It’s safe to say that Blizzard hasn’t been in everybody’s good books as of late. And for proof, we need look no further than the recent FFXIV exodus. For even more proof, however, we need look no further than their most recent stunt, which saw the developer actively fanning the flames by ‘sabotaging’ Echo Guild’s attempt at scoring a Race for World First win.
The latest Sanctum of Domination raid pits players against Sylvanus Windrunner. And the Race for World First has seen WoW’s top players attempting to best the Banshee Queen on Mythic difficulty. From a pool of five clans, Echo seemed to crack the code for victory, as plucky team member Robin ‘Naowh’ Gabay began to solo-tank the Mawforged Colossus, while the rest of the team wailed on Sylvanus in her damage phase.
The plan looked to be fool-proof, with Echo estimating that Sylvanus’ health would reduce to 45% before her enrage kicked in. That is, right up until Blizzard decided to hotfix the Colossus mid-fight by enraging the mob and flooring Naowh in an instant. Unsurprisingly, the rest of the team soon followed.What ensued was a slew of expletives as the esports aficionados encountered an unnecessary hurdle just as their plan was coming together. While the team later bested the run regardless, the move left a bitter taste in the mouths of all involved.
It could be argued that their Sanctum of Domination victory was rendered even sweeter in the face of unfavourable odds. As Echo defeated Sylvanus before any other guild, they broke the double streak of rivals Complexity-Limit and left viewers thrilled with their performance. The only question that remains is whether Blizzard decides to break their silence on their actions. It’s doubtful, but in the meantime, at least we have the memes.
