Time Gating annoys many players in World of Warcraft. However, Cortyn finds it really practical because it allows enough time to enjoy all the content.
Criticism of World of Warcraft is as old as the game itself. Makes sense. When a game reaches millions of people, not everyone can be satisfied with everything – that’s simply not possible. It’s even harder with such a large game as WoW, which not only offers PvE but also PvP and a gigantic variety of possible “side content” like pet battles, achievements, role-playing, transmog collections, or a particularly large stable full of mounts.
However, one point of criticism has become particularly loud with Shadowlands. Time-Gating.
It is condemned by many players and once again referred to as the downfall of World of Warcraft. I, on the other hand, find Time-Gating really useful, as it fulfills many positive things for me.
What is Time-Gating? There isn’t really an exact definition, and the perception varies somewhat. However, broadly speaking, “Time-Gating” means that not all content is immediately playable, and there are different hurdles to overcome. These hurdles are often designed so that only a certain progress can be achieved within a specific timeframe.
Currently, in WoW: Shadowlands, this mainly consists of unlocking the renown levels, the associated bonuses through soulbinds, and the unlocking of the story campaign.
I play a lot – so Time-Gating bothers me less
Of course, I must mention that I currently have a fairly busy schedule in World of Warcraft. Twice a week we raid in the evenings and on two other days we conquer dungeons on “Mythic+”, visit Tazavesh, or gather achievements. This means a large part of the week is planned for me and I am quite occupied.
Although we are still raiding on normal difficulty and slowly approaching heroic, while in the “Mythic+” area we are currently only running 12 to 14 keystones. We are by no means in the pro-gamer area, but also far from the casual player who never sets foot in “Mythic+” and only knows raids from LFR.
Or to put it another way: I assume that I belong to the “main mass” of WoW players who have a lot of fun in the Shadowlands and can enjoy most content. The part of the player base that doesn’t complain about every little detail and views every nerf or the slightest mechanic as the downfall of WoW and loses control in the subreddit repeatedly.
The more content I enjoy in World of Warcraft, the more Time-Gating helps me and ensures that I can stay engaged everywhere.
That does not mean that there isn’t valid criticism of WoW – there always has been, and there is also in Shadowlands. But the more I read that Time-Gating is the downfall of the game, and that one is “definitely going to cancel the subscription soon”, the more I have to roll my eyes.
I understand when Time-Gating displeases players who are only interested in one type of content. For those who only want to experience the pure story, waiting a week for what ultimately delivers a brief hour of quests is quite long.
However, for those who enjoy many different types of gameplay, Time-Gating is definitely accommodating.
Time-Gating has always existed, even 16 years ago
My last point I want to make: Time-Gating is nothing new. It has always been a part of World of Warcraft and many other MMORPGs and is not a new phenomenon. Here are just two examples from World of Warcraft Classic:
- Back then, you could only get loot from a raid dungeon once a week. Once all bosses were defeated, you had to wait until the next reset. That is also Time-Gating concerning gear. You couldn’t endlessly repeat the raid until you were perfectly geared.
- Especially in Blackwing Lair, there was Time-Gating back then. To ensure that all players had an Onyxia scale cloak, you had to farm the dragon lady for many weeks, even if defeating her at that time was extremely easy. That is also Time-Gating.
Of course, Time-Gating isn’t automatically good just because it has always been part of the game. But it is simply part of this genre for me. It gives me a clear framework of what I definitely “have to do” each week to avoid being a burden to my fellow players.
At the same time, it keeps the content fresh for me. I enjoy experiencing a new story chapter each week that continues the narrative against the Jailer and his plans.
In series and anime, I enjoy “binging” a complete season, but with an MMORPG like World of Warcraft, which is designed to be played over weeks and months, I like the small story units that bring something new even in week 9 after a patch and break up the routine between M+, raids, and reputation grinding.
But what do you think? Do you think Time-Gating is fine? Or does it bother you massively and take away the fun?
