Blizzard’s Holly Longdale on WoW’s Future and Legacy

As “World of Warcraft” (WoW) marks its 20th anniversary in 2024, it remains a towering presence in the gaming world with millions of active players. Recently, Blizzard Entertainment launched the game’s 10th expansion, “The War Within,” and we had the opportunity to speak with Holly Longdale, Vice President and Executive Producer at Blizzard, about the future of this iconic MMO and the costs associated with its ongoing evolution.

Longdale’s goal is to make WoW accessible to everyone, from newcomers to those who have left the game. She wants people to remember Blizzard as a company that kept the game relevant, focused on enjoyment, and fostered community. Longdale emphasizes the company’s commitment to continuous improvement and outreach, striving to stay connected with players and keep the game fun and engaging.

Warcraft has profoundly impacted people’s lives, from marriages to friendships forged within the game. Many players have met lifelong friends and even named their children after game characters. Longdale highlights the game’s ability to bring people together and offer a comforting space, which is increasingly important in today’s world.

Maintaining Warcraft’s core as a social MMO is crucial, especially in an era of fragmented attention spans. While WoW has always allowed solo play and personal interaction, Longdale remains dedicated to enhancing the social aspect of the game. However, she acknowledges the need to cater to varying player preferences, including those who enjoy single-player experiences.

If Longdale were still a player, she would have stayed engaged with WoW, thanks to features like Mists of Pandaria Remix and Plunderstorm. She acknowledges that the focus has sometimes been too narrow and expanding their view to include diverse player experiences is essential for their ongoing journey.

Blizzard is exploring various social game modes and ideas that cater to different player types, whether hardcore or casual. The goal is to build connections and memorable experiences. Longdale emphasizes the importance of thoughtful experimentation, keeping initiatives targeted and limited in scope.

One of Longdale’s favorite recent memories was winning a Plunderstorm match while disguised as a gnome. Another highlight was defeating game director Ion Hazzikostas during a prototype session. Both experiences were incredibly enjoyable and memorable for her.

Players can expect future experiments like Plunderstorm to be approached with caution. While Plunderstorm was polarizing, it provided valuable insights. Blizzard plans to refine their approach and ensure that future experiments align more closely with player interests, avoiding excessive investment until they confirm their appeal.

Plunderstorm highlighted the need to balance PvP content with rewards that appeal to a broader audience. While similar events may be revisited, Blizzard will approach them differently to avoid creating frustration for players who don’t enjoy PvP. They will also be mindful of reward systems to ensure a more inclusive experience.

Balancing the development costs of experiments like Plunderstorm with regular content updates is managed by Blizzard’s Live team. This team monitors player engagement, researches preferences, and develops content in response, ensuring that engaging content is released without lengthy development cycles.

Returning features that are receiving more attention include focusing on aspects that resonate well with the community, such as holiday events. Blizzard is revisiting and enhancing features that players love but may not have been fully explored before.

Looking ahead to WoW’s next 20 years, Longdale acknowledges that there is much work to be done to make the game welcoming for new players. The company is committed to lowering entry barriers and ensuring that new and returning players can easily join and enjoy the game with their friends. Celebrating 20 years is just the beginning; Blizzard is focused on setting up for the next two decades with ongoing improvements and innovation.