This is why I quit WoW..

Summary

Asmongold reacts to criticism of World of Warcraft: Midnight, focusing on what he sees as weak writing and an underwhelming character death in the raid finale. He argues that recent stories rely too heavily on characters voicing self-doubt and discussing their feelings, making the cast and tone feel interchangeable.

He contrasts newer cutscenes with older Warcraft cinematics, which he praises for conveying character and stakes through action, striking imagery, and memorable villains. His examples include the Orc story in Warlords of Draenor: Garrosh’s return to an alternate Draenor, his intervention in his father Grommash’s fight with Mannoroth, and the formation of the Iron Horde. He also explains how Thrall united the Orc clans and established the Horde.

Asmongold says he has felt less invested in WoW’s story since Legion. He thinks some later plot ideas—such as the possibility of Sylvanas becoming the next Lich King—could have been compelling, but were poorly executed. He identifies a change in the game’s tone, rather than any single expansion’s plot, as the main point where the story stopped working for him.

He speculates that Blizzard’s response to its sexual-harassment investigation contributed to a more cautious, less edgy presentation, including changes to character designs and in-game references. He also criticizes what he sees as writing that sidelines male characters and makes broad, derogatory claims about women in creative roles. These are his personal opinions, not established explanations for the game’s direction.

Other Points Discussed

• A community complaint says a major feature was broken at launch despite being reported on the public test realm, alongside criticism of the main story quest.
• Asmongold argues that WoW’s development needs clear creative leadership and accountability, reacting to Chris Metzen’s comments about a more “democratized” development process.
• He jokes that an AI model could make a better version of WoW.
• He questions whether Metzen’s ideas were incorporated into the current story, while noting that Metzen’s absence from a recent BlizzCon presentation seemed unusual to him.
• He ends by reacting to a clip of composer Marty O’Donnell discussing games and a possible gamer political movement.

Gameplay Highlights or Tips

None—the video focuses on story, cinematics, and criticism of WoW’s writing and development.

Gamers and Sources Featured

Asmongold; Chris Metzen (archival interview); Marty O’Donnell (clip); WoW cinematic and story footage; and community posts and commentary about Midnight and WoW’s development.