Blizzard restricts combat add-ons, plans follow-up mini‑patch and UI updates

Pcgamer reports this week’s pre-patch for Blizzard’s Midnight expansion, which launches March 2, introduced major restrictions on what combat information add-ons can read and added new core UI functions; senior game director Ion Hazzikostas said a follow-up mini-patch, 12.0.1, will arrive in the next month to continue improving core features.

The changes include dramatic limits on the data available to combat mods, streamlining and simplification of many character classes and specializations, and new built-in tools intended to replace common add-on functions. Early alpha testing that initially cut real-time combat data broke a range of add-ons—including UI reskins and accessibility tools—so Blizzard eased some restrictions, confined the strictest limits to instanced combat (dungeons, raids and PvP), and worked directly with popular mod authors while adding more customizable UI options.

Hazzikostas said developers expect players to find loopholes and workarounds and will adjust encounters and the add-on API "in close to real time" to keep things fair. Blizzard is also rolling out features such as more-customizable frames, a Cooldown Manager and expanded damage-meter options across the 12.0, 12.0.1 and future updates, and the studio frames this as an ongoing process rather than a one-off change.

Key Topics

Culture, Midnight Expansion, Ion Hazzikostas, Wow Add-ons, Elvui