyed or that they associate with great experiences: reaching level 60 for the first time, the first raid, the first mount, or the feeling of being part of a large guild.
They have become accustomed to the conveniences of retail WoW and would probably be upset if certain things were missing (Alliance players had no Heroism in Classic!). However, this is often overlooked.
Even though this objection still stands, Blizzard wants to finally jump over this shadow of the past. Blizzard wants to stop telling people what they think. What matters more is what the players think.
The players deserve a game of Blizzard quality
Vanilla is firmly anchored in the memories of the players. If it were to be re-released today unchanged, it would probably have a completely different impact. It is the memories of the players that make WoW Classic the game it has become to this day.
It is not important to consider what things made Classic great. It is important to know why those things were great. The memories players associate with something are more important than the things themselves. It is about bringing back the feel of Classic.
Brack says: “This game means a lot to the players. They have invested hundreds of hours into the game, which they feel a deep connection to, and it is something they cannot experience today. It is not something that can just be played in Blizzard quality – but that is exactly what we want to deliver.”
“It’s like we have two MMOs running.”
The second major reason for the long deliberation is technical difficulties. To run WoW Classic, you need a separate server infrastructure. The current version of the game and the one from back then are running so differently that they cannot simply be connected.
For smooth operation, two teams would be required, each managing a full-fledged MMO. A significant effort that is not easy to handle. Only a recently found approach could allow Vanilla to run on the current server structures.
However, this does not mean that Classic WoW will have the same features as the live servers. LFR, Dungeon Finder, and any cross-realm activities will not be supported. To ensure this separation, a complete, separate team will work on the project.
A dedicated team for better performance everywhere
Blizzard’s promise of success? They will hire this team specifically for this project and only hire people who want to dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to this endeavor. So the Classic WoW team is specifically hired just for Classic.
In the new and current content, the same resources will continue to flow. With multiple, separately working teams, better service for everyone can be guaranteed.
Due to the size of this project, the announcement was also very vague. The effort is so great that Blizzard does not want to set a deadline for itself. Therefore, for now, it remains at the announcement that the servers are coming – without further information. There is no target date.
There will be many tourists – but that’s okay
Ultimately, the change of mind came primarily from the decision to overlook one’s own opinions. Even if players might only visit the servers as “tourists”, they deserve a game at Blizzard level.
With the announcement, Blizzard has fully committed to Vanilla WoW. The team has taken on this project at this level, so they will see it through. Once the servers are live, they will not be taken offline again. As long as there is World of Warcraft, there will also be Classic WoW.
Classic WoW is a piece of video game history. A game that cannot be experienced like this again. That’s why it’s important to offer the option to revisit it. It’s about preserving that history.
You can read the full interview with Brack here on PC Gamer in English.
