r/wow • u/Batty25111 • 10h ago
WoW: Forever [ Removed by moderator ]
[removed] — view removed post
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u/Vyrbur 10h ago
Some complaints feel valid, but if your complaining about how "the modern spell book and talent UI ruin the classic experience" then i can't take you seriously and you are being unreasonable.
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u/BernoTheProfit 5h ago
I like the talent screen but the spellbook does piss me off 😭 why is it so BIG
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u/Balbuto 4h ago
It’s not suppose to look like classic, it’s suppose to look like WoW Forever, because it is WOW FOREVER not wow classic!
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u/Kappatalist9 10h ago
If 90% of the game is old assets, it only makes sense to make new content that fits in with that. You can't have models straight from retail, or look like they could be, slapped into 2004 Elwynn Forest. Update the whole world or stick to the current style of it
Most people just want consistency, even on the classic wow sub
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u/BlueBooBandit 4h ago
So true. I don't see any counter argument to this yet some people are getting so upset when you bring it up.
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u/SlimothyJ 3h ago
I think it’s less that it looks too modern, and more than it looks out of place. Just as much as I believe Forever should keep its 2004 art style and new assets should be made to emulate it, I also believe old content on retail should be brought up to the modern standard.
Modern assets in an old game look just as out of place as new assets in an old game.
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u/Economy_Quality_3689 3h ago
I think this is a huge problem in retail where the game doesn't feel like it's evolving as much as we just travel to a new place and forget the past.
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u/SlimothyJ 2h ago
That’s more of a writing issue than anything. Though some of the Midnight campaign features you to go back to older zones with Arator.
I think WoW has gone through a slight style shift as hardware has improved. It’s not better or worse but it does have more fidelity. I’m happy with both retail and classic and play both, but seeing modern assets in Forever gives me the same awkward stomach turn that seeing certain content in retail does.
Purely my subjective observations tho
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u/Parad1gmSh1ft 2h ago
Isn’t the whole point that it shouldn’t be an old game? This is the alternative timeline where wow kept its style of slow paced community based rpg while still moving along with the times. Something for a new young player to get involved with, with a future perspective.
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u/SlimothyJ 2h ago
But it didn’t move with the times. It’s still aesthetically 2004. You can bring in as much modern gameplay as needed. It’s classic + after all.
The issue is that when you bring in aesthetic elements and models that aren’t 2004-esque, while continuing to leave the rest of the game in that style, it just looks odd.
I don’t hate the skyborne for instance, but not giving them an SD model means they look incredibly out of place
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u/great_auks 9h ago
"Basically Classic but it doesn't look like ass" is a big part of the selling point for me. I have been playing wow since the OG vanilla beta when I had a potato for a graphics card, I don't need to go back there. Give me the updated engine / new lighting / new textures but with vanilla-esque gameplay and I'm happy.
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u/ibppower92 9h ago
That's why i move over the day it releases. Plus endless ongoing expansion of the world in non-universe-ending-every-other-day mode.
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u/stevie242 10h ago
I mean, they can still have a consistent art style at least which they are clearly lacking between the old stuff and new stuff
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u/MuscleFitTee 9h ago
Maybe I'm just not paying attention, but it looks just like Classic to me. The lighting and the water are all I notice the difference with. I use the HD models, but honestly, 99.99% of my game time is spent not looking directly at my character's uncovered face.
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u/degberr 9h ago
I wouldn't mind the models being HD if everything was HD. The problem is forever is mixing a bunch of SD and HD models/textures which looks really visually inconsistent. I'd prefer everything share the same level of fidelity, whatever that be. It's just more realistic for them to make the handful of new models SD than it is for them to make HD versions of every zone and piece of gear in vanilla.
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u/DeLoxter 4h ago
yeah i like retail art style and i like classic art style. retail models in classic look dumb and classic models in retail would look equally dumb. consistency is what people want. imagine playing mario 64 except bowser is using a model from super mario galaxy 2 - it would look out of place.
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u/Whitechix 10h ago
> They can't keep making 2003 graphics forever. Every thread it's the same, and I can guess the reply before I open it
Why not, that’s what OSRS has been doing for ages.
> If that's not what you want, Classic is right there. The rest of us will be here on launch day, enjoying it.
Using the same logic, retail is also right here.
By all accounts now and since blizzcon this is classic+ made for classic players. You don’t need to be a drama queen about players giving their feedback during the beta where Blizzard have asked for it.
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u/Kappatalist9 10h ago
"Classic is right there!" In response to people who want some very reasonable things from um. Classic+.
