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[DownLikeBCPowder]

While they do accept donations, this is a free to access and play shard. This would reinforce some precedent for many such active emulated MMOs, such as Asheron's Call or Ultima Online. The general rule of thumb for these sorts of projects has been it's fairly safe - so long as you're not actively charging for access or content (thus the donations for server operations or whatever). Some servers do get carried away with this system, encouraging donation for in game items or rewards of sorts.

Blizzard Entertainment, the developer of the massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) World of Warcraft, is filing a lawsuit against the owners of Turtle WoW, which is a group of servers housing a series of fan-developed mods and updates, including Mysteries of Azeroth.

As described on the Turtle WoW website, Mysteries of Azeroth is a "fan-made expansion story for World of Warcraft Vanilla that delves deeper into exploring the original lore of the game," eschewing the changes to the original World of Warcraft that Blizzard introduced through The Burning Crusade expansion in 2007.

Players can access Mysteries of Azeroth by downloading the free client, with the developers accepting but not requiring donations.

In the lawsuit, filed Friday in the Central District of California, Blizzard Entertainment alleges that the developers of Turtle WoW are using Blizzard's artwork, trademarks, and official code.

A Blizzard spokesperson shared the following statement:

"Our games are built on decades of innovation and creativity, and we take seriously our responsibility to protect the integrity of that work for our employees, our partners, and our players. This pirate server illegally uses our code, assets, and trademarks to market an unprotected experience. Given the scale and nature of the infringement we need to pursue formal remedies to protect the world we've built."

Turtle WoW's first server launched back in 2018, with the group expanding with additional servers over the years to accommodate more players in different regions. Earlier in August, Turtle WoW reached a peak of over 44,000 concurrent players across all servers.

The developers of Turtle WoW have released numerous updates for Mysteries of Azeroth, and the group has also shared plans to release an updated version of the game that rebuilds the client in Unreal Engine 5.

This new version, referred to as Turtle WoW 2.0, is planned to have improved visuals and higher PC requirements, while remaining compatible with a Legacy version that players can use if they prefer the older look.

Notably, Blizzard Entertainment launched World of Warcraft: Classic in 2019, giving an official version of the original game experience. The developers have continued to update Classic with the original expansions, such as The Burning Crusade, Wrath of the Lich King, Cataclysm, and most recently, Mists of Pandaria.

World of Warcraft: Classic requires an active subscription in order to access it, just like mainline World of Warcraft.

Blizzard is suing the fan devs behind Turtle WoW — and the “Mysteries of Azeroth” are now legal ones

Blizzard Entertainment sues the owners of Turtle WoW, the servers running the fan-developed Mysteries of Azeroth.

www.windowscentral.com

 

[CuNi]

I see a very bleak outcome for this.
As with many things, I'd wish they wouldn't have boasted and made a full trailer for what they plan, but just do it quietly and release it.
Everything that is once out there, is there to stay.

I would've loved to play classic with modern graphic upgrades, but I just don't see them even have the resources to go against Blizzard.
They most likely aren't allowed to release it as is anymore either and since AFAIK there is not a single "beta" or anything of the content, it's all lost.

 

[Hookshot]

It's a competing product (time wise) using their stuff whether it's free or not which would probably be enough to get a judge to stop it. But when you start deviating away from the product and adding your own stuff to it, you are taking away future ideas from Blizzard which is probably why this is happening because suddenly they are copying their copy (even if it was in the lore or an idea from 20 years ago).

 

[DownLikeBCPowder]

It's a competing product (time wise) using their stuff whether it's free or not which would probably be enough to get a judge to stop it. But when you start deviating away from the product and adding your own stuff to it, you are taking away future ideas from Blizzard which is probably why this is happening because suddenly they are copying their copy (even if it was in the lore or an idea from 20 years ago).

This is common place in the emulated MMO "market". I would be really saddened if the chilling effect was strong here - but it's likely many similar projects will continue even if this is shut down as most corporations don't have the financial resources or, honestly, experience the same level/degree of arguable loss (large population on WoW free shards in some cases vs hundreds or maybe single digit thousands in many other cases).

