Blizzard Talks World Of Warcraft Server Shutdown

Published: April 29, 2016 6:15 PM /

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Several weeks ago, Blizzard shut down Nostalrius Begins, a popular, private server which let players play World of Warcraft the way they were able to play the game in 2004 or 2005. Over the past decade, the popular MMORPG has undergone numerous changes, but Nostalrius Begins was steadfast in ensuring the private server captured the feeling of ‘04/’05 WoW.

Unfortunately, that quickly disappeared when the server shut down, with Blizzard refusing to speak about why they shut it down. Up until the act itself, it seems that the gaming giant didn’t even offer a warning that it was going to happen. Blizzard’s silence lasted several weeks, with a number of petitions being set up in order to get the server back online, or at least to get Blizzard to set up another “classic” server, similar to Nostalrius Begins, which was officially set up last year.

This silence has officially been broken however, with Blizzard releasing a statement about the removal of the server, as well as speaking about the possibility of a new “classic” server being made live, and it doesn’t look good. Speaking in a statement, the company said:

"We explored options for developing classic servers and none could be executed without great difficulty. If we could push a button and all of this would be created, we would. However, there are tremendous operational challenges to integrating classic servers, not to mention the ongoing support of multiple live versions for every aspect of WoW.”

The best players have been able to come up with as a compromise is what it called a "pristine server," with Blizzard noting that they have struggled with years over the question of whether this kind of thing would appeal to players. The thread thus seems to double as a way of gauging interest in the concept once and for all.

"In essence [pristine servers] would turn off all levelling acceleration including character transfers, heirloom gear, character boosts, Recruit-A-Friend bonuses, WOW Token, and access to cross realm zones, as well as group finder."

So, it looks like “classic” World of Warcraft is no more.

What do you think of Blizzard's decision to take the server down? Think they should set up a "classic" WoW server? Let us know in the comments below!

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