Posts with tag extended-downtime

Happy Tuesday Morning, everyone. Today marks the end of PvP Season 14, and with an extra-long maintenance, likely the start of patch 5.4.7. The new patch isn't a full content patch, but still packs a lot of interesting changes. Check out our patch roundup for a quick rundown.

As I mentioned above, downtime today is scheduled for 1 a.m. to 11 a.m. PST, so you definitely have time to read up. In addition to the patch 5.4.7 news, there's plenty of patch 6.0 and Warlords of Draenor tidbits as well. Read on for the usual roundup.

Hot news and features

• Check out the latest patch 5.4.2 hotfixes for February 10 and February 12,
• Garrosh will receive some targeted nerfs to his 10-man heroic encounter in patch 5.4.7.
• Mists of Pandaria challenge modes will go away with the Warlords of Draenor pre-patch.
• Proving Grounds, on the other hand, will simply be updated to the new mechanics.
• More Warlords of Draenor ads could be coming to the launcher.
• Raids in Warlords of Draenor will be non-linear whenever possible.
• Casting while moving may be a lot less common in Warlords of Draenor.
• Holinka clarifies the removal of dodge from gear in WoD.
• The latest Artcraft installment introduces artwork for WoD's Garrisons.
• The blues have been tweeting. Check out new screenshots of Talador and Gorgrond, two places in Warlords of Draenor. We also got screenshots of original design documents for the Benediction priest epic, the death knight class, and the Burning Crusade expansion.
• The Scroll of Resurrection is gone.

Happy Tuesday morning everyone. This week, the future's still coming, slowly but surely. We have a pretty cool grab bag of Warlords of Draenor news from twitter and beyond, as well as some hints about the Warcraft movie. If you're more for the here and now, don't worry, though, there's plenty of news about the connected realms and other in-game happenings, and a round of new guides to help you up your game.

Speaking of here and now, we have scheduled downtime this morning from 3 a.m. to 11 a.m. Pacific time, so you have plenty of time to read up on all the latest news. the usual roundup is below.

Hot news and features

• Check out the latest patch 5.4.2 hotfixes for January 14.
• The Lunar Festival is underway. Time to stock up on Moonglow!
• Nerfs are incoming to the Siege of Orgrimmar raid.
• The Warcraft movie may have started filming yesterday.
• Warlords of Draenor will come with a free level 90 if you pre-order, but you may be able to buy more boosts separately. And no, free level 90s are not the end of Warcraft.
• Cory Stockton recently tweeted a lot of nice new info about Garrisons in Warlords of Draenor.
• EU Servers have more connected realms coming up. We have the least on US connected realms.

Happy Tuesday morning everyone. I suppose first we should acknowledge the story it seems everyone's talking about. Yes. The government is still watching you play WoW. I'm betting they have Wrathion on a watchlist somewhere, that crafty little whelp. Still, for my money, the cooler news is that Ghostcrawler was on our podcast and that patch 5.4.2 is dropping this morning.

With the patch dropping, downtime is scheduled to start at 1 a.m. Pacific time and last until 11 a.m., so you should have plenty of time to read up on all the new stuff from patch 5.4.2, as well as all the other news and guides from the past week. Read on for the usual roundup.

Hot news and features

• Buying gifts for a WoW player? Here's some ideas.
• Patch 5.4.2 goes live this morning. Check out the latest PTR patch notes to prepare.
• Legendary Pictures has announced some of the actors who will be starring in the Warcraft movie. There's also rumors that Dominic Cooper may be joining that list.
• Robert Kazinsky, one of the actors in the Warcraft film, is a huge fan of the game. He plays a death knight main, proving that he is in fact as smart as he is handsome.
• Patch 5.4.2 brings with it a new chimera mount in the game files. Check the video to see it in action.

Happy Tuesday morning, everyone. With BlizzCon almost upon us, you know we're preparing to get you all the juicy WoW news that's sure to come out. Don't think we're waiting until then, though. We're also writing tons of articles and guides to help you figure out what's coming and how to get the most of it.

If BlizzCon isn't your bag, or if you're all set for the 2 week wait, we also have plenty of news from WoW, including the latest on hotfixes and Connected Realms. Downtime today is slated to start at 3 a.m. Pacific time and last 8 hours, so you'll have plenty of time to read. You find the usual roundup of the last 7 days of news below.

Hot news and features

• Check out the contents of the BlizzCon Goody Bag. We also learned that BlizzCon attendees will receive free Virtual Tickets as well.
• Headed to BlizzCon? We'll show you how to navigate Anaheim.
• Could the next big WoW feature be downscaled dungeons?
• Check out the latest patch 5.4 hotfixes for October 21, October 22, October 23rd.
• The last wing of Siege of Orgrimmar is now open in Raid Finder.
• Previously Asia-only battle pets have been added to the Recruit-A-Friend program on the patch 5.4.1 PTR.
• The next wave of US Connected Realms has been announced, as has a new wave of EU Connected Realms.