 

[KyoZz]

I mean... WOW is a very alive game and has expansions coming in the next few years so of course this was to be expected. The examples you gave aren't the same as they are all dead games.

 

[DownLikeBCPowder]

I mean... WOW is a very alive game and has expansions coming in the next few years so of course this was to be expected. The examples you gave aren't the same as they are all dead games.

Ultima Online still has a retail presence, yet features one of the brightest emulated shard environments. Are you sure about what you've stated? Many such active MMOS have private, free, and emulated shards available right now including UO, but also others such as EverQuest.

 

[DarkStream]

Why now? Private servers have been around forever.

 

[Dr. Acid Avatar]

Correct me if I'm wrong but if they are using Blizzard's own code aren't they screwed?

 

[KyoZz]

Ultima Online still has a retail presence, yet features one of the brightest emulated shard environments. Are you sure about what you've stated? Many such active MMOS have private, free, and emulated shards available right now including UO, but also others such as EverQuest.

They are both F2P tho? And mind you I'm not saying it's a good thing, I'm saying it's understandable for Blizzard to shut this down because they are still making tons of money from WoW. It's still in very active exploitation and any other example you could give comes from dead games, abandoned ones or now F2P games. Nothing comparable to WoW, let's be serious for a minute.

As long as WoW will make money, Blizzard won't tolerate this. Again that's unfortunate but you can't take this and say "it might happen to other games like UO or Everquest". It wont, those are very different cases.

 

[DownLikeBCPowder]

They are both F2P tho? And mind you I'm not saying it's a good thing, I'm saying it's understandable for Blizzard to shut this down because they are still making tons of money from WoW. It's still in very active exploitation and any other example you could give comes from dead games, abandoned ones or now F2P games.

Yes, perhaps they are now (UO servers co-existed for years while it was still a subscription based game, for example) but the point of a F2P title is to entice users to spend real capital. Therefore the same argument applies - siphoning players away from the primary servers reduces income opportunity for the developers. "F2P" or not, they are still actively being supported by the development teams behind the projects - in other words, not dead at all.

Nothing comparable to WoW, let's be serious for a minute.

This I'd agree with wholeheartedly - I don't care for WoW myself, but it ascended to MMO godhood that few can come close to.

As long as WoW will make money, Blizzard won't tolerate this. Again that's unfortunate but you can't take this and say "it might happen to other games like UO or Everquest". It wont, those are very different cases.

Continued success at shutting down projects like this could absolutely encourage that to happen to these smaller titles. It's not a guarantee, no, and I've already discussed why I think it is unlikely even if this is successful.

This is common place in the emulated MMO "market". I would be really saddened if the chilling effect was strong here - but it's likely many similar projects will continue even if this is shut down as most corporations don't have the financial resources or, honestly, experience the same level/degree of arguable loss (large population on WoW free shards in some cases vs hundreds or maybe single digit thousands in many other cases).

Edit: Also, the "F2P" model in Ultima Online is only an option - it's a reduced method of playing, IE you have access to less of the game effectively - for example it only covers access to expansions up to a certain point. It really shouldn't be considered a "F2P" game - rather it's a subscription MMO with a lesser option of F2P.

 

[The_Mike]

No matter if they earn money or not, in the end it is Blizzards IP.

The only reason Blizzard does anything against it after so many years is because it has become so public and well known. It's no longer a small hobby project.

I fully understand making a private server and that's a gray area.

What I don't get, is if you are coding your own game in UE5, why not do something original instead of borrowing someone else's IP.

Blizzard ripped off Warhammer, turtle devs could have done the same instead of using 1 to 1.

 

[KyoZz]

Yes, perhaps they are now (UO servers co-existed for years while it was still a subscription based game, for example) but the point of a F2P title is to entice users to spend real capital.

Nah I disagree, those games we are talking about aren't F2P because they've been designed like this, they are F2P because they are dead games. It is what it is, even if a few thousands players still like to connect to the game, they are 20+ years MMO so let's not go into bad faith territory.
And you CAN'T spend money. For obvious reasons that directly correlate with what is happening to Turtle WoW.

