Last week, a number of emotes with had a bad history of abuse were removed from theWorld of WarcraftPublic Test Realm. In a build released yesterday, several of them were re-added but with the caveat that they can no longer be used on other players.
The /drool, /cough, /burp, /fart, /whistle, /spit, and /moon emotes were the subject of this most recent change inWorld of Warcraft. Previously, when a player input these emotes while targeting another player, the output text would describe the player’s character interacting with their target in rather colorful ways. These emotes no longer change if the player has another player targeted, and now only involve the player’s own character.
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Other emotes have beenremoved fromWorld of Warcraftentirely. The /kick, /stink, /shake, and /moan emotes are no longer usable, and the /pounce and /groan emotes have seen their interactions with other players changed to have a less negative connotation. The changed emotes, which may seem harmless at a glance, can and have been used against other players in ways that are intrusive, rude, or sexually suggestive. Interestingly, several other, more positive emotes, such as an /impressed and a /magnificent emote, were added in the same PTR build.
These changes are the direct result ofWorld of Warcraft’srecent promise to become more inclusive. In light of recent events, the least of all being several lawsuits that have been filed against Activision Blizzard,World of Warcraftis in hot water. Since the first of these lawsuits was filed against Blizzard in July, eyes across the gaming industry have been on the company, waiting to see what Blizzard’s response would be.
While these relatively small changes will not makeWorld of Warcraft’stroubles disappear, they may be able to act as building blocks to foster a better future for the game and community, should the game continue to build on the momentum it has promised. The game has been out for the better part of two decades, and in that time, the large community the game has gathered has grown notoriously toxic and unfriendly.Asmongold, a popularWorld of Warcraftstreamerknown for having a particularly rowdy following, provided a poignant example by starting a trend of hunting downWorld of Warcraftplayers who rode mounts purchased from the cash shop and harassing them with the /spit emote. With this most recent change, such harassment is much harder to pull off.
Of course, there are always players who will be dissatisfied with such changes. These people claimWorld of Warcraftis pandering to the “woke” crowd, and that the emotes are just harmless fun. Whether or not such claims are founded, it is true changing a few emotes will not clean up the toxic communityWorld of Warcrafthas been allowed to foster without more strict moderation or penalties for harassment. That being said, it is certainly another step in what most consider the right direction.
