Following today’s major Warcraft III: Reforged 2.0 update, Blizzard has released a full list of patch notes, revealing changes to everything from multiplayer to various bug fixes.
The biggest highlight is the graphics update, which adds HD versions of classic units, buildings, visual effects, environments and icons. It also includes the option to customize Reforged and Classic HD assets, so fans can mix and match as they wish.
Elsewhere, Warcraft III: Reforged 2.0 includes lighting improvements, the addition of XP and leveling to ranked play, and music from Warcraft I and II. The user interface also comes with various updates.
Update 2.0 is another step forward in the face of Blizzard’s unfortunate remaster, which is considered one of the worst moments in the publisher’s long history. The original release was panned for destitute graphics, missing features, and broken promises, earning it a bad reputation from which it never really recovered. Nevertheless, Blizzard continued working on Warcraft III: Reforged in the background, adding ranked play and other requested features.
The launch of Warcraft III: Reforged 2.0 was part of Wednesday’s Warcraft 30th Anniversary broadcast, which also included the release of Warcraft I and II remasters, World of Warcraft updates, and more. You can read the full list of patch notes below.
Warcraft III: Reforged 2.0 patch notes
Classic HD+ add-on system
- Added HD versions of classic units, buildings, visual effects, heroes, environments and icons.
- A modern section has been added (under Reforged on the options screen) that will allow players to customize Reforged and Classic HD assets.
Collection
- The collection screen now has an option to filter skins and portraits.
- Added 5 modern starting portraits to Warcraft III.
- Added Reforged Campaign Heroes as playable skins in multiplayer (if the skin has a classic equivalent, the classic version will display if you have Classic HD Heroes enabled).
- Added an option to disable skins (for players who only want to see default units).
- Warcraft 2 portraits added.
- Warcraft 1 portraits added.
User interface
- Added Frozen Throne (TFT) theme. Players can switch back by clicking the logo in the main menu or options.
- Menu flow updated.
- All front-end menus have been updated.
- Added in-game hotkey customization screen in options menu. Players must have custom keys enabled to access the menus.
- Added options to enable APM, FPS, Timer and Ping in the options menu.
- Added the ability for a player to view their match history if they have a saved replay.
- Added a search filter to create a game.
- Added a search filter for replays.
In-game user interface
- Added an in-game timer that can be turned on/off via options or with “/time”.
- Added denial indicator that can be turned on/off via options.
- Added Goldmine employee counter which can be enabled/disabled via options.
- Added a race indicator in the allies menu (F11) next to player names.
- All chats are disabled by default, but can be manually enabled via options.
- Team creation is disabled by default, but can be manually enabled in the options.
- By default, health bars are always on, but they can be changed manually via options.
- Post-renewal numbers are enabled by default, but can be disabled manually via options.
- The idle worker key will only snap the camera to the device after double tapping the player.
- HUD can now be scaled in this option.
- Classic Mode HUD now has the ability to remove side borders.
- The Talking Head campaign interface is disabled by default, but can be manually enabled via options.
Music
- Added Warcraft 1 and Warcraft 2 music as an option.
Multiplayer mode
- Added XP and leveling to ranked play.
- Leaderboard ranking is based on XP, if a player has the same XP rank the tiebreaker will be MMR.
- MMR bands have been reduced from 0-10000 to 0-7000.
- MMR will no longer reset after a modern season if you are currently ranked. MMR will be slightly reset if you played 0 matches in the previous season.
- Level and XP will be completely reset at the start of each season.
- AT can no longer match RT in 4v4 and 3v3 modes.
- Added game servers located in Chicago, United States and Sydney, Australia.
Rebuilt environments
- All Reforged Terrian graphics have been updated for all environments.
- Various tree ornaments have been updated to reflect environmental changes.
- Leaves are disabled by default.
Rebuilt lighting
- Bloom has been removed.
- The tone map has been updated.
- Increased ambient lighting.
Settings
- All settings have been set to default.
Hints
- Updated various tooltips to better reflect Hero skill usage.
Editor of the World
- Added option to enable/disable add-ons from Reforged to Classic HD.
- Added the ability to enable/disable leaves.
Bug fixes
- Fixed an issue where players could no longer create or invite players to clans.
- Fixed an issue where the Demon Hunter would permanently lose his sight if revived by the Reincarnation Ankh.
- Fixed an issue where match results were not being processed.
Duster
- Fixed an issue that prevented Mac users from launching the game.
Kat Bailey is IGN’s news director and co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Got a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.