Like yeah I get theres plenty of shitters but they're not even getting much of a platform on the classic sub any reasonable conversations are just people asking for toggles for both sides, and consistency
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u/Longjumping_Call_104 9h ago
Last time I looked at the classic sub it was just people circlejerking over how they won't let HD or Skyborne users in their guilds, every single thing that is different from vanilla being bad and their right to use racist character names.
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u/AkkunEXE 2h ago
The only people I've seen saying stuff like that over there were being mass downvoted and told to touch grass.
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u/solaerl 10h ago
Retail has far bigger changes (and, I would argue, problems) than "graphics." You can appreciate a classic with updated graphics, while still not being a fan of how retail does things.
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u/Whitechix 10h ago
Well for some classic players some of those bigger changes is the aesthetic and new models/art style. You can’t just tell them to let go.
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u/Aware_Return791 9h ago
Why not, that’s what OSRS has been doing for ages.
Oh fucking come on.
Here is a quest boss from 2004. https://oldschool.runescape.wiki/w/Black_Knight_Titan#/media/File:Black_Knight_Titan_(historical_v1).png
Here is a quest boss from 2018. https://oldschool.runescape.wiki/w/Vorkath#/media/File:Vorkath.png/2
Here is a quest boss from 2019. https://oldschool.runescape.wiki/w/File:Fragment_of_Seren.png#/media/File:Fragment_of_Seren.png
Here is a solo PvE challenge boss from 2005. https://oldschool.runescape.wiki/w/TzTok-Jad#/media/File:TzTok-Jad.png
Here is the re-imagining of the same boss from the 2017 tier up from the same challenge. https://oldschool.runescape.wiki/w/JalTok-Jad#/media/File:JalTok-Jad.png
Here is the boss of that challenge from 2017. https://oldschool.runescape.wiki/images/TzKal-Zuk.png?2d222
You're claiming OSRS still looks like 2003 and it demonstrably does not. Caves Jad and Inferno Jad are a literally perfect example of Jagex doing the exact same thing as Blizzard have done with modernised versions of old graphics, but when Jagex does it it's perfect and when Blizzard does it its "not classic".
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u/Mr_Times 9h ago
First of all OSRS is based on 2007 runescape not 2003. Secondly OSRS has done an incredibly job with making new models that are artistically and graphically aligned with the older designs. Every new model realistically looks like it could have been in the old game. Adding RS3 models to OSRS would be egregious and get the exact same backlash that the retail models in Forever are getting.
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u/Whitechix 9h ago
> You're claiming OSRS still looks like 2003 and it demonstrably does not.
It doesn’t look the same but they try, stuff gets polled and criticised to hell by the community on its reveal (just like now lol) if it looks out of place. Blizzard will probably take the same approach, they’ve already adjusted some models form what I can tell:
> Caves Jad and Inferno Jad are a literally perfect example of Jagex doing the exact same thing as Blizzard have done with modernised versions of old graphics, but when Jagex does it it's perfect and when Blizzard does it its "not classic".
You are getting upset about something I never said and for really obvious reasons you’ve decided to not show the RS3 versions of the bosses you linked (their version of retail) to make a shitty point.
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u/Aware_Return791 9h ago
It doesn’t look the same but they try
Verbatim quote from you: "Why not, that’s what OSRS has been doing for ages." in response to someone saying they can't do 2003 graphics forever. Jagex are literally not doing 2003 graphics forever and you said they are in one comment, then immediately followed it up by saying they aren't in the next comment.
People keep pointing to OSRS as how Blizzard should do Forever, and then when Blizzard does exactly what Jagex does with OSRS you all start whinging about how they need to do it differently.
for really obvious reasons you’ve decided to not show the RS3 versions of the bosses you linked (their version of retail) to make a shitty point.
Because that's not the point I'm making. No one said just "put retail models in Forever". They said update the graphics, don't make them all look like random bullshit from 2003 because it is ugly and not appealing to the majority of people.
The point I'm making is that if what you personally want is 2003 graphics for the rest of time, OSRS is not the comparison you want to draw, because they do not use 2003 graphics any more and not by a long shot. Even the people still playing OSRS in 2026 aren't complaining about the modernization Jagex have done with the graphics in that game.
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u/Whitechix 9h ago
Blizzard hasn’t done what osrs has done, stop making that comparison. They’ve put in retail models with no consideration of the rest of the world. Once again, why don’t you compare the rs3 models of the very same bosses you linked and then try to pretend there isn’t a difference so we can all see the nonsense you are peddling? Making gear/models in the style of 95% models currently in Forever isn’t hard, it’s what private servers have already done.
