Blizzard Watch

Watching Blizzard: A sad news day

Added 2018-04-21 04:06:24 +0000 UTC

I don’t have much to add to the post I wrote earlier, except that I will definitely miss Ben Brode. And am probably going to go through most of a carton of ice cream in my grief. (But it’s Halo Top, so it’s fine.)

But let us move on to the sad, sad news of the day.

Ben Brode has left Blizzard and we’re pretty upset about it

Or maybe it’s just that I’m pretty upset by it, but considering the rest of the team’s reaction, maybe not. Today was Ben’s last day, and Hearthstone just won’t feel the same without him.

But now on to happier news…

Well, maybe it’s happier. In the latest KYL, Rossi contemplates just what would have happened if Bolvar never took on the mantle of the Lich King.

Coming with Battle for Azeroth

Communities have finally been added to the Battle for Azeroth alpha, giving us a first look at this intriguing new feature. With cross-realm grouping now a common thing, Communities will help us organize in groups of like-minded players, no matter the realm.
And another first look: Warfronts. These unique PVE scenarios are meant to give us a bit of a Warcraft RTS feel, but I think they sound a bit like the Alterac Valley Battleground. Still, there’s a lot we don’t yet know about them. Check out Mitch’s first impressions.

Watch out, cosplayers…

Because you, too, could wind up in the Stormwind Stockades if your costume is a little too realistic. Last year’s BlizzCon costume contest winner did a particularly impressive Hogger, and for her troubles now has a character named after her in Battle for Azeroth… who’s been locked up in the Stockades for being a little too similar Hogger.

And in more bad news, the Shanghai Dragons lost their latest match (though they did take a map off Florida). Thus it is with a very heavy heart that I bid an end to this Friday and a farewell to you, fellow Blizzard Watchers. Assuming the earth isn’t hit with a catastrophic meteor strike, we’ll be back on Monday with more news. In the meanwhile, this is Liz signing out.