Оценки WARDOGS, муха играет в DOOM, анонсы новой STARCRAFT, Diablo V, World of Warcraft: Forever…

Storyline / Announcements (Blizzard “BlizzCon 2026”)

World of Warcraft: Forever

• An expanded version of the original World of Warcraft featuring new zones, raids, dungeons, skills, quests, and more.
• Exists alongside current WoW and classic versions.
• Launch: Nov 4
• Beta: Sept 17
• Producer quote frames it as a “new beginning” for both veterans and newcomers.

Warcraft 3: Reforged – “Forsaken Kingdom” (Free update)

• Story campaign set after the fall of Lordaeron.
• Spans about 30 hours, showing how the human kingdom becomes an underground city.
• Update 3.0 also includes:
  • Graphics improvements
  • Engine upgrades
  • A reworked world editor

Diablo V

• Plot centers on the next return of the Horned Lord of Terror, hundreds of years after Diablo IV.
• Sanctuary is again under Hell’s assault.
• Release: planned for 2029
• An animated series was also announced for Netflix, with no date provided.

StarCraft (New Project)

• Not an RTS—shift to a first-person shooter.
• Co-developed with South Korean Nexon.
• Promises an open world with a story focus.
• Release: 2030 (more details expected over time).

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Gameplay / Community Notes (Early Access)

Wardo Dogs (Online shooter)

• Early access launched; developers initially claimed millions of copies sold.

Positive points

• Praised for combining a casual Battlefield-like feel with hardcore squad combat.
• Emphasizes teamwork + individual skill, while basics are described as accessible even for beginners.

Negative points (mostly technical)

• Server instability at launch: long player queues lasting hours (later improved, but review fallout remained).
• Claims that shadows may need disabling to see enemies.

• Complaints about hit registration and map/content quality.

• Current status: reportedly up to 79% positive from 47,000 reviews.

• Early Access duration: about two years, with planned tech improvements and more content.

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Industry / Production Insights

Jason Schreier investigation (Sony + Hideo Kojima studio split)

• Schreier reports Sony stopped backing Kojima’s studio and sponsorship for his spy action-physics game (described as starting after a prior move involving Xbox).
• Reasons given:
  • Sony had concerns about budget, profit potential, and exclusivity
  • Death Stranding and its sequel underperformed vs expectations
  • The project reportedly already exceeded its original budget even though release was years away
  • Sony’s stance: single-player exclusives are tied to PlayStation, but rights were said to be owned by KIM Productions, limiting what Sony could control (at most temporary exclusivity)
• Framed as a contrast as well: Kojima’s next work (OD) is for Xbox, so Sony likely has fewer incentives to continue support.

Subscription fatigue analysis (Cirkan)

• Subscription cancellations are being linked to perceived price increases:
  • Nintendo Switch Online: cancellations due to price rose 40% → 50%
  • Xbox Game Pass / PS Plus: cancellations due to price rose 37% → 41%
• The report questions whether companies will reduce costs in response.

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Platform / Legal Controversy (Sony digital ownership)

• Consumer Rights Wiki compiled 30+ examples from Sony’s PlayStation store language implying “ownership” for digital products.
• Context: a class action alleges Sony didn’t clearly explain what players are really buying (a license, not ownership).
• Key legal idea mentioned:
  • Sellers can’t use wording like “buy/acquire” if it could be understood as unlimited ownership, unless warnings clearly explain it’s a license.
• The court will evaluate whether Sony’s store warnings match Sony’s own wording.

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AI in Games / Production Philosophy (Creative director statement)

• Tim Wilitz (Cyber Interactive) claims certain studios’ games (named in subtitles) do not use generative AI for core content:
  • They experiment with neural networks only in specific projects/elements, not for code, environments, or textures broadly.
  • Human-written side missions/content still come from people.
• He also argues that many smaller AAA projects may be more sustainable than one massive-budget title:
  • Spread risk—if one project fails, the overall strategy may still succeed
  • Warns against letting game budgets balloon

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Notable “Science” Segment

• Google 3D reconstruction of an adult male fruit fly (brain + central nervous system).
• Hobbyists used it to create a virtual fly that interacts with DOOM:
  • Each frame triggers sensory neuron activity that becomes control commands
  • Damage affects dopamine reinforcement signals
  • The virtual fly reportedly explored/acted for a very long time (tens of thousands of seconds)
• Mentions attempts to adapt it for interaction with Super Mario 64 and Minecraft as well.

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Gamer / Sources Mentioned

• stopgame.ru
• Holly Longdale (World of Warcraft executive producer/VP)
• Jason Schreier
• Nexon
• Cirkan
• Genka Vorobyov
• Alexey Likhachev
• Purplebeard Cheese
• Consumer Rights Wiki
• Tim Wilitz (Cyber Interactive creative director)