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WoW: Forever is described as keeping the slower, more deliberate combat of Classic World of Warcraft, while modern WoW moves at a faster pace. That contrast suggests there is room for both styles—not that evidence proves a broad player longing for slower MMOs. The exact headline quotation and its attribution are not verified by the available sources.
What WoW: Forever’s developer says about its pace
In a 2026 interview, World of Warcraft director Ion Hazzikostas described Forever’s combat as retaining the slower, more deliberate feel of Classic WoW. He said it is “a bit more tactical” and contrasted it with modern WoW’s faster pace. He also framed the difference as a strength: the two games appeal to different kinds of fans. Read the interview excerpt at Yahoo Tech.
This is a claim about combat, not a blanket description of every part of Forever. It also does not establish that most MMO players prefer slower pacing.
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Why some players value slower MMO pacing
In a September 2026 discussion on Blizzard’s World of Warcraft forums, players described slower play as making more room for reading quest text, travelling through the world, and interacting with other people. Those comments illustrate what some players enjoy; they are personal impressions, not a representative survey or measure of demand. Read the forum discussion.
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These examples point to a different rhythm of play. When combat and progression feel less urgent, players may have more opportunity to notice the setting, follow a quest’s story, or stop to talk. Whether that rhythm is appealing depends on what a player wants from an MMO; a slower pace is not automatically better for everyone.
Does this show a real longing for slower MMOs?
It shows that Blizzard is preserving a deliberate combat style for Forever and that some players say they appreciate the slower experience. It does not prove a general or growing demand across the MMO audience: the available sources provide no named statistic measuring that preference, and forum posts cannot stand in for one.
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A panel recap also characterizes Forever’s design as deliberate and tactical, but it is a secondary account rather than an official transcript. Read MMO-Champion’s panel recap.
What can be said about the headline quotation
The located interview supports Hazzikostas’s comments about slower, more deliberate Classic-style combat and different audiences for Forever and modern WoW. It does not verify the exact phrases “there’s a real longing for that slower, more deliberate pace” or “a deliberate pushback on this go go go nature.” Those words should not be treated as a confirmed direct quote from him on the strength of the available sources.
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