Where Are WoW Classic Servers Hosted? A Deep Dive into Blizzard’s Infrastructure
The physical location of game servers is a crucial factor in online gaming, directly impacting latency, connection stability, and overall player experience. For World of Warcraft (WoW) Classic, server locations might seem like a behind-the-scenes detail, but they are a vital part of ensuring a smooth and engaging gameplay experience. So, where are these nostalgic worlds actually housed?
WoW Classic servers, specifically those for the Americas region, are physically hosted in two primary locations: Chicago, Illinois, and Los Angeles, California. These are the core data centers that house the hardware necessary to run the game for players in North America, Latin America, and the Oceanic region. It’s important to note that while Sydney, Australia was once a hosting location, it has since been moved from Los Angeles on October 28, 2014.
This dual setup ensures redundancy and load balancing, vital for handling the thousands of players that log in to Azeroth daily. By having multiple geographically distinct locations, Blizzard mitigates the risk of widespread outages due to localized issues. Now, let’s delve deeper into some related questions that frequently arise among players.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About WoW Classic Servers
What is the Region of WoW Servers and How Does it Affect Me?
The five World of Warcraft realm regions are: Americas, Europe, Korea, Taiwan, and China. Your realm’s region is tied directly to the region of your World of Warcraft account. This means if you created your account for the Americas, you are playing on servers in that region. There is a strict region lock in place, meaning that you cannot transfer your account, progress or items to a different region. To play on a different region, you will need to purchase a new WoW license.
Are There Still Classic WoW Servers?
Short answer: Yes! Though they aren’t the massive populations of launch, Classic Era servers are still active. The long answer is that all Classic Era servers have been merged based on region and type, now referred to as “clusters“. These clusters vary in population, with PVP clusters tending to have more players. If you are looking to play Classic Era, it is a great time to return and engage with its more niche but devoted player base.
What Servers are Connected in WoW Classic?
Classic Era servers have been connected into specific clusters to bolster player populations. Here’s the breakdown for connected realms:
- [PVP West]: Anathema, Arcanite Reaper, Bigglesworth, Blaumeux, Fairbanks, Kurinnaxx, Rattlegore, Smolderweb, Thunderfury, and Whitemane
- [OCE PVP]: Arugal, Felstriker, and Yojamba
- [PVE East]: Ashkandi, Mankrik, Pagle, Westfall, and Windseeker
These connections are designed to provide a more robust and lively environment.
How Populated are WoW Classic Servers?
Server populations in WoW Classic vary quite a bit. Data from November 2023 shows that US West PvP server Whitemane was the most populated at 7204 players with a 53% Horde and 47% Alliance split. Other servers such as Thunderfury, Bigglesworth, Anathema, Fairbanks, Smolderweb, Blaumeux, and Arcanite Reaper, had populations ranging from 459 to 116 players respectively. Note that the population data tends to fluctuate. While the numbers may not be massive, the classic community remains dedicated and active.
Do People Still Play WoW Classic in 2023?
Absolutely! World of Warcraft Classic remains extremely popular in 2023. The “classic” version provides a throwback gameplay experience for long-time fans, and also an experience for newcomers that want to experience an older version of the MMO. The Classic community is alive and kicking.
Is WoW Classic Region Locked?
Yes, WoW Classic is region locked. You cannot transfer accounts, progress, game time, or items between different regions. If you want to play in a different region, you have to purchase a new World of Warcraft license for that specific region.
What Servers are Connected in Modern WoW?
Modern World of Warcraft has its own connected realm groups. Some examples include:
- Mirage Raceway, Nethergarde Keep, and Pyrewood Village
- Ashbringer, Bloodfang, Dragonfang, Earthshaker, Gandling, Golemagg, Mograine, Noggenfogger, Skullflame, and Firemaw
- Dreadmist, Flamelash, Judgement, Razorgore, Shazzrah, Stonespine, Ten Storms, and Gehennas
These connected realms help bolster the player populations in the modern version of the game.
Which Region Has the Most WoW Players?
The Americas region, including the US, Brazil, Latin America, and Oceanic, has an estimated 24 million characters. The European region has around 22 million characters, with the English language realms accounting for 10.6 million of them. These figures show a relatively balanced split between the player bases of the two largest regions.
Is it Worth Playing WoW Classic in 2023?
Yes, it’s still worth playing WoW Classic in 2023. Despite not having the massive numbers of the initial launch, the game provides a unique experience that many players still appreciate. The community is active and the game maintains a charm that many find missing in modern MMORPGs.
Is Wrath Classic Still Alive?
Wrath of the Lich King (WOTLK) Classic is still active, though it is primarily focused on raiding and endgame content. While the leveling and old zones may be less populated, the endgame remains engaging, with plenty of content to explore in raids and arenas.
How Many People Still Play Classic WoW?
While exact numbers are always fluctuating, it’s estimated that the daily player count of World of Warcraft Classic is around 852,237, with a total player base of 29,903,036. These are quite significant numbers, underscoring the game’s lasting popularity.
Where is the Default Installation Location for WoW Classic?
By default, the installer chooses the path /Applications/World of Warcraft on MacOS, or the equivalent under Windows. It’s standard to install the game on your local hard drive, but there isn’t an actual “server location” for the client.
Where are Blizzard Servers Hosted?
Blizzard Online Network Services are run in 10 data centers around the world. These include facilities in Washington, California, Texas, Massachusetts, France, Germany, Sweden, South Korea, China, and Taiwan. Blizzard uses a massive infrastructure of 20,000 systems and 1.3 petabytes of storage to support its gaming operations. The specific location of WoW servers can vary, based on the game region.
Why Did Blizzard Servers Shut Down in China?
The shutdown of Blizzard’s games in China was due to difficulties in acquiring game-publishing permits, and due to a dissolved partnership with a Chinese company. As a result, all of Blizzard’s games in China, including World of Warcraft, Overwatch, and Hearthstone, were shut down in the country.
Why are WoW Servers So One-Sided?
WoW servers often trend towards one faction due to player preferences. The ideal scenario for many is a realm with a large player base of the same faction. This maximizes flexibility, provides more opportunities for group content, and reduces resistance from the opposing faction. This often leads to a snowball effect where populations are further driven towards the favored faction on a server.