Blizzard removes sexually suggestive content from World of Warcraft

Blizzard continues to improve World of WarcraftIn the weeks leading up to patch 9.1.5. Some of the changes have to do directly with gameplay, while others are related to removing inappropriate or suggestive content.

Blizzard published a statement via social media on August 27 regarding upcoming game changes. This included “updates to improve the game environment for our community, including additional changes to some content to better reflect our shared values.”

It World of Warcraft team is removing certain jokes and flirts, like the lines “When enraged and in heat a female troll can mate over 80 times in one night. Be you prepared?” and “Mmm. I wanna tap that leyline.” Bosses like the Twin Consorts in the Throne of Thunder have been re-named the Twin Empyreans, and the Big Love Rocket mount is now the X-45 Heartbreaker. Now, concubines and hostesses of the Karazhan/Black Temple raids have male counterparts. Modifications to in-game artwork have been made for smaller versions. In one instance, a woman who is lounging with fruit was replaced by a bowl of fruits.

The in-game zone Mac’Aree in the LegionThe name of the end-game zone in Argus was changed to Eredath. The employee for which Mac’Aree was named — Jesse McCree — is also the namesake for Overwatch hero McCree. McCree is a former Blizzard game design engineer. His name is held in honor of the guns-toting cowboy. OverwatchName changes will be made eventually.

World of Warcraft publisher Activision Blizzard faces wide-ranging allegations that it maintains a toxic workplace environment that’s particularly hostile to women. California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) investigated the company for two years before filing the lawsuit, and found that women are paid less and subject to sexual harassment, without meaningful punishment applied to perpetrators. In the period since the lawsuit was filed in late July, the DFEH has expanded its complaint to include allegations that Activision Blizzard “suppressed” evidence in its investigation. That claim was denied by Activision Blizzard.

The workers at the company continue to use social media to advocate for substantial changes. You can read more about the allegations against Activision Blizzard in Polygon’s explainer.