blizzard

Earlier, Blizzard tweeted a 'confidential' image of a 'prototype biotic rifle' that according to notes provided by the designer Torbjörn Lindholm, is intended solely for healing.

A closer look at those 'designer notes'.

Get your tickets here.

Over the course of a forum post on Battle.net, Blizzard outlined its policy on cheating in Overwatch, and placed a notable emphasis on the fact that players should play fair; play nice or suffer the consequences...

"If a player is found to be cheating — €”or using hacks, bots, or third-party software that provides any sort of unfair advantage — €”that player will be permanently banned from the game. Full stop," the company said. "Not only does cheating undermine the spirit of fair play that all of our products are based on, but it works to diminish the fun and enjoyment of others. While we are unlikely to publicly acknowledge when accounts are closed as a result of cheating or using unauthorized programs, we have and will continue to monitorOverwatch for exploitative behavior, as well as take action as needed to preserve the integrity of game."

Blizzard was quick to note that they will actively seek to verify accusations of cheating through the most reliable means possible:

"It's important to note that while video evidence from killcams, Plays of the Game, Highlights, and other community captured footage can be very helpful, we will never use it alone to verify whether or not cheating is taking place," Blizzard said. "As a result, we encourage players to play nice, play fair and avoid publicly accusing individuals of cheating whenever possible and instead use the reporting methods detailed above."

These are the following phrases you might encounter if you're one of those players that types "GG EZ" after taking home the win.
-Great game, everyone!
-It was an honor to play with you all. Thank you.
-Good game! Best of luck to you all!
-I'm wrestling with some insecurity issues in my life but thank you all for playing with me.
-C'mon, Mom! One more game before you tuck me in. Oops mistell.
-Gee whiz! That was fun. Good playing!
-Well played. I salute you all.
-I could really use a hug right now.
-It's past my bedtime. Please don't tell my mommy.
-Ah shucks... you guys are the best!
-I feel very, very small... please hold me...
-For glory and honor! Huzzah comrades!
-Mommy says people my age shouldn't suck their thumbs.
-I'm trying to be a nicer person. It's hard, but I am trying, guys. Wishing you all the best.

Blizzard Entertainment and Legendary Pictures released the first picture of 2016's World of Warcraft movie May 18.

The picture is of an orc named Orgrim. It looks a whole lot like an orc from World of Warcraft. So, well done, people of Industrial Light and Magic who are handling the effects.

Directed by Duncan Jones (Moon), the movie feels like it's been in the works for decades. There has so far been little word what it will entail or how the accomplished Jones will manage to squeeze 11 years of continual video gameplay into a story that will please it's millions and millions of paid subscribers. 

In actuality, Ogrim is played by Pacific Rim's Robert Kazinsky. Or this normal-shaped man here:

TorrentFreak reported that Blizzard has filed a lawsuit against Germany-based cheating company Bossland (a company that Blizzard also sued over World of Warcraft "buddy bots") for an Overwatch cheating tool called "Watchover Tyrant."

"Defendants' sale and distribution of the Bossland Hacks in the United States has caused Blizzard to lose millions or tens of millions of dollars in revenue, and to suffer irreparable damage to its goodwill and reputation," Blizzard said in its complaint.

"Moreover, by releasing 'Overwatch Cheat' just days after the release of Overwatch, Defendants are attempting to destroy or irreparably harm that game before it even has had a chance to fully flourish," it added.

"Defendants not only know that their conduct is unlawful, but they engage in that conduct with the deliberate intent to harm Blizzard and its business," the developer said. "Blizzard is entitled to monetary damages, injunctive and other equitable relief, and punitive damages against Defendants,” the complaint reads."

Get the rest of the story, and read up on the lawsuit over at TorrentFreak.

I wish I was kidding, but:

You already get one level 90 boost if you buy the Warlords of Draenor expansion, but in order to allow players to level more than one character without buying multiple copies of the expansion, Blizzard is selling the boost separately at the same $60 price tag. Why $60? According to designer Ion Hazzikostas:

If our goal here was to sell as many boosts as possible, we could halve the price or more than that - make it $10 or something. And then hardly anyone would ever level a character again.

But levelling is something that takes dozens if not over 100 hours in many cases and people have put serious time and effort into that, and we don't want to diminish that.