World Of Warcraft Multiboxing Will Soon Be Banned, Blizzard Warns

A new World of Warcraft update is cracking down on a controversial gaming practice known as multiboxing. It is now a bannable offense if players run multiple WoW accounts simultaneously. While the actual practice of multiboxing has not been blocked yet, Blizzard has confirmed that its updated policy includes a ban on all third-party systems that are used to mirror keystrokes.

The practice of using input broadcasting software is also known as multiboxing in the WoW community. It has long been considered a contentious point of debate, due to the software allowing players to control up to 40 characters at a time by duplicating their inputs across multiple accounts. Multiboxing provides players who use it with a significant advantage over players who only control one character and many say it’s responsible for ruining in-game economies by enabling farming bots.

Blizzard clarified its new policy on multiboxing in a blog post. According to Blizzard, multiboxing has had a detrimental effect on the game, and it’s banning the practice for the good of its community. The update does not confirm when the use of third-party input broadcasting software will be officially banned, but warns players that they should stop using it immediately to avoid any action taken against them. The developer says that it will begin issuing warnings to players found using input broadcasting software, which could escalate to suspensions and bans if the practice continues.

It is likely that the decision to announce the update was reached in order to appeal to average WoW gamers who can’t afford the multiple accounts required for multiboxing, especially as the impending Shadowlands expansion draws closer. The developers want to continue keeping fans satisfied since WoW is still a financially viable project. This policy will satisfy many WoW players who argue that multiboxers have an unfair advantage because players can pay to win and monopolize large hordes of materials that are important for character progression or complete in-game quests that typically require more than one player before single players get the chance.

WoW still draws a large and loyal fanbase, with estimates suggesting nearly 5 million players play the iconic MMO worldwide. The fact that Blizzard released this update before Shadowlands arrives should keep the vast majority of its subscribers happy and tuned in. As Shadowlands continues to generate excitement among fans, it will be interesting to see how this update influences World of Warcraftplayers and their attitudes towards the evergreen MMO.

Source: Blizzard