World of Warcraft game director denies removing addons to suit the new Xbox console
Blizzard’s removal of combat addons for the World of Warcraft: Midnight expansion prompted fresh rumors of a console release. The developers had already made the MMO more accessible to new players. Still, in a Windows Central interview, game director Ion Hazzikostas stresses that consoles are not a priority.
Following Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard in 2023, some Xbox fans anticipated a WoW port. The Series X and S no longer have the same appeal, but a new Xbox console may arrive in 2027 or earlier. A World of Warcraft port for the system, as well as PS5 or Switch 2 versions, would complement Microsoft’s cross-platform strategy.
Despite the potential profits, Hazzikostas doesn’t anticipate World of Warcraft leaving PCs. As he explains in the interview, “If we were actively working towards bringing World of Warcraft to consoles or a bunch of other platforms, we'd be saying: we're actively working towards this. We have a lot of work to do but it's a place where we want to land.”
Even with this clarification, some WoW veterans object to the game becoming more console-friendly. It’s now possible to launch attacks with fewer buttons, while developers have removed other abilities.
The future of World of Warcraft add-ons
The news that the Midnight World of Warcraft expansion would remove combat addons like WeakAuras was also not welcomed. Hazzikostas argues that the goal is to avoid overwhelming newcomers. Yet, the most skilled players will still feel that their talents are being recognized and rewarded.
The new Xbox console may not need dramatic changes to support the MMO. Several insiders expect the machine to run on Windows, similar to the ROG Xbox Ally handhelds. In theory, players could install addons and mods and launch the game through Battle.net. Controllers are a greater concern, but Blizzard has made strides to accommodate these accessories.
Hazzikostas’s comments are more disappointing to PS5 and Switch 2 gamers. Other Microsoft-published games are landing on rival consoles, but for now, World of Warcraft remains out of reach.
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