It’s been almost a decade sinceWorld of Warcraftwas consolidated into the Battle.net platform, but one passionate player created a concept that depicts an alternate timeline where Blizzard never retired its iconic launcher in the first place. Prior toBattle.net transitioning into a library for Blizzard games, titles such asWorld of WarcraftandDiablo 3each had dedicated launchers. Many players look back to this era fondly, as few things sparked such excitement for Blizzard fans as when they’d insert theirStarCraft 2installation disks only to be greeted by a fully-narrated recap of events from the past game, accompanied by an epic orchestral score.
Much like Battle.net today, the Blizzard launcher of the past once served as a gateway for players into the Koprulu Sector, Sanctuary, or in this case Azeroth. It introduced many novel features such as allowing players to enjoy their game while it was still being downloaded in the background, and it served as a news feed that kept fans up-to-date. Retired inMists of Pandaria’s Siege of Orgrimmar patch, it represents a major source of nostalgia for theWorld of Warcraftcommunity.
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Tapping into that nostalgia, a player named Parquelle recreated the Blizzard launcher forall theWorld of Warcraftexpansionsthat never had it such asWarlords of DraenororBattle for Azeroth. The launcher isn’t just for show, as Parquelle developed a fully functioning app with its own GitHub page that players can visit. Drawing a comparison with the third-party version ofFinal Fantasy 14’s launcher, many fans have expressed a desire for a similarly lightweight equivalent forWorld of Warcraft.
AsEmbers of Neltharionembarks players on a subterranean journey, Parquelle’s project represents the perfect counter-balance for the community to reminisce about a simpler time inWorld of Warcraft’s history. Unlike its predecessors,Dragonflighthas been an enjoyable experience for manyWorld of Warcraftfans, which allows them to look at the earlier expansions through a healthier perspective, and with better clarity. While it’s unlikely for Blizzard to bring back the launcher in an official capacity, it’s strangely fitting for it to be released in an expansion pack that famously brought back old concepts such as talent trees.
DragonflightSeason 2 is fast approaching, andWorld of Warcraftis offering a free trial centered around Embers of Neltharion’s release, allowing players with an active subscription to delve intoDragonflightcontent without needing to purchase the expansion pack. With aheavy discount onWorld of Warcraft: Dragonflight, it’s clear that Blizzard still seeks to bring its players back to the game after the exodus that occurred inShadowlands, and given how accessible other MMO trials are by comparison, it’s a sound business move by any measure.
World of Warcraftis available now for PC.
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