Therefore the same argument applies - siphoning players away from the primary servers reduces income opportunity for the developers. "F2P" or not, they are still actively being supported by the development teams behind the projects - in other words, not dead at all.

Let's not compare any of those game to WoW. The population is just not the same and I'm sure you understand the difference. Also most of the time the original studio don't have anything to do with the F2P version and it's F2P because they don't have the rights to exploit it.

This I'd agree with wholeheartedly - I don't care for WoW myself, but it ascended to MMO godhood that few can come close to.
Continued success at shutting down projects like this could absolutely encourage that to happen to these smaller titles. It's not a guarantee, no, and I've already discussed why I think it is unlikely even if this is successful.

It won't happen, that's for sure. The situation with WoW is very, VERY different. Did any of those "menaced game" made 3.5M views in the recent gameplay reveal of the next extension just on the official channel? Because WoW did.

Please don't make me research the monthly user of different abandoned/dead games to compare them to WoW.

 

[KenaiPhoenix]

I hope it goes nowhere

Many fan servers are beyond the "dont pay the sub and play" they are representation of ideas that most of the time are abandoned by the company so they can reach a wider audience.

If this goes through there are many fan made servers that can end very badly... Im thinking in one in particular regarding FFXI

 

[IFireflyl]

Per the actual lawsuit:

Turtle WoW's emulated servers work by mimicking and modifying the normal mechanics by which players access Blizzard's WoW servers. To play WoW, players must possess a licensed copy of the WoW game software (known as the game "client") and an active WoW account, which gives the player access to the WoW remote game servers. However, emulated servers such as those offered by Turtle WoW allow members of the public to play modified versions of WoW without authorization from the game's publisher or copyright owner – and, critically, without possessing a licensed copy of the game, creating and maintaining an account, or paying subscription fees. Turtle WoW accomplishes this objective by creating and distributing, without Blizzard's authorization, a modified copy of the WoW client and hosting one or more copycat WoW servers that can be accessed and played using this pirated client software.

Turtle WoW is among the largest and most sophisticated private WoW servers available today. Turtle WoW purports to offer not only Blizzard's original WoW game (which it refers to as "vanilla WoW") but also a "fan-made expansion story" that "delves deeper into exploring the original lore of the game" and "seeks to enhance the game by adding content that matches the already wellestablished lore of Warcraft Universe." Defendants have incorporated the entirety of "vanilla WoW" (replete with Blizzard's logos and trademarks), as well as all of the infringing "expansion" content created by Defendants, into their pirated Turtle WoW "client" software product (the "Turtle WoW Client"). Defendants distribute the Turtle WoW Client to the public via their website www.turtle-wow.org (the "Turtle WoW Website"). To play Turtle WoW via the Turtle WoW servers, a user need only download the Turtle WoW Client, create a Turtle WoW account, and then connect to one of the emulated Turtle WoW servers (the "Turtle WoW Servers") created, operated, and maintained by Defendants.

In the course of operating the Turtle WoW servers, Defendants have distributed (and are continuing to distribute) thousands of pirated copies of Blizzard's copyrighted WoW game software. They have encouraged and induced members of the public to install that software on their computers and use it to connect to Defendants' unauthorized servers. Additionally, to enable their pirated Turtle WoW Client to operate with their Turtle WoW Servers, Defendants have removed the technical measures contained in Blizzard's WoW client software that prevent it from being used without a license and without being connected to Blizzard's official servers. As a result, Defendants have assisted and enabled tens of thousands of people to copy, access, and play WoW without paying the subscription fee that allows Blizzard to operate and update the game. Turtle WoW generates substantial revenue from its infringing conduct by soliciting payments (which it calls "donations") from its users.

Finally, Defendants have violated the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act ("RICO"), 18 U.S.C. §§ 1962(c) and 1962(d), by working together to operate a sophisticated and lucrative global enterprise that develops and sells software that Defendants know illegally infringes on Blizzard's trademarks and copyrights. Defendants' participation in this enterprise, including authoring and distributing extensive U.S. marketing campaigns and funding solicitations that tout pirated content, constitutes illegal racketeering activity.

