Could World of Warcraft come to console? That has been asked many times throughout the near 20-year lifespan of the MMO, and it's rarely been met with a satisfying answer. I put the question to Holly Longdale at BlizzCon 2023, and the vice president and executive producer for World of Warcraft had this to say when I asked whether the concept is something 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Blizzard Entertainment finds interesting: "Of ไcourse𝕴! Yeah, we talk about it all the time."
When World of Warcraft launched on PC in 2004, the idea that it could function appropriately on the systems of the era seemed unfathomable. That's less true today, given how resolutely barriers around cross-platform play have been torn down, and the power of platforms like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Xbox Series X. Take all of that, combine it with 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Microsoft Gaming's recent acquisition of Blizzard Entertainment, and what was once a dream feels as🔯 if it could soon become a reality.
When asked whether it w🅰as technical logistics or complexities that would hold World of Warcraft back from coming to console, Longdale isn't so certain that this is the case. "Well, it depends on who you ask. I don't think it is, frankly. I think we're pretty well positioned, which is kind of why we talk about it."
As part of my conversatioℱn with Longdale, we touched on the challenges of balancing World of Warcraft expansions for legacy, lapsed, and new players – something which seems more precinct than ever, what with the Worldsoul Saga on the horizon a🦹nd questions surrounding an Xbox release becoming louder.
"It's a compl𒁏icated question. And to your earlier point, for a console audience, the approachability i🌳s likely going to be different."
"Right now, we're focused on the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Worldsoul Saga. But if that comes up then we'll reexamine things but, man, we've go💛t enough to deal with right now," laughs Longdale.&💦nbsp;
"We've got these three expansions and we are so excited about them. But, yeah, of course. It would ♑be very insincere to say that we're not, like… of course we're ta❀lking about that," she chuckles again, before adding: "We are Microsoft now."
Longdale is keen to stress that the Warcraft teams have only had limited interactions with 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Xbox Game Studios in the weeks si💃nce the acquisition was finalized on October 13. When it comes to big questions surrounding World of Warcraft comᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚing to Xbox Series X or even being introduced to Game Pass for PC, it's too early to give definitive answers. "We haven't actually had a conversation yet," she tells me.
It's stil൲l early days for Blizzard and Xbox then, but it's clear that Longdale is genuinely excited and enthusiastic about the possibilities in the future. "Wouldn't that be cool," she says, as we discuss the prospect of World o🐈f Warcraft opening itself to new audiences in the shadow of its 20th anniversary. It would be, and I can't wait to see what happens next.
Josh West is the Editor-in-Chief of GamesRadar+. He has over 15 years experience in online and print journalism, and holds a BA (Hons) in Journalism and Feature Writing. Prior to starting his current position, Josh has served as GR+'s Features Editor and Dꦑeputy Editor of games™ magazine, and has freelanced for numerous publications including 3D Artist, Edge magazine, iCreate, Metal Hammer, Play, Retro Gamer, and SFX. Additionally, he has appeared on the BBC and ITV to provide expert comment, written for Scholastic books, edited a book for Hachette, and worked as the Assistant Producer of the Future Games Show. In his spare time, Josh likes to play bass guitar and video games. Years ago, he was in a few movies and TV shows that you've definitely seen but will never be able to spot him in.
