Yesterday saw World of Warcraft’s latest expansion, The War Within, open to everyone who plays the game (rather than just those who pre-ordered the most expensive version of the expansion). And how did that go? Well, the memes came fast and furious. Players were understandably frustrated at the game facing some login issues after the expansion had launched earlier at a premium. However, it’s important to note that this was hardly a universal experience; many players were able to log in and play without issue, with players positively responding to Delves and the questlines (which we’re not linking here because they’re full of spoilers). So it has definitely been an expansion launch, although it seems that resentment about the tiered early release ain’t going away any time soon.
Blizzard, for its part, is working hard to address the technical issues with the expansion, with the first round of hotfixes fixing containers which could not be opened properly, making sure that first weekly drops from Lamplighter Supply Satchels are Warbound, and adjusting some balance issues. If you’ve been enjoying the expansion, it looks as if you’ll have good reason to continue doing so. If you’re frustrated at the launch experience, know that it’s not universal. And if you’re frustrated about the tiered release scheme… you aren’t alone.