Happy Tuesday morning, everyone. As you read this, it is likely the servers are already down for the long anticipated patch 5.4. Downtime today is scheduled to start at midnight Pacific time and run through to at least 10 a.m PDT, so there's also also a good chance you'll be waiting for a while for the servers to come up.

That's where we come in. Read on for a roundup of the past week's news, which includes lots of juicy patch info and answers to your burning questions about the patch. Then, stay tuned here throughout the day for more news and guides to help you get an edge on the new patch.

Hot news and features

• Check out Blizzard's official patch 5.4 roundup post and their official preview video.
• Rossi answers some frequently re-asked questions about patch 5.4.
• Blizzard recently posted an office Siege of Orgrimmar raid preview with Lead Encounter Designer Ion "Watcher" Hazzikostas
• Blizzard has posted the official Siege of Orgrimmar raid schedule. CM Bashiok also had some specific commentary about raid unlock schedules and raid difficulty.
• While connected realms were announced in conjunction with patch 5.4, remember they won't be turned on right away.
• Ghostcrawler sums up why you should love flex raiding.
• Any day now, we'll be killing Garrosh. Not all of us are exactly sorry about it.

Happy Tuesday morning, everyone. There were a lot of big stories this week. It's hard to know where to begin. If I had to pick one, I'd say the biggest was probably the purported Blizzard trademark registration for The Dark Below. Is it real? Is it a hoax? Some people (including myself) thought it might be a Diablo 3 expansion, but this website teasing the name Reaper of Souls may have taken that off the table. There's also strong evidence it may be a hoax. Of course, there's also strong evidence that it's not a hoax. In the end, I'm putting my money on Corgis unleashed. That Corgi pet will be mine, I swear!

I guess there was other news, of course, like that whole epic patch 5.4 trailer release. Me, I'm all about the Corgis though. Or the cards. The Heartstone closed beta has also begun, and most of your intrepid WoW Insider staff are in it, so expect to see more news and previews of the game in the coming weeks. In the meantime, read on to see what we've already uncovered. Downtime today starts at 3 a.m. PDT and lasts 5 hours, so you should have time.

Hot news and features

• WoW Insider is looking for a new rogue columnist.
• We played through the Hearthstone tutorial and the Hearthstone Arena, and have previews for you, complete with pictures.
• We got a chance to interview Tom Chilton about the upcoming patch 5.4.
• PvP season 13 ends August 27, possibly heralding patch 5.4.
• Patch 5.4 has also hit the background downloader.
• The real Stormwind Harbor will be intact in patch 5.4.
• Battlefield: Barrens will be coming to an end when Patch 5.4 releases.

Happy Tuesday morning, everyone. Ghostcrawler was busy this week. He gave a few interviews to Asian sites this past week. Including this interview from Korea and this from website Chinajoy. The Chinajoy interview really blew up because it seemed to hint a new support class and playable naga, as well as new areas we might visit in the next expansion. Of course, naga weren't really confirmed, but it's still the tidbit that most intrigued me. Playing a snake person might be fun, but I admit, naga are 3rd for me being high elves and ethereals. Yes, I know high elves would just be blue-eyed blood elves. I don't care. Just give the horde Eredar and make them red-skinned draenei, and we're even.

Downtime today is slated to start at 3 a.m. PDT and last 8 hours. Luckily, with patch 5.4 still on the PTR, we have plenty of news to keep you busy while you wait. Read on for the usual roundup.

Hot news and features

• World of Warcraft is down to 7.7 million subscribers. At the same time, Activision-Blizzard has bought itself from its former parent company, Vivendi.
• Check out some of the highlights of the latest patch 5.4 PTR build.
• Read up on some of the new rare events and items available from the Timeless Isle in patch 5.4.
• The Patch 5.4 legendary cloak quest is in, and we have a video preview.
• We have a preview of the upcoming raid boss Thok the Bloodthirsty.
• There's new mounts coming from the Siege of Orgrimmar.

Happy Tuesday morning, everyone. The big news this week is kind of invisible. Blizzard introduced the first teaser trailer for the new Warcraft movie at the San Diego Comic Con. They then proceeded to not put it online. If it makes you feel any better, it apparently wasn't actual movie footage, since they haven't started shooting yet.

There's plenty of other news for the week with more substance, luckily, including new stuff from the patch 5.4 PTR. Realm maintenance this morning begins at 3 a.m. PDT and lasts 8 hours, so you should have time to read up.