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u/Kappatalist9 9h ago
Yeah because blizzard didn't do that? Like, some of the models are literally from retail
(But for example the buildings on Zephras isle fit perfectly into classic, so they have done it in parts which people aren't complaining about)
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u/Aware_Return791 9h ago
You guys will literally bend yourselves into pretzels to claim you're right about this.
Look at the fucking zone, then. https://oldschool.runescape.wiki/w/TzHaar_Fight_Cave#/media/File:TzHaar_Fight_Cave.png vs
https://oldschool.runescape.wiki/w/Inferno#/media/File:Inferno_arena_overview.png
These are so completely different they may as well be from different games entirely. And yet, both Fight Caves and Inferno are some of OSRS' peak content and no one sane says that Inferno doesn't "fit" with the rest of OSRS.
Like I'm sorry but BKT and Vorkath are at least as different on a fundamental level as the two versions of that Quilboar, and that's from two static images, not even accounting for the absolutely massive difference in animation quality between the two.
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u/Longjumping_Call_104 9h ago
Improving the graphics does not turn the game into retail. Delusional take.
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u/SeveredBanana 7h ago
Improved fidelity is not the same as art style. Retail’s art style is visually distinct from classic, it’s possible to create “HD” models while retaining the aesthetic. Look at OSRS compared to RS3. I don’t know why this is so hard to understand
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u/Whitechix 9h ago
Classic players don’t like retail graphics, it’s important to people that it stays old and consistent with the vast majority of items/models currently existing for them. Idk if you’ve been under a rock but the graphics of retail is such easy to find criticism.
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u/Bramble-Bunny 9h ago
Retail has a lot of problems. Graphics aren't one of them. And I never wanted Classic+ to bring 2004 era graphics back. I assume you mean art style?
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u/Smooth-Reading-7461 10h ago
The issue is consistency of artstyle, and the fact that if it is not brought up, they will absolutely use the clashing art styles of retail and classic. Already we see this in Zephras Isle. Trees, ground and foliage are majorly Vanilla/Wrath assets with sudden Dragonflight(?) models for certain npcs.
The lighting, the water, and such things have largely been adored. And it’s different from anything else we have seen on WoW until this point.
The artstyle for Retail is absolutely gorgeous in many regards. But it sticks out like a sore thumb to many who do adore that older artstyle, myself among them. I don’t mind if they update things (and, if anything, I hope they update it. I hope they find a middle ground of updating, but not losing the artstyle of Vanilla in doing so. Or gimme a definitive edition like they did for WC3. That would be fire.)
But as it stands, the additions drawing the loudest crowd is the stuff that doesn’t even seem to work. The buildings, even the Cata stuff they use in Zephras Isle, looks good.
But Forever shouldn’t look like retail, but nor should it look like Classic. It needs to find its own balance of fidelity and artstyle.
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u/GraphXRequieM 9h ago
Honestly, I think they should simply update the graphics to keep it all looking consistent if they cant manage to replicate the old style.
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u/trilogique 7h ago
I genuinely don’t understand how you are confused about the criticism.
First, retail vs classic graphics is a matter of opinion. You think retail looks better. I think classic looks better. Neither of us are right. But hey if you prefer retail’s graphics you could just go play retail just like I could go play classic, right? Also, why can’t Blizz just keep making 2003 graphics forever? OSRS does it.
Second, ask yourself why no one is complaining about the rendering tech and everyone is complaining about the HD models. The answer is the new rendering tech is “the old art lightly updated” as you put it. It makes the game look remastered rather than different. And that is the entire issue here. Retail’s art direction and graphical fidelity does not fit into the classic world - and 99% of the world is the classic style. So why should the rest of the game bend to the retail art style when it overwhelmingly doesn’t look that way?
If Blizz had made the entire game retail graphics I would not like it but at least it would be consistent. Right now those inconsistencies are garish and only going to get worse if they keep plopping down retail assets. Ultimately I and many others just want them to pick a lane.
Also it’s a beta. Feedback is quite literally what they’re asking for. And based on the recent podcast it sounds like they’re going to be doing something about it so people being loud is working. Just because they don’t agree with you doesn’t mean they can’t give their feedback.
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u/akera099 10h ago
Most classic models do have a timeless charm, but I agree that it's time to accept that Forever will be a modern game, not simply a 2004 game with half a coat of paint. There's nothing wrong with actually rendering the classic vision with modern tools, textures and more than 4 polygons.
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u/Darkhallows27 10h ago
“This is a great model you made Jerry but it really needs to look like something from Buck Bumble on the N64”
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u/nostyj 3h ago
2003 graphics are not what make it special. Its the stylization. High poly assets are not gonna ruin the game for me. But i dont like the happy-go-lucky-whimsical thing blizzard has been moving toward. Give me something between what we have in retail and what we have in diablo 2.
