Warcraft 3: Reforged is getting a new patch – and it's not just bringing bug fixes. With the latest update, Blizzard has introduced an always-online requirement: From now on, anyone who wants to play Warcraft 3: Reforged will always need an active internet connection – even in pure single-player mode. Simultaneously, LAN mode is being completely removed from the game.
For a strategy game that has thrived on LAN parties and offline tournaments for over two decades, this is a harsh blow. On Battle.net and in relevant forums, anger is already running high.
Why is Blizzard Removing LAN Mode from Warcraft 3: Reforged?
Blizzard has not yet fully communicated an official reason for the move. However, it can be inferred from the patch communication that it aims to provide protection against piracy and establish a more unified account and matchmaking structure via Battle.net. Historically, LAN modes are harder for publishers to control because games can be launched without a server check, making cracks and unofficial copies easier to utilize.
What Does This Change Specifically Mean for Players?
Players who previously wanted to compete at network parties, in clubs with unstable internet, or simply offline against friends, can no longer do so with the new patch. Even pure solo campaigns now only run with a connection to Blizzard servers. Players with unreliable internet or in regions with poor connectivity are directly affected, as is the remaining Custom Games and tournament scene, which has sometimes deliberately relied on LAN to avoid delays and server outages.
How Is the Community Reacting to the Removal of LAN Mode?
Reactions in forums and on Reddit are overwhelmingly negative. Many players recall the already bumpy launch of Warcraft 3: Reforged in January 2020, when the remaster became the highest-rated bad review in Battle.net history due to missing features, worse graphics than promised, and bugs, leading Blizzard to even offer refunds outside the usual period at the time. This latest move is seen by many as another chapter in an already difficult history – even though Blizzard has partially improved the game since then. Similar criticism of always-online requirements for otherwise offline-capable games has occurred multiple times in the industry, for example, around the SimCity relaunch in 2013.
What's happening with other current Blizzard projects is shown, among other things, in our report on the announcement of World of Warcraft: Forever – where a separate pricing controversy is currently causing discussions.
From our perspective, at least a pure offline mode for the campaign would have been desirable – especially for a game that relies so heavily on its LAN and tournament history, the complete removal feels unnecessarily harsh.
Source: PC Gamer
Does the always-online requirement for Warcraft 3: Reforged bother you, or can you live with it? Let us know in the comments!
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