Hot news and features

• You can now buy the new cosmetic helms from the Blizzard store.
• Check out the newest patch 5.4 PTR notes.
• Watcher commented on the distribution of item levels in the various raiding tiers of patch 5.4.
• Check out our preview of the Sha of Pride raid boss from patch 5.4.
• The latest patch 5.4 PTR builds include new fun glyphs and battle pets.
• Patch 5.4 will offer bind to account ilevel 496 gear.
• We have details on the Celestial Tournament in patch 5.4.
• Orgrimmar may see further changes in a post-5.4 patch.
• The legendary cloak requirement for Ordos has been lightened. If one of your characters has the cloak, all your characters can join the fight.
• The Proving Grounds are in testing on the patch 5.4 PTR, and we have some intial impressions of the new solo feature.

Patch 5.3 is here. As you read this, the servers should be down to apply the patch. This means you'll want to use this time get caught up on all the latest patch 5.3 news, which, as always, you can find right here. Start off with our patch 5.3 roundup for an overview of everything. You'll also want to check out our exclusive interview with Lead Systems Designer Greg Ghostcrawler Street. Gamebreaker TV also did an interview with Ghostcrawler and Senior PvP Designer Brian Holinka.

You can also check the roundup below for more of this week's WoW news, from patch 5.3 and elsewhere. Realm maintenance begins at 3 a.m. PDT today and is expected to last 8 hours, so you'll have time.

Hot news and features

• Here's what WoW newbies should know about new patches.
• We have a guide to the lore and story of patch 5.3.
• Patch 5.3 will allow you level mining and herbalism exclusively in Pandaria.
• We have a roundup of patch 5.3's battle pet changes.
• We have a preview of some new patch 5.3 scenarios, including The Secrets of Ragefire and Battle on the High Seas.
• Blizzard has posted some patch 5.3 interviews of their with Tom Chilton.
• Check out the final patch 5.3 PTR note updates for March 14.
• Ghostcrawler outlines some Vengeance changes coming to the patch 5.4 PTR.
• Convert to Raid interviews Blizzard's Lead Encounter Designer Ion Hazzikostas.

Happy Tuesday morning, everyone. We continue to be in a holding pattern of sorts. Patch 5.3 is still going strong on the PTR, but we have no word on a release date. Luckily, patch 5.2 is still going strong as well, with new secrets being discovered as early as just last week. There's also new stuff outside of WoW, from new short stories, to new merchandise, to some interesting viewpoints on the function of gear in the game.

Our usual roundup, featuring all these stories and more, can be found below. Scheduled maintenance today is expected to begin at 3 a.m. PDT and last for 8 hours, so you have plenty of time to read. Keep it tuned here as well. Whenever the patch lands, we'll be here to report on all the details.

Hot news and features

• The latest patch 5.2 hotfixes include nerfs to the Lei Shen encounter in Raid Finder.
• Firecat form has made a secret return in patch 5.2. We'll show you how to get it.
• Blizzard has published an official preview of patch 5.3.
• Heirloom shields may be coming as soon as patch 5.3.
• Patch 5.3 comes with new achievements for collectors.
• Do you feel pretty? Patch 5.3 brings with it the chance to obtain the Gorgeous title.
• We have a temporary fix to that gold seller calendar invite spam.
• Adam believes gear should be abolished. Rossi argues gear is far too important and useful for it to be removed.

Happy Tuesday Morning, everyone. We're still at least a week away from the patch dropping, but don't think that means there's a lull. We have plenty of news pouring from the test servers.

Maintenance is extra long today, slated to start at 1 a.m. PST and last for 12 hours. While you're waiting through the drought, why not read on? Our usual roundup of all the latest news awaits.

Hot news and features

• You won't lose your valor points after all in patch 5.2.
• You will be able to cross-realm raid patch 5.0 raids in patch 5.2.
• We have a guide to getting those cool new patch 5.2 mounts.
• Patch 5.2 dailies will come in two alternate flavors: PvE or PvP.
• There's some PvP healing changes coming to patch 5.2.
• Those annoying gold bags in LFR raids will have a chance to contain new bonus items in patch 5.2.
• We preview more of the patch 5.2 Throne of Thunder raid bosses. This time, the target is Ji-Kun.
• Strength Polearms are back in patch 5.2, and they're even working on allowing warriors to duel wield them.
• Fishing and leatherworking may be getting revamps (or at least leveling aids), but not in patch 5.2.
• Want to PvP in patch 5.2? We have a guide to get you prepared.
• The Ra-Den encounter will have limited attempts in patch 5.2.
• Alex lays out the problems with valor points in the Mists era.
• Has your guild fallen apart? We have some advice. To start, don't panic.

Happy Tuesday morning, everyone. This week continues the trend of last week. While there is no earth-shattering news, per se, there's a steady stream of cool stuff to read and discuss, from great patch 5.1 guides, to even more tidbits of intriguing patch 5.2 news. Could we be seeing a preview or a PTR soon? It seems possible, but it could just be wishful thinking, too.