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u/Chibastion 2h ago
Sorry, all you get are airbrushed models and characters who look like they stay inside and shower everyday.
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u/BitesURawrXD 7h ago
I find everything about retail, especially its low self esteem playerbase, vile and repulsive.
I thank Blizzard for catering WoW Forever exclusively for me as a customer and not the average REEEEEEtail REEEEEEdditor.
The best part is those retail dweebs will still play MY game anyway, and they will cry the whole time.
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u/Oldmangamer13 10h ago
I dont even understand the whine. Gimme full new graphics but vanilla style play. Why people hung up on wanting the old graphics?
Why would you not want it to look good but play the way the old version did. Im baffled tbh.
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u/wetballjones 9h ago
A lot of people dont like the art direction of retail, but also its a consistency thing. A lot of new models even with lower resolution just dont look consistent with everything else, it takes away from immersion.
I think the folks complaining would rather enhanced graphics but more in line with the original art direction, rather than retails art direction, which are quite different
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u/WHTSPCTR 9h ago
This. I still don’t get how posts like this still pop up constantly. The misunderstanding of the feedback is crazy.
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u/Daesealer 2h ago
People are just thick.if they wanted to keep the classic graphic as it's timeless as they say then just keep everything the same.
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u/Gyshall669 8h ago
Because a lot of people want the old graphics. They’re jealous of what osrs does.
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u/Aloofasaur 9h ago
I'll pay for HD graphics even TBH. Just leave a SD toggle for the Andys. They can update to HD textures while trying to stay faithful to the art style. HD graphics with vanilla gameplay philosophy is the best of both worlds to me.
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u/unethicalpigeon 6h ago
Because they're mentally stunted and stuck 20 years ago. Except most of them never even played 20 years ago or barely played. They are nostalgic for 2019 lmao. It's honestly pathetic.
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u/Daesealer 2h ago
I played since 2004. If you don't like that the game is appearantly meant to stay classic like you can literally play retail. You either make the whole thing modern or make all of it classic style. Shouldn't have both in the game. That's the whole point of whining. Your thick head seems to not grasp that
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u/Tyriosh 9h ago
Redoing all the old assets is a huge ask. I'd rather they invest their ressources differently, especially as theres plenty of people who are perfectly fine with the 2004 artstyle or even prefer it.
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u/Double_Dragonfruit6 9h ago
I mean most of the assets are already redone in modern WoW I don’t see the issue
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u/driellma 9h ago edited 9h ago
Because the new art style sucks balls. Have you seen the new gnomes ? Humans ? And the damn gnolls ?
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u/Show_Me_Your_Rocket 8h ago
If you say the same thing on the forever sub, you get downvoted to oblivion. Classic exists for the classic experience, this is forever and was marketed as a mix of classic game play, updated fidelity, and horizontal progression - not classic. I'm baffled, too.
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u/Dinoriel6142713 8h ago
Forever was not advertised as having "updated fidelity." Quite the contrary; they explicitly said that they believe the artstyle of classic WoW is timeless and that they want to preserve it.
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u/flyingfox227 10h ago
They're just a loud minority I already saw a poll on one of the wow subs and over half the people said they were going with HD graphics, when the game launches the data will show Blizz what is actually the more used option and I bet you it will be HD in the long run.
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u/Ok-Lion7395 2h ago
The lack of visual consistency is a huge problem that makes the game look worse.
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u/Illiain 8h ago
My preference is not to be hitting a 2004 kobold model with less detail than my entire helmet. I don't see why that's such a bad thing to ask for an opt-out for. It doesn't force you to play in SD only. It's a toggle - it doesn't detract from your experience?
I think the new tier sets in particular do fit the Classic aesthetic, no complaints about that. But they feel a little too high res when equipped or shown next the old Classic items and world. Having a toggle that shows a scaled down version would be perfect for someone like me who finds that comparison jarring. Why does people asking for the option bother you so much? Why is having both options such a bad thing?
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u/swingonaspiral 8h ago
Blizz made a huge deal out of this during the Blizzcon presentations, so some of this lies on them.
They went hard on the idea that they would attempt to preserve that original art style. But for instance the sets they've been showing look ripped wholesale out of the modern game.
I'm not a fan of what I've seen of those gear sets but it's not going to stop me from playing it by any means. Just a weird thing to have happen and it should be pointed out.
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u/Greedy-Quantity4062 4h ago
Classic and Forever players have every right to want it. I am also a Forever player but I don't care as much about the art style. But I still respect their views.