If this is true, I don't see how Turtle WoW doesn't go down. Of course, this is completely depends on whether the U.S. courts have jurisdiction over this case. These are the defendants listed in the lawsuit:

TURTLE WOW, an entity of unknown form; AFKCRAFT LIMITED, a Hong Kong Company
YULIA SAVKO a/k/a JULIA SAVKO a/k/a Torta and Shenna, an individual
ERIC MAUSER a/k/a Shagu and Meph1s, an individual
JOSIAH ZIMMER a/k/a Akalix, an individual
STEFAN KOSTOV a/k/a brotalnia, an individual
JESSE LAUTENBACK a/k/a Niralthas, an individual
COSMIN POP a/k/a xerron, an individual
JAMEY DIEPBRINK a/k/a Jamma an individual
MAROS BETKO a/k/a Haaxor, an individual
MARCO KRETAS a/k/a MARCO KAPTEIN a/k/a Kruxis, an individual
ALEX JULEV a/k/a PepeSmite, an individual
DOES 1 through 10, inclusive

 

[DownLikeBCPowder]

Nah I disagree, those games we are talking about aren't F2P because they've been designed like this, they are F2P because they are dead games. It is what it is, even if a few thousands players still like to connect to the game, they are 20+ years MMO so let's not go into bad faith territory.

What are you even talking about? "Designed like this"? You mean they've evolved to feature F2P as an option or.. what? Because the full game, in this case of Ultima Online, is not accessible to F2P users. Disagree with whatever you're trying to say. I don't care if they're 20 years old or more - you said they are dead. They are receiving content and updates from an active development team - it's not "dead" by definition.

And you CAN'T spend money. For obvious reasons that directly correlate with what is happening to Turtle WoW.

You can and some servers certainly do offer such things, as I've already mentioned in a previous post. UO Outlands, for example, literally has a donation store effectively. When you donate, you earn a currency and that currency can be redeemed for cosmetics and other items. https://wiki.uooutlands.com/Prevalia_Coins

Let's not compare any of those game to WoW. The population is just not the same and I'm sure you understand the difference. Also most of the time the original studio don't have anything to do with the F2P version and it's F2P because they don't have the rights to exploit it.

I'm confused about your use of the letters "F2P" now. I think we're talking about two different things here.

It won't happen, that's for sure. The situation with WoW is very, VERY different. Did any of those "menaced game" made 3.5M views in the recent gameplay reveal of the next extension just on the official channel? Because WoW did.

Please don't make me research the monthly user of different abandoned/dead games to compare them to WoW.

I really don't care about the difference of population - you seem to think that if any MMO isn't on WoW's level, it may as well be dismissed. Let's just agree to disagree.

 

[KyoZz]

What are you even talking about? "Designed like this"? You mean they've evolved to feature F2P as an option or.. what? Because the full game, in this case of Ultima Online, is not accessible to F2P users. Disagree with whatever you're trying to say. I don't care if they're 20 years old or more - you said they are dead. They are receiving content and updates from an active development team - it's not "dead" by definition.

You were saying "the point of a F2P title is to entice users to spend real capital" so just like your typical F2P game that is designed like this in mind. It's not the case for any of those MMO. That's what I'm saying. And yes UO is totally playable for free:

But let's look on the EA app, they own the rights so let's see: https://www.ea.com/games/ultima/ultima-online

Welp, looks like it's F2P after all.

You can and some servers certainly do offer such things, as I've already mentioned in a previous post. UO Outlands, for example, literally has a donation store effectively. When you donate, you earn a currency and that currency can be redeemed for cosmetics and other items. https://wiki.uooutlands.com/Prevalia_Coins

Donation indeed, so by definition you can play for free but give money if you want to. Is this comparable to an obligatory subscription like WoW?

I'm confused about your use of the letters "F2P" now. I think we're talking about two different things here.

I really don't care about the difference of population - you seem to think that if any MMO isn't on WoW's level, it may as well be dismissed. Let's just agree to disagree.

