Blizzard’s Warcraft franchise, a cornerstone of gaming history, has seen its fair share of highs and lows. While the series is renowned for its strategy titles and the enduring popularity of World of Warcraft, Warcraft III: Reforged, the remastered release of the beloved 2002 real-time strategy game, became a significant blemish on the studio’s legacy.
Initially, the remaster promised a visual feast, with upgraded cinematics, detailed character models, and a host of new features. However, upon its release, the game fell far short of these promises, leaving fans disappointed with the quality of the 3D assets and the disappearance of beloved multiplayer features. To make matters worse, Blizzard decided to replace the original version of Warcraft III with Reforged, a decision that deeply upset players who had enjoyed the game for nearly two decades.
However, a glimmer of hope has emerged for Warcraft III: Reforged. Recent developments indicate that the game could be receiving a major update. Spotted by a user on Resetera, the Blizztrack tool, which monitors updates for Blizzard games, has revealed that the internal Warcraft 3 Public Test Realm has been upgraded to version 2.0.0. Traditionally, Blizzard has reserved version numbers like 2.0, 3.0, and so on for significant updates, expansions, or overhauls.
The timing of this update is particularly significant, as Warcraft is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. The update could be a way for Blizzard to address the criticisms surrounding Reforged and potentially revitalize the game.
The news of a potential update is welcomed by many, especially considering the negative reception to Reforged. A year ago, Blizzard conducted a survey asking fans what they would like to see happen with the game. While it might not be the complete campaign remake that was originally promised and then abandoned, the update could focus on overhauling the skirmish and multiplayer modes, introducing new features, and potentially addressing the issues that plagued the original release.
It’s a testament to the magnitude of the dissatisfaction with Reforged that a large segment of the fan base simply wants to see the original, non-Reforged version of Warcraft III restored. This upcoming update, if it lives up to expectations, could be a significant step towards repairing the damage caused by Reforged and rekindling the love for a classic game.