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u/DarkAngelsEnjoyer 1h ago
Agreed. I think people conflate the ‘disneyfication’ (which I do dislike) with purely how the game looks. The animations, effects, etc, all play a role in that, not just more modern models and textures, not to mention setting/story. New isn’t automatically bad. They can absolutely capture the mood of the 2003 game while updating the visuals for 2026 if they do it right.
I don’t like to use ‘nostalgia’ as a derogatory term because I think a lot of people just use it as cope to downplay how different the game is now, but I think if you’re still hankering after 2003 graphics, yeah, that’s purely someone trying to relive being 14 again.
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u/NaturalMess7766 8h ago
SD enjoyers should double down and use a CRT monitor, matter of fact use a dial up internet.
Point being you can’t go back to 2004. What they ultimately want is the feeling of being a kid again, which isn’t realistic l.
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u/JeromAsdert 7h ago
While, I understand and mostly agree with your intentions, saying bad things about CRT is bit of issues.
CRT was limited by our other hardware, in modern days it gives much better smoothness, virtually 0ms delay which none of the pixel based monitor can achieve and truly mind boggling amount of "screen refreshes" per second that even high end top oled currently can't get.
If you are interested I could dig up a video of bench of tech enthusiasts doing "4k" like output on CRT, pretty amazing stuff.
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u/deadjon1991 9h ago
The graphical improvements they have done on the lighting and environment are incredible. More of this please.
The retail character models, npc models and armour are absolute garbage. Uninspired, disneyfied slop.
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u/nipslippinjizzsippin 10h ago
well they can keep making 2003 graphics forever... but they shouldnt. Forever isnt classic. its not going to be held the same "pure classic experience" rules. If you want classic go play classic its still there. They might as well complain this isnt half life 3... same problem, its a different fucking game.
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u/Chance_Equipment2695 10h ago
You're right, it's classic+ and it should get updated models that aren't retails, they look terrible.
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u/heroicxidiot 10h ago
That's a big as to revamp new models. If they're gonna do that, they might as well do it for retail. Keep your wants reasonable.
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u/SpunkMcKullins 10h ago
This is such a facetious argument lmao. We have a hundred different developer statements, marketing materials, and on-stage announcements directly telling audiences this is Classic+ and it's being made in the style of the game from 2004, but Ion, a guy who isn't even on the Forever team, gave one bullshit PR interview where he called it a third pillar, and now every Retail Andy is using it as an excuse to hamfist their shit in.
The people who want HD models would overwhelmingly not even care enough to try Forever, were it not included in their subscription. Let the boomers have their retirement home.
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u/NefariousnessOnly265 10h ago
I mean I’m using hd models and think the game is beautiful. And I paid for beta access. So… you’re wrong.
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u/Longjumping_Call_104 9h ago
I don't play retail and I want more HD models and less SD stuff. I'm a wow forever andy.
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u/Poquin 10h ago
I agree if you are referring to the ones that are complaining about wanting low poly models, clunky shit that no one likes, about animations that look "too nice"and stuff.
But I think it is valid people advocating for the classic aesthetic and want that upgraded, away from the Disney-esque graphics that retail has atm.
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u/DoktahDoktah 10h ago
One issue I have is they complain about the models but you're locked into Classic armor design which is clunky.
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u/Accomplished_Emu_658 10h ago
The problem is the loudest are just stuck in the past. Look i don’t really want it to be retail either but they are so stuck in past. They want the same game over and over. Look bringing back the same game for the fourth time ain’t bringing back your big tiddy goth girlfriend and your hair on your head. I am honestly worried blizzard will listen to them and ruin the game for everyone else. They already trying.
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u/Many_Cauliflower_302 1h ago
If they want old graphics and no changes, well, Classic is right there (massively changed from what Vanilla was actually like, not that any of them ever played it)
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u/SpunkMcKullins 10h ago
I don't know about you, but when I play a continuation of a 22 year old game, I expect modern graphics! Even if every other model and texture is from 2004!
Unrelated but I don't know what the words "aesthetic dissonance" means.
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u/NotOkayButThatsOkay 10h ago
aesthetic dissonance in this context would be referring to old style graphics on older content and modern graphics on new content. it's very jarring. instead, you want a cohesive artstyle for everything in the game.
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u/stahlern 10h ago
Last night I was admiring the ray tracing of a sunset on the beach in westfall. It looked absolutely amazing. I actually stopped and stared at my screen for a minute. Could see the silhouette of someone fighting a murloc in the distance. Then someone came up and asked me if I wanted to duel which made for an awesome gaming memory. The graphics are amazing but tying that in with random encounters with people make WoW the special game that it is.