Maybe you don't, but those who own the rights do. And no I'm not saying that an MMO must be on WoW level (I don't even play it, never did and never will as I'm a GW1 and now 2 guy). And Asheron's Call's official servers were shut down on January 31, 2017 by Turbine themselves and Warner Bros (they own the rights now) has already taken action against some emulator projects in the past, even if they're not actively supporting or selling it.

Dead game might not be the best term, call them abandonware if you want. These private shards are still in a grey area so if the rights holder wants to shut them down, the can indeed but comparing this to WoW which still has a massive population and an obligatory subscription is disingenuous at best.

 

[DownLikeBCPowder]

You were saying "the point of a F2P title is to entice users to spend real capital" so just like your typical F2P game that is designed like this in mind. It's not the case for any of those MMO. That's what I'm saying. And yes UO is totally playable for free:

But let's look on the EA app, they own the rights so let's see: https://www.ea.com/games/ultima/ultima-online

Welp, looks like it's F2P after all.

Yes, as mentioned before, it does have a "free to play" option. That option does not include all expansion and is further limited in terms of gameplay features. It is not the complete experience - for that you must subscribe, because Ultima Online is still a subscription based game. Just because it has the option to play for free with limited features, doesn't make it a "F2P game". That's like saying because WoW has a mode which you can play absolutely free - until level 20 - that it's a "free to play game". UO does not have levels, but your progress is limited in other ways. Ultima Online was not designed as, and is not, a "free to play" game.

Donation indeed, so by definition you can play for free but give money if you want to. Is this comparable to an obligatory subscription like WoW?

No, it's comparable to a F2P model deployed by actual F2P games, which is what I was comparing it to in that case.

Maybe you don't, but those who own the rights do. And no I'm not saying that an MMO must be on WoW level (I don't even play it, never did and never will as I'm a GW1 and now 2 guy). And Asheron's Call's official servers were shut down on January 31, 2017 by Turbine themselves and Warner Bros (they own the rights now) has already taken action against some emulator projects in the past, even if they're not actively supporting or selling it.

I never said Asheron's Call was still a live game and I never stated that action was never taken against free shards for AC - just that high profile successes like this make it much more likely to transpire, even if they are low population and low attention affairs. This is the point of contention we even have, earlier you said such paltry titles won't catch the eye of sauron, but now are illustrating quite the opposite.

Dead game might not be the best term, call them abandonware if you want. These private shards are still in a grey area so if the rights holder wants to shut them down, the can indeed but comparing this to WoW which still has a massive population and an obligatory subscription is disingenuous at best.

It's not abandonware.. some of these are actively developed games. Wtf. There are such cases that could be considered abandonware, but the game we've been discussing, Ultima Online, definitely isn't abandonware..

 

[KyoZz]

Yes, as mentioned before, it does have a "free to play" option. That option does not include all expansion and is further limited in terms of gameplay features. It is not the complete experience - for that you must subscribe, because Ultima Online is still a subscription based game. Just because it has the option to play for free with limited features, doesn't make it a "F2P game". That's like saying because WoW has a mode which you can play absolutely free - until level 20 - that it's a "free to play game". UO does not have levels, but your progress is limited in other ways. Ultima Online was not designed as, and is not, a "free to play" game.

No, it's comparable to a F2P model deployed by actual F2P games, which is what I was comparing it to in that case.

I never said Asheron's Call was still a live game and I never stated that action was never taken against free shards for AC - just that high profile successes like this make it much more likely to transpire, even if they are low population and low attention affairs. This is the point of contention we even have, earlier you said such paltry titles won't catch the eye of sauron, but now are illustrating quite the opposite.

It's not abandonware.. some of these are actively developed games. Wtf. There are such cases that could be considered abandonware, but the game we've been discussing, Ultima Online, definitely isn't abandonware..

Ok if you really don't understand the difference between those games and WoW, nothing I can tell will change your mind. I made my points, you made yours so indeed, let's agree to disagree.

Just know that those games are safe, no need to worry.