In addition, the devs have been hitting the interview circuit, so there's a lot of great patch 5.1 stuff straight from the horse's mouth. Downtime today starts at 1 a.m. PST and is expected to last for 10 hours, so you will have plenty of time to catch up. Keep reading for all the latest, and keep a browser window tuned here for even more stuff throughout the day.

Hot news and features

• Check out the latest patch 5.1 hotfixes for December 5.
• Check out the official patch notes for patch 5.1.0a.
• We recently sat down with Lead Content Designer Cory Stockton and Lead Quest Designer Dave Kosak to talk about patch 5.1.
• We weren't the only WoW site to get a crack at talking with the devs. Check out this roundup for more interviews.
• The Cinder Kitten is now available on the Blizzard Pet Store. Remember, all purchases of this pet from now until Dec. 31 will be donated in full to Superstorm Sandy relief efforts.
• We crowdsourced some great Mists of Pandaria tips from you, our readers.
• Patch 5.1 allows you to shapeshift into a baby panda.

Happy Tuesday morning, everyone! This time, we're certain. Patch 5.1 is releasing today. Hopefully by the time you read this, it'll be just waiting for you to download so you can hop on as soon as the servers come up.

As you might expect, patch day means maintenance starts at 3 a.m. and continues for at least 8 hours. Since you won't be playing WoW, that just means you have time to browse through our patch 5.1 articles. We have information on the new reputation rewards, the new gear upgrade system, the new reputation system, and tons of lore tidbits and spoilers, among other things. Read on for a round up of some of the hottest news from the week as well.

Hot news and features

• Check out the last round of patch 5.0.5 hotfixes for November 20.
• Blizzard is resetting all arena ratings over 2200 in order to combat a recent spate of cheating.
• The world first Sha of Fear kills both went to EU guilds.
• If you keep only one vanity item from this expansion, make it Gok'lokk's Shell. Then again, maybe you'd prefer a somewhat dim-witted gnoll friend.
• Ol' Grumpy has a few observations about player behavior and daily mechanics in Mists.
• Blind may still be better than this Gangnam Style WoW machinima, but not by much. This murloc machinima just might beat it though.
• Mike Morhaime recently had some words to say about eSports.
• Artist Michael Whelan has forged a pretty amazing Deathwing painting.

Happy Tuesday morning, everyone. With Patch 5.1 now a release candidate over on the PTR, the speculation on a release date runs rampant. There hasn't been an official date set as of this writing, but with an 8 hour downtime set for this morning starting at 3 a.m. PST, a patch could be possible. If nothing else, a new patch might be the perfect 8th anniversary present. Then again, Blizzard might want to take Thanksgiving easy and wait for next week. I'm guessing we'll need to wait for November 27 myself.

Whether there's a patch coming or not, you can't play WoW for a bit, so why not catch up on the latest news? We have a lot of great articles this week, including some that'll give you the perfect leg up on patch 5.1. Read on.

Hot news and features

• It's WoW's 8th Anniversary week, and Blizzard released a video tribute.
• Check out the latest patch 5.0.5 hotfixes for November 12.
• Pilgrim's Bounty is upon us, and we a guide to the season.
• Blizzard's eased the difficulty of some of old world raid bosses in patch 5.1.
• Patch 5.1 brings grand commendations, which will be used to help your alts get reputation quicker.
• Despite some ominous datamined language, Darkmoon Faire trinkets aren't currently slated for a nerf in patch 5.1.
• Patch 5.1 may herald a return to world PvP objectives.
• Check out the new reputation rewards for Alliance and Horde in patch 5.1.
• Check out our (spoiler-filled) review of the Horde-specific patch 5.1 scenario, Dagger in the Dark.

Happy Tuesday morning, everyone. The Theramore's Fall scenario is live, and if you're a level 85 with decent gear, you can run it for another week or so, after which it turns into a level 90 scenario. If you want a peek at what it entails, we have a walkthrough of the Alliance side.

If you'd rather stay unspoiled, don't worry. There's plenty of other exciting happenings to read up on, especially with the launch of Mists of Pandaria only a week away. Downtime this morning is scheduled to start at 3 a.m. PDT and last for 8 hours as of this writing, so you should have time to get through it all.

Hot news and features

• WoW Devs hosted a Reddit AMA where they discussed just about anything, from lore to raiding to class balance. Check out the transcript of their answers. Best Buy is also hosting another Mists of Pandaria Developer chat today.
• Patch 5.0.5 is out, bringing with it some minor class tweaks and bug fixes. We have the patch notes.
• Challenge Modes will have no lockouts or consumable restrictions.
• Check out the latest live server hotfixes from September 12 and September 14.
• It's been 7 years since the Corrupted Blood incident, and a death knight disease bug offered a re-enactment.