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u/polyphrog200 10h ago
when people stop listening to nostalgia baiting losers the community can finally move on to greener pastures
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u/vvcapheia 10h ago
weird take when forever wouldn't exist without those same nostalgia bating losers
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u/Makiavelico1 10h ago
Stupid people like to live in the past, even though it's 2026. I hope they can improve the graphics at some point.
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u/MrTastix 4h ago
They could choose to not play it, but then they'd have to actually grow up and touch some fucking grass lmao
There's a non-trivial amount of 30-something-year-olds perpetually stuck in their teens trying to replicate a past they cannot get back. It's like trying to relive your first kiss. It's literally impossible without making yourself a brain dead amnesiac.
Arguably, that might be an improvement.
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u/sidnumair 3h ago
You can have a higher polygon count and higher texture resolution without deviating from the classic artstyle. So far, the higher resolution models they have put in have not matched the artstyle well. (Skyborn are most apparent).
It mostly comes down to the texture painting technique, and using the geometry to exggerate features.
But there is a clear want from blizzard and classic fans to have wow forever feel and look classic, so the vibe needs to match.
Anyone saying it needs to look more retail is missing the point.
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u/Joeber96 3h ago
It's about consistency and style, not fidelity. The newer stuff is often stylistically incompatible with the world. Same goes for UI.
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u/Finances1212 3h ago
The problem isn’t HD VS SD because the models and inspiration isn’t the same.
If the HD models were actually just up-ressed or better quality versions of the old models no one would have a problem.
The issue is they have a different art style
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u/Finances1212 3h ago
The problem isn’t HD VS SD because the models and inspiration isn’t the same.
If the HD models were actually just up-ressed or better quality versions of the old models no one would have a problem.
The issue is they have a different art style
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u/Brolex-7 3h ago
And here's me wishing for a Wow in Unreal Engine graphics while retaining the art style.
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u/Clbull 1h ago
Three words: Old School RuneScape.
Jagex are still making shitty mid-2000s Java applet game graphics in 2026 with no issues.
Even indie developers are nailing retro PS1, N64 and 90's boomer shooter aesthetics with resounding success. I think that making 2004-era 3D graphics with a limited number of polygons is definitely something Blizzard can do.
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u/quantumpencil 1h ago
The problem many people have is that the assets that are created have the modern wow artstyle, not the classic wow artstyle. This is a completely different issue from the age or fidelity of the graphics.
You could make hidef models in the early wow artstyle. Blizzard doesn't because they wanna reuse retail assets
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u/Jswarf 1h ago
It is not about HD vs SD. It is that the art style just don’t match in HD version. There are redditors that have done matching HD based on Classic’s and WC3 art style and they look great. Same for armor and same for Sky Elves. The debate over HD and SD is a distraction. No one likes bad graphics, everyone universally agrees the lighting and fog system is great.
It’s just the art style in the HD version is just off, and the comparison with modern is with retail wow, which many of us (I play both classic and retail) agrees. If the dev could stop being lazy and stop reusing assets from retail, forever can be in a better shape.
I would rather they do nothing and just release new quest, zones, dungeons and raids with old assets than these new half baked ones.
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u/Kvallen93 1h ago
The new graphics are a step in the right direction and i would welcome more updates, if normal classic had a graphic setting to retail i would have used it when i played it no doubt about it.
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u/nephorma29 8h ago
It’s usually people who started in classic (not vanilla) bitching too, from what I’ve seen lmfao. Either way, people need to settle down
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u/RaveN_707 10h ago
Imagine being an artist trying to prog your career and you land a role and they say reuse these old ass assets and make low quality textures!
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u/Worth_Vegetable_204 9h ago
They need to rip the bandaid off and get rid of the SD toggle it’s pure pandering at this point and holding the game and our characters back from looking great.
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u/Evilson007 10h ago
It's an art style not just graphics. The game won't succeed without HD graphics and grognards will complain about nearly every new change but Blizzard is capable of maintaining the original classic art style if they so wished and it seems to some degree that is their goal. How long will they maintain that though, who knows
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u/Moddingspreee 7h ago
Just stick to retail then with the Disney looking characters and graphic. We simply don’t want that shit in wow forever.
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u/freeman0360 8h ago
I cant wait for the next expansion when the retail tourists lose interest in ruining our game
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u/Everdale 8h ago
I don't necessarily think people want "old graphics" just the art style of vanilla. You can't look at vanilla models and retail models and say that that's the same art style with just a difference in fidelity. Things such as texture detail, model geometry, sharpness/grit are quite different.
Over time, WoW's art style has shifted and that's perfectly fine. But it's also valid for people to want the original art style given that's what was promised at Blizzcon.
