This is aimed at Blizzard/Microsoft.
I wanted to take a moment to share my thoughts on the recent news about merging all Classic Mists of Pandaria realms into one. While I understand that there are often operational reasons behind such decisions, I feel it’s important to highlight how this shift mirrors a trend that’s been playing out in World of Warcraft over the last decade.
When Classic was first launched, it was a return to the “old school” experience that many of us longed for. It wasn’t just about the gameplay—it was about the feeling of the game. A slower pace, more challenging raids, and an immersive world that didn’t cater to modern MMO marketing trends. We didn’t want retail—we wanted Classic, because it preserved the original design philosophy that made World of Warcraft so special in the first place.
Retail WoW, over the years, followed a very specific trend. It gradually shifted to meet the demands of a more casual, faster-paced player base. Convenience, instant gratification, and a broader appeal to mainstream gaming culture were the guiding principles. But here’s the thing: Classic is the antithesis of that trend. The reason we’re here, playing Classic, is because we wanted to preserve something that retail lost—something that spoke to the heart of what WoW was originally about.
Now, with the proposed merge of Classic Mists of Pandaria realms, it feels like Blizzard is steering Classic down the same path that retail took years ago. It’s no longer about the unique community and slower-paced experience that made Classic special. Merging realms and pushing for larger, more homogenized populations might solve some technical issues, but it feels like the game is being slowly nudged toward the “retail model” once again.
The current player base for Classic, and particularly for Mists of Pandaria, has chosen to play here because of what Classic represents: a community-driven, more intimate version of WoW. We don’t want the convenience and speed of retail. We want that old-school vibe—where every interaction and every group felt like it mattered.
I understand that there are challenges, and I fully respect Blizzard’s effort to keep the game running smoothly, but I implore you to consider that this move might not align with the reasons so many of us came back to Classic in the first place. The shift to one realm could lead to the dilution of what makes the Classic experience unique. It’s not the same trend we saw in retail a decade ago. Classic was created as a counterpoint to that trend, and it should stay that way.
I hope that Blizzard will take these concerns seriously and consider the long-term implications of merging realms. Perhaps there’s another solution that keeps Classic distinct, preserving the identity that brought so many of us back to the game.
Thank you for your time and for all the hard work that goes into keeping WoW alive
