As many prepare to gather for the festive holiday, take a moment to appreciate your situation—after all, it could be much worse; you could be navigating family dynamics under the watchful eye of Malfurion as your surrogate father.
Here’s your comprehensive Friday roundup, highlighting the significant events from this past week, outlining key details to carry into next week, and offering some essential tips to help you navigate the busy days ahead.
What Happened This Week?
This week brought exhilarating news with the simultaneous launch and relaunch of two exciting content sets for WoW Classic. Players involved in the Season of Discovery finally gained access to the AQ phase with the rollout of phase 6—the raid’s official grand opening, however, is scheduled for December 6. Meanwhile, another group of devoted Classic enthusiasts received fresh servers, embarking on a nostalgic journey starting from day one and heading all the way through The Burning Crusade over the coming year.
In addition to that, the newest hero for Overwatch 2, the phreaker tank Hazard, was unveiled with an engaging cinematic, followed by a highly anticipated gameplay trailer. Players can experience Hazard firsthand this weekend prior to his official introduction in Season 14.
The nominees for The Game Awards were announced, igniting much discussion about the selections—both praised and criticized. Of course, it’s always the perfect time to extol the virtues of Balatro, a game that promises to consume your life in the most delightful way. This should in no way be viewed as a downside.
What’s Happening Next Week (and beyond)
The upcoming week is set to be vibrant with the ongoing Diablo 4 festivities that commenced last week, now featuring an exciting twist. Alongside the spine-chilling Red-Cloaked Horror event and the return of Mother’s Blessing, players have the incredible opportunity to immerse themselves in Diablo 4 for free until December 2. This includes access to the Vessel of Hatred expansion and the newly introduced Spiritborn class, available up to level 25. For those looking to indulge their Diablo 4 cravings further down the line, mark your calendars: Season 7, themed around witchcraft, will kick off on January 21.
Next week additionally heralds the return of Pilgrim’s Bounty, one of the more quirky holidays celebrated in World of Warcraft. Here’s wishing all the Rogues out there good fortune as they fight for survival amid the festivities.
On top of that, we finally have confirmed launch dates for the much-anticipated Hearthstone Battlegrounds Season 9, set to kick off on December 3, alongside the next resetting of Diablo 2: Resurrected’s ladder for Season 9 on December 6. While not exactly next week, the excitement is palpable as we gear up for these exhilarating updates, particularly regarding the removal of Trinkets in HSBGs.
Podcasts
The main Blizzard Watch Podcast this week delved into the exciting revelations from the Warcraft Direct, focusing heavily on the eagerly awaited WoW roadmap. As anticipated, we shared a wealth of opinions surrounding the topic of player housing. Meanwhile, the Lore Watch podcast explored the intriguing parallels between narrative storytelling in WoW and Diablo, alongside playful matchmaking of lore figures who wield similar abilities. In their typical humorous style, they prompted, “(Now kiss).”
If you’re keen to get an early listen to the podcast, Tier 2 Patreon patrons can enjoy access two days ahead of the general release. Additionally, your support earns you our infinite gratitude.
Reminders, to-dos, and ICYMIs
<pAs per usual, we’ll subtly remind you to check out our weekly list of games you might want to try out this week. (And also, Balatro).
If you happen to be American, and are responsible for the Thanksgiving turkey this year while it remains frozen, remember the golden rule: allow one day of thawing in the refrigerator for every four pounds of turkey. Therefore, if you’ve procured a 15-pound turkey, plan on moving it to the fridge on Sunday if you wish to commence roasting it overnight from Wednesday into Thursday. If you prefer a wet brine method, consider starting a day sooner—though a dry brine is feasible if the turkey’s center still requires a bit more time to thaw. As the season unfolds, it’s also a wise moment to think ahead to the next holiday; if ugly holiday sweaters featuring gaming themes are on your radar, we’ve got you covered.
Personally, Icarus remains close to my heart, though it may soon be overshadowed by the amount of cholesterol found in the mouthwatering mac and cheese I plan to create for Thanksgiving, complemented by a generous serving of mashed potatoes. Ah, the joys of food-based holidays! At least I can still indulge with Balatro on my phone.
See you next week, Watchers.
How can players engage with *Diablo IV* during the ongoing in-game events and free access period?
**Interview with Game Analyst Sarah Johnson on This Week’s Blizzard News**
**Interviewer:** Welcome, Sarah! It’s great to have you here to discuss the latest happenings in the Blizzard gaming community. This week had quite a few exciting events and updates, including new content for *WoW Classic* and the unveiling of a new hero for *Overwatch 2*. Can you give us a quick overview of the key highlights?
**Sarah Johnson:** Absolutely! This week has been quite exhilarating for fans. The most notable news is the launch of phase 6 in *WoW Classic*, which allows players to finally access the AQ phase. The official grand opening for that raid is set for December 6, and players are really looking forward to it. Additionally, *Overwatch 2* fans were treated to the reveal of ‘Hazard’, the new phreaker tank hero. There’s a lot of buzz around his cinematic reveal and the gameplay trailer that’s been shared ahead of his official introduction in Season 14.
**Interviewer:** It sounds like Blizzard is keeping players engaged across multiple titles! What else caught your attention, particularly with respect to *Diablo IV*?
**Sarah Johnson:** Right! *Diablo IV* is currently celebrating ongoing in-game events. This week, players can participate in the Red-Cloaked Horror event and the return of Mother’s Blessing. What’s particularly exciting is that players can experience *Diablo IV* for free until December 2, which includes access to the *Vessel of Hatred* expansion and the new Spiritborn class up to level 25. It’s a fantastic way for both newcomers and returning players to dive into the game ahead of the forthcoming Season 7, themed around witchcraft, which starts on January 21.
**Interviewer:** That’s a generous offer! With the holiday season upon us, it seems like a great opportunity for fans to immerse themselves in these games. Speaking of which, how do you think players can best navigate the busy days ahead while still enjoying their gaming?
**Sarah Johnson:** Balance is key! Players should definitely try to carve out time for their gaming while managing holiday responsibilities. Engaging with limited-time events can be a good way to roll out some gaming fun into their schedule without feeling overwhelmed. Plus, participating in events like Pilgrim’s Bounty in *World of Warcraft* adds a festive touch to the experience. Don’t forget to check out the community, too—sharing experiences and tips can enhance everyone’s enjoyment of the games!
**Interviewer:** Great advice, Sarah! Lastly, as we head into next week, is there anything else to keep an eye on beyond the ongoing *Diablo IV* festivities?
**Sarah Johnson:** Yes! Look forward to the return of *Hearthstone* Battlegrounds Season 9, which kicks off on December 3, and the reset of *Diablo 2: Resurrected*’s ladder on December 6. There’s a lot of excitement brewing over these updates, especially with anticipated changes like the removal of Trinkets in *Hearthstone* Battlegrounds. It’s definitely a vibrant time for Blizzard fans!
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Sarah, for sharing your insights! It sounds like there’s plenty to look forward to in the weeks ahead.
**Sarah Johnson:** My pleasure! I’m excited to see how these events unfold and how players engage with them!
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For more updates on *Diablo IV* and other Blizzard news, you can follow the official news page at Blizzard [[1](https://news.blizzard.com/en-us/diablo4)].