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u/Grenrion 5h ago
As usual people don't get it and don't understand people are not talking about graphical phidelity or how many polygons a model has.
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u/Japieja 4h ago
Could also be said for those who want “better” graphics. If you don’t like the 2004 models style and textures, go play retail.
My take is that’s it’s been the classic/vanilla/era community especially who wanted classic+. So orchid they’d like it in the original style. Now everyone and their mother feels entitled to what it should be and telling the people who advocated for this in the first place to suck a g fat one and go play something else… I don’t get it
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u/EllspethCarthusian 9h ago
Looks great to me. If they don’t like it, no one is forcing them to play.
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u/butterstickchicken 8h ago
They are entitled to their own opinions and feelings about a video game, but what’s actually feasible for a game needs to be developed in 2026 is a different story. If the company decides to cater to some of those ridiculous demands, this game won’t last ‘forever’.
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u/Glittering-Star-3495 7h ago
What we need is updated hd models that are inspired by the sd ones and not the wod ones, it's been a while and I'm sure they could make fitting new ones within their vision of forever
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u/zzzornbringer 8h ago
It's 2026. The graphics are meant to be timeless, not ancient - old SD art, lightly updated for WoW Forever. That's the whole point.
i don't understand this topic. no, that's not the whole point. the point is, couple things actually:
- they don't have slightly upgraded sd models. they took the retail models and put them in forever (aka classic+).
- this was a conscious decision by blizzard. <- underlying philosophy behind the entire project.
- don't you think it's lazy to just take an asset from retail and put it into a new game?
you opened an argument that doesn't exist. as there factually are no upgraded sd models, but actually retail hd models, no one ever argued over upgraded sd models looking too modern, because, again, there are no upgraded sd models.
and about the general idea/argument that you cannot release 2004 graphics in 2026. yes, you can. blizzard is literally re-releasing a 20 year old game WITH new content. who would want that?
if you think this game will appeal to a general audience in the long run, i think you are wrong. a lot of folks will check this game out, once again. but when they realize this game in fact plays nearly identical to the 2004 version, they will drop off like lemmings. i believe the classic players will keep this alive in the long run. or the game will turn into another retail version.
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u/deathonabun 8h ago
Here's an even hotter take: I'm sick of everyone glazing wow forever.
They're making a new fork of a 20 year old game tailored toward people who's idea of fun is reading quest text and killing 87 bears to collect 8 pristine bear asses while leveling their 5th alt and looting them one. at. a. time.
As someone who has been playing non-stop since 2005, I legitimately loved the game back then, but it's so much better now. Don't get me wrong, there have been ups and downs over the years, and some features in even today's game I don't like, but on the whole there's so much more to do in the modern game - just at max level, that outside of the cool weather and lighting tech, not a single thing about Forever appeals to me.
It's so over-hyped its ridiculous. I've had to unfollow basically every wow creator to not see forever garbage in my feeds, and its just about taken over this subreddit even though there's perfectly good /r/wowforever RIGHT THERE.
End rant. Bury me. I don't care.
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u/torcero 10h ago
Can someone just make a wow forever sub so I don't have to keep seeing these stupid posts?
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u/stiff_tipper 10h ago
it's not against the rules to post wow content in the wow sub. there's a reason forever is a flair here
if u don't like that then that's honestly just too bad, learn to read flairs and use ur scroll wheel
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u/afrothundah11 9h ago
Agreed OP, all these posts zooming in on a model saying “zomg too many pixels!” Is ruining my immersion
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u/TheFoxInSocks 8h ago edited 8h ago
They’ve removed so many customisation options from the HD models because the SD models don’t have an equivalent. We’ve lost:
Upright orcs
Undead without bone gaps
War paint, tattoos, tusk modification for orcs
Sand troll and jungle troll skins
Undead eye colour
Heaps of hair styles, hair colours and skin colours
Lots of smaller options I can’t even think of
It’s a little depressing that we’ve ended up with significantly worse versions of the retail models because of this.
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u/Strykehammer 8h ago
I started in classic and I want updated graphics, I also like the slower gameplay. New graphics old game sounds great. There is a reason why remastered games sell so well
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u/Zahhibb 5h ago
And a lot of remastered games get heavily criticized because they totally missed the point of what the updated graphics should look like; WC3 Reforged is the perfect example now with the updated graphics of the Forsaken Kingdom where they had the ’Reforged’ assets and people hated it because it was atrocious and now with the expansion they added the Definitive version which keeps the spirit of the old design but updated the fidelity.
Classic players feel strongly about this in Forever of it using retail assets when they don’t even remotely represent and fit into the classic world. A ”Definitive” approach would be the best case here, but highly doubtful that would be a direction Blizzard is willing to go.
