In an exciting development for World of Warcraft (WoW) Classic players, Blizzard Entertainment has officially announced the introduction of Hardcore servers, bringing a fresh challenge to the beloved classic game. The announcement was made by Senior Game Producer Aggrend during a live stream on Sarthe’s Twitch Channel, following the conclusion of the Hardcore Allstars Final Circuit.
Over the past year, the Hardcore community has grown exponentially, injecting new life into Classic Era realms across all regions. In recognition of this passionate community, Blizzard previously introduced the Soul of Iron mechanic during WoW Classic’s first season, known as the Season of Mastery. Now, Blizzard is taking it a step further by introducing official Hardcore realms.
As Senior Game Producer Aggrend just confirmed on the Hardcore All-Stars stream, we’ve been working to bring official Hardcore Classic gameplay to WoW Classic. We’ve been very energized by the community’s enthusiasm for Hardcore, watching along with you, and doing a lot of Hardcore play ourselves.
We’ll let you know much more about it soon!
From the official forums
Here are some key details about the upcoming Hardcore servers:
- PTR Testing and Launch: WoW Classic Hardcore will undergo testing on the Public Test Realm (PTR) in the coming weeks and is set to launch later this summer. Players will soon have the opportunity to dive into this unforgiving game mode.
- Permadeath Mechanics: In Hardcore servers, players will create one-life characters. If a character dies, they will transition into a Ghost and will be unable to resurrect. The stakes are high, and survival becomes paramount.
- Duel to the Death: To enhance the Hardcore experience, Blizzard will introduce a new duel mechanic. Players will have the option to engage in duels to the death using the /makgora command, adding an additional layer of intensity to player interactions.
- Hardcore FRESH and Next Season: Blizzard has clarified that Hardcore FRESH will be a separate entity from the upcoming WoW Classic Season. Further details regarding the next Season of WoW Classic will be shared by Blizzard later this year.
This announcement has sparked speculation among the community, with many predicting that the encrypted 1.14.4 WoW Classic Build will serve as the Hardcore FRESH patch, while the 1.15 Build will mark the beginning of the next Season of WoW Classic. Players eagerly anticipating these updates can watch the full announcement on Sarthe’s Twitch Channel.
Blizzard Senior Game Producer Aggrend expressed the team’s enthusiasm for Hardcore gameplay, stating, “We’ve been very energized by the community’s enthusiasm for Hardcore, watching along with you, and doing a lot of Hardcore play ourselves.” With the introduction of official Hardcore servers, players can expect a thrilling and demanding experience that will test their skills and determination in the world of Azeroth.
As the WoW Classic community awaits further details, excitement is building, and players are eager to embark on this new challenge. Stay tuned for more updates on the release and features of Hardcore servers, as well as the next Season of WoW Classic.