Small and big changes are happening to Blizzard along with its top game due to Its World of Warcraft team put out several statements outlining their plans to improve the game and make Azeroth warmer and more inclusive environment even though some of the modifications are already in effect but many are scheduled to be implemented in the coming release of the update 9.1.5 to World of Warcraft 's latest expansion, WoTLK Classic Gold.
The initial patch released following the aftermath of the ongoing fallout of the Department of Fair Employment and Housing in California's original suit with Activision Blizzard, it's clear from a recent interview it is World of Warcraft game director Ion Hazzikostas intends for patch 9.1.5 to be a significant change for the development team and Blizzard's MMORPG. If it's about creating an environment that is more open, secure working environment, or remove over two decades of beliefs regarding the possibilities of what World of Warcraft can be, Hazzikostas described patch 9.1.5 as the beginning of the beginning of a "new viewpoint" that will guide the game moving forward.
Hazzikostas stated that the last few years at Blizzard Studios were very challenging and rewarding and uplifting, seeing Blizzard work together to identify and correct the issues with how the company operates. Certain changes have occurred at a higher level and others were implemented in a team-by-team manner.
"Some modifications were implemented quickly," Hazzikostas said. "I do not want to talk about much because I don't want to make any excuses for any of it however, it's looking at the language and the manner in which we formulate the job descriptions we put up for our positions and to ensure that there's nothing that's subtilly or subliminally displacing the variety of applicants we'd like to draw. This is looking at the practices that we use in the way we conduct our meetings and to promote an environment where it's in etiquette for people to call people out for minor blunders or talking over or interrupting someone's meeting. Small things that could result in an atmosphere in which people aren't completely at relaxed. In the end, for our work in the field we're in, which is a place of creativity and cross-functional, we must everybody to feel comfortable and for everyone to be able to trust each other and feel comfortable, to feel secure. All levels of our business these are the conversations being held, asking "What else can we do to improve our work?'"
"It's our responsibility to ensure, it's our responsibility to ensure that the environment we're curating, which is that we are custodians of, stays an expression of the values of our team and the values of our players in 2021 and beyond." -- cheap WOW WoTLK Classic Gold game director Ion Hozzikostas
The issue of "what could we do" is also apparent as game-specific changes that will be introduced in patch 9.1.5 to delete or alter controversial content. World of Warcraft is a 17-year-old game. It's not surprising that old jokes, sketches or images haven't stood the test of time.