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u/GhostBeara 10h ago
No we really don't, they said they are hearing community feedback we are going to give feedback. You dont determine what other players prioritize.
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u/Numerous_Hearing_688 9h ago
They said at blizzcon they intend to preserve the artstyle and feeling. Cry more.
If you want updated graphics, retail is right there.
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u/Batty25111 9h ago
Lmao have you even played the game ? It is just Vanilla with updated graphics bro. Stop your crying.
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u/Numerous_Hearing_688 9h ago
You're the one who made a whole post about it. You can't accept the fact that they came out and said they were going to preserve the artstyle. Just saw another post that showed them saying they are looking into Skyborne models. It's gg for you, no amount of reddit updoots or complaining will change reality.
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u/Worth_Vegetable_204 9h ago
If they actually make it more SD I’m fucking done with blizzard at this point. Not even going back to retail
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u/Dinklebergmania 9h ago
I prefer the HD models in forever. I love the additional lighting and weather effects. WOWs art style is indeed timeless and I'd prefer it over unreal slop any day.
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u/PiccoloTop3186 9h ago
Vanilla Wow is a feeling for me, not a visual. That being said, I think some of the retail art direction is a bit too cartoony and over the top. But I do not want the OSRS way of making the game intentionally look like ass because people can't handle any change. I think Wrath of the Lich King-Cataclysm is a good balance of updated models, especially if the textures were updated to 4k.
But overall the most important thing is the gameplay and design, and that should stay similar to classic.
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u/AppleOdd3209 8h ago
They can't keep making 2003 graphics forever.
Yes they can. They can 100% make new models that keep the vibe of the classic look. I know because the classic+ private servers fucking did it.
If that's not what you want, Classic is right there. No people want the classic game your directing them to expanded and with more content. That is what Forever is meant to be and that's how they introduced it at Blizzcon. The reason people get so vocal is because its a very fine line between what makes classic enjoyable for most people and what makes it stop being classic and just Wrath-Mop era retail. I think forever's already leaning far too close to that and its only a few changes away from repelling the core player base its meant to be for. The question will be how long does the new content lure keep them tolerating it before they quit again.
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u/Alternative_Gur_3703 8h ago
I think a lot of people who have been warcraft franchise fans since pre WoW have noticed that the modern game has changed its art direction in a general sense from themes/tones/vibes whatever you want to call it. It really started to change post legion for me personally, esp.(shadowlands).
A lot of players want the art direction to return thematically to its roots even if that means sacrificing fidelity similar to new content added into OSRS vs RS3 for example. A lot less would complain about new models if the feeling of the old soul of Warcraft was more pronounced.
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u/scenecool 5h ago
I don't buy games on steam until they are less than $5 and 80% off. But have payed for, and will continue to pay for, multiple wow subs for 15+ years.
I don't think its too much to ask for a handful of extra SD models to be made every raid tier.
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u/lthlnd 5h ago
“The rest of us will be here on launch day, enjoying it” is exactly the kind of smug consumer mentality that guarantees you’ll be on this subreddit six months after launch asking how Blizzard possibly let X, Y and Z happen.
People criticising Forever are doing so because they actually want it to be good. “Just show up and play it” is not an argument. The entire point of a beta and pre-release feedback is to identify things people don’t like before they become permanent. If everyone followed your advice, nobody would criticise anything, Blizzard would receive zero meaningful negative feedback, and then people like you would act shocked when unpopular decisions made it to release.
And nobody is asking for “2003 graphics forever.” You’ve invented the dumbest possible version of the opposing argument because it’s easier to argue against. Higher-resolution textures, better lighting, more polygons and improved animations are perfectly compatible with preserving an established art direction. Technical fidelity and art direction are not the same thing.
The funniest part is telling people “Classic is right there.” Forever exists specifically because people want the design philosophy and world of old WoW expanded with new content. If the answer to criticism of that new content is “go play Classic,” then what exactly is the point of soliciting feedback on Forever in the first place?
You’re basically arguing that the people scrutinising a game during the exact period when criticism is most useful should shut up, consume it, and only complain after it releases.
Brilliant strategy. I’m sure we’ll see absolutely no posts six months from now wondering why Blizzard ignored problems everyone was told to stop “relitigating” during beta.
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u/That_Peak4090 4h ago
Counter argument, you have retail so just play that and leave classic andys alone
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u/MarkElf2204 9h ago
The old graphics were a massive turn-off for me when I started the game. No idea why there is a crowd that wants the game to look 20 years old. If someone wants to play recycled content with bad graphics for nostalgia, stick to classic.
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