 

[I collect VHS tapes]

Ultima Online still has a retail presence, yet features one of the brightest emulated shard environments. Are you sure about what you've stated? Many such active MMOS have private, free, and emulated shards available right now including UO, but also others such as EverQuest.

Can't imagine many people are actually playing retail UO unlike WoW

Ultima Online: New Legacy seemed promising but once the details came out, there seemed to be very little interest

 

[DownLikeBCPowder]

Ok if you really don't understand the difference between those games and WoW, nothing I can tell will change your mind. I made my points, you made yours so indeed, let's agree to disagree.

It's not about a direct comparison to WoW - which I've said over and over again.

Just know that those games are safe, no need to worry.

This statement is incongruent with the following:

Asheron's Call's official servers were shut down on January 31, 2017 by Turbine themselves and Warner Bros (they own the rights now) has already taken action against some emulator projects in the past, even if they're not actively supporting or selling it.

But I'm down with the agree to disagree, this isn't going anywhere.

 

[DownLikeBCPowder]

Can't imagine many people are actually playing retail UO unlike WoW

I completely agree that far less people are playing retail UO than WoW - there's no doubt and active user levels aren't comparable. I was just stating that it was under active development, with a development team in the year 2025.

Ultima Online: New Legacy seemed promising but once the details came out, there seemed to be very little interest

Agree again, New Legacy could have been of real interest to me, but it didn't end up being what I thought or hoped it would be.

 

[I collect VHS tapes]

I completely agree that far less people are playing retail UO than WoW - there's no doubt and active user levels aren't comparable. I was just stating that it was under active development, with a development team in the year 2025.


Agree again, New Legacy could have been of real interest to me, but it didn't end up being what I thought or hoped it would be.

I mean I think the ratio of emulation to retail is higher with UO than WoW

That is to say, I think the majority of the player base for UO is actually playing on emulated servers whereas the majority of the player base on WoW is on official servers

UO is just different, they don't seem to care and more importantly, they don't seem to have ever cared. I've been playing on free UO shards for over 20 years

Even when UO was much more popular, emulation was still rampant and I don't recall UO ever caring

 

[KyoZz]

It's not about a direct comparison to WoW - which I've said over and over again.

You said if this is happening to Turtle WoW, it could happen to those other old games. Again I'm repeating myself but there is big differences between those and WoW.

For example MMO Populations estimate Ultima Online has around 1,500 to 2,075 daily active players on ALL official servers combined, so please let's be serious for a second. Nobody cares about UO anymore (or any of those games) except hardcore fans. It's really cool to still be able to play them, but don't use the closure of Turtle WoW to say it might happen to UO or any other game like it. Please, it's all I'm saying in the end and I don't think it's hard to understand nor a hot take. I can understand you are a fan but take a step back and look at the big picture.

This statement is incongruent with the following:

You missed the point, which was to show you that they didn't waited for Blizzard to take action. But EA don't care (for a reason).

 

[DownLikeBCPowder]

I mean I think the ratio or emulation to retail is higher with UO than WoW

That is to say, I think the majority of the player base for UO is actually playing on emulated servers whereas the majority of the player base on WoW is on official servers

That's definitely possible due to the large variety in private UO shards - but it's really difficult to tell without any official information regarding numbers from retail, which I don't think are published. I know even at the peak it was less than a million (a few hundred thousand, I think?), so it's certainly much lower today.

UO is just different, they don't seem to care and more importantly, they don't seem to have ever cared. I've been playing on free UO shards for over 20 years

Even when UO was much more popular, emulation was still rampant and I don't recall UO ever caring

Same, I have played off and on UO private shards for over 20 years now (crazy). I'm not sure why Origin/EA/whoever never made any action, but to the best of my recollection they haven't.

 

[DownLikeBCPowder]

You said if this is happening to Turtle WoW, it could happen to those other old games. Again I'm repeating myself but there is big differences between those and WoW.

For example MMO Populations estimate Ultima Online has around 1,500 to 2,075 daily active players on ALL official servers combined, so please let's be serious for a second. Nobody cares about UO anymore (or any of those games) except hardcore fans. It's really cool to still be able to play them, but don't use the closure of Turtle WoW to say it might happen to UO or any other game like it. Please, it's all I'm saying in the end and I don't think it's hard to understand nor a hot take. I can understand you are a fan but take a step back and look at the big picture.

