What you need to know
- Blizzard (now owned by Microsoft) is known for the Warcraft franchise, which spans both the real time strategy (RTS) and MMORPG (massively online multiplayer role playing) genres.
- The classic Warcraft RTS games were largely abandoned until GOG.com came along, and worked with Blizzard to preserve and update the classic 90s titles for a new era.
- Despite the work GOG did to preserve these games, Blizzard asked the platform to remove them in the wake of its own Warcraft 1 and 2 remaster projects.
- Despite this, GOG has pledged to continue updating the game for users who currently own it, even if new buyers can’t join in.
As a long-time fan who grew up playing Warcraft on my old 90s PC, I can’t help but feel a tinge of nostalgia mixed with disappointment at the recent turn of events. GOG.com has been my go-to platform for revisiting those cherished classics that have been long forgotten by other digital stores. It’s like having a time machine to my youth, and I can’t help but reminisce about late-night LAN parties with friends, strategizing over Warcraft II maps.
This one is hardly unexpected, yet it’s still quite annoying.
GOG.com is a distinctive digital storehouse that specializes in DRM-free versions of classic PC games, many of which may be difficult to find elsewhere. In the bustling realm of PC gaming, where giants like Steam, Xbox, and PC Game Pass dominate the scene, GOG.com stands out. The platform, linked to CD Projekt RED – the team behind The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 – also offers contemporary games alongside its classic collection.
This neat application performs admirably on contemporary Windows systems, offering a chance to revisit classic games, such as Realms of the Haunting, an old favorite I highly recommend. In recent times, GOG has secured collaborations with larger companies like Konami, promising Metal Gear Solid 1 and the original Metal Gear. Several of these titles come equipped with updates and refinements that were once exclusively handled by fan-made modifications.
Initially, one of the early backers was Blizzard itself, providing Diablo 1 and its expansion pack Hellfire, as well as Warcraft 1 and 2 for GOG’s remastering and upscaling project. Unfortunately, Blizzard has now requested that GOG remove these games from their platform.
At GOG, we strongly feel that games should have an eternal existence. To us, this isn’t just about preservation but also ensuring they continue to be playable, updated, and enjoyable on contemporary systems. We take great pride in our work on the classics like Warcraft I and Warcraft II, breathing new life into them after years of scarcity. Our endeavors have brought back these games with several fresh additions, such as multiplayer support over LAN and improved graphical options including antialiasing and anisotropic filtering.
GOG states that it intends to carry on providing support for the games that have already been bought, while people who haven’t purchased them yet won’t be able to obtain these titles. This decision comes after Blizzard announced updates for Warcraft 1, 2, and 3 remasters, which will offer additional features through Battle.net, their standard PC launcher.
Blizzard and Microsoft don’t seem to be on the same page yet
Among the many messages I received following Blizzard’s announcement about the Warcraft 1, 2, and 3 remaster updates, one question that stood out was, “Why isn’t this available on PC Game Pass?” That’s a great question!
Among Xbox and PC Game Pass users, a significant source of annoyance stems from the gradual and sluggish addition of Activision-Blizzard content into their service. Today, Microsoft announced that Crash Team Racing will join Game Pass, but fans are eagerly anticipating popular titles like Guitar Hero, Prototype, Transformers: War for Cybertron, Singularity, classic Call of Duty games, and a multitude of other older Activision games that have yet to appear.
It’s surprising that Warcraft 1, 2, and 3 are currently on Battle.net but not on PC Game Pass, contradicting Microsoft’s promise to release all “first-party” games simultaneously on Game Pass Ultimate. What adds to the mystery is that Avowed, a game by Microsoft, will be available on Battle.net (really?), as they explore different strategies for distributing their extensive collection of PC games.
Therein lies some of the confusion here at least on the Game Pass side … clearly Blizzard and Microsoft are still integrating their priorities and directions. Blizzard’s focus is ultimately on delivering for its customers directly, rather than delivering for Microsoft’s ambitions. Microsoft has shown a more agnostic approach to storefronts, seeking to put its games in more places. That’s a philosophy that seems at odds with Blizzard’s decision to delist its titles from GOG.com. However, It’s not like Microsoft itself supports GOG, opting instead for Steam, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and its own platforms generally speaking.
It seems unfortunate that GOG finds itself caught in the middle, striving to act ethically. However, it might be more streamlined for Blizzard if they could manage their entire community from a single platform, instead of having parts scattered across various storefronts. Yet, Diablo IV is also available on Steam.
Regardless, we’ve contacted Blizzard to check if they have any authorized statements regarding this matter. Rest assured, we’ll keep you informed about any updates.
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2024-12-03 22:09