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Warcraft 3 Devs Explain Why New Campaign Is Always Online
Kotaku • • technology
Key Points:
- Warcraft 3: Reforged's latest update introduces The Forsaken Kingdom, a 30+ hour campaign bridging Warcraft 3 and World of Warcraft, but requires the game to be always online, removing offline and LAN play options.
- Developers Brad Chan and Ion Hazzikostas explained that the always-online requirement stems from new global server infrastructure needed for improved matchmaking and connectivity worldwide.
- Maintaining offline or LAN play alongside the new online system was deemed resource-intensive and impractical, leading to prioritization of the majority player base who use online features.
- Players with poor internet connections or those preferring offline play are directed to use the Warcraft 3 classic client, which does not support the new Forsaken Kingdom content.
- The shift reflects a broader transition from preserving the original game experience to building new content, requiring updated network architecture and development pipelines for future agility.