Sure - but smaller games have had publishers go after them, the example you cited of Asheron's Call being a perfect one. I'm not sure why you seem to think it both can't happen and does happen at the same time. I'm not suggesting that UO is directly under immediate threat - rather it was a blanket statement that all such games could potentially experience increased scrutiny with more successful litigation of this nature by Blizzard. Or any MMO operator, it doesn't have to be Blizzard and they are not the only company to do so.

You missed the point, which was to show you that they didn't waited for Blizzard to take action. But EA don't care (for a reason).

Okay - maybe EA doesn't care. Doesn't mean other IP owners won't care as well and the more a precedent is cemented, the more likely it is to happen on the whole - that's my whole point. Not about any specific game or company.

 

[KyoZz]

Sure - but smaller games have had publishers go after them, the example you cited of Asheron's Call being a perfect one. I'm not sure why you seem to think it both can't happen and does happen at the same time. I'm not suggesting that UO is directly under immediate threat - rather it was a blanket statement that all such games could potentially experience increased scrutiny with more successful litigation of this nature by Blizzard. Or any MMO operator, it doesn't have to be Blizzard and they are not the only company to do so.

But... that's always been the case. Those shards are operating in the grey market at best so again publishers didn't waited for Blizzard (which has been closing private server for years, since the beginning in fact) to take action if they wanted to.

Okay - maybe EA doesn't care. Doesn't mean other IP owners won't care as well and the more a precedent is cemented, the more likely it is to happen on the whole - that's my whole point. Not about any specific game or company.

And my whole point is that Everquest, UO, Asheron's Call, The Realm Online, Runescape etc etc... aren't close to be at the same level as WoW. Now that's make a big difference for the publisher and explain why Blizzard care, and other don't anymore.

Blizzard literally announced like what, 5 expansions?! On a game with an active subscription needed and millions of players. No poor man's F2P or anything like that, just a full premium price for the base game and a full premium price for every new expansion. How is that comparable to the situation of any other game you've put as an example?

 

[MrRibeye]

You can get the full court case here: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71235075/blizzard-entertainment-inc-v-turtle-wow/

The case says

Defendants have violated the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act ("RICO")

are we in the last season of The Sopranos or what

Blizzard is informed and believes, and on that basis alleges, that Defendant Turtle WoW (the "Turtle WoW Entity") is an entity of unknown form that purports to own and operate the Turtle WoW private servers. According to the Turtle WoW website (turtle-wow.org), the Turtle WoW Entity purports to be located in Priozersk, Kazakhstan. However, Blizzard has reason to believe that the Turtle WoW Entity is an underfunded, fictional shell company that operates as a mere alter ego or unincorporated association of the individual Defendants and serves as a smokescreen to conceal the identities of the individual Defendants while also acting as a conduit for monetary and other transactions related to Turtle WoW.

and then they go on to list that the devs live in Russia, and Bulgaria, and Cyprus and some other countries, but they don't know their addresses and unsure about real identities. Everything is preceeded by "Blizzard is informed and believes that ...".

I dunno how successful an American company can be in suing a Russian, Kazakh and Hong Kong organization. As of right now Russian business transactions are blocked in the West due to international sanctions (I personally had a payment blocked by my bank because it was sent from a Russian entity to me).

If some US court gives the TWoW team a billion dollar fine and a thousand years in prison, how can they even enforce it if you live in Moscow. Nostalrius (another server that Blizzard sued many years ago) was based in France, which is much easier to shut down of course. But like Russia and Kazakhstan? Good luck.

 

[JohnSpartanLee]

Understandable action but Mysteries of Azeroth is the best game in the franchise thus I hope Turtle WoW survives.

 

[falconhoof]

Removing logo and TM branding would help reduce the attack footprint that Blizzard have. Kinda like how counterfeit Nintendo products don't put the Nintendo logo on them.

Turtle WoW has such a good community I hope they survive this.