On World of Warcraft’s Rumored “Level Squish”

If you consider yourself a casual World of Warcraft player, you might not have heard the rumors circulating recently which state that the game’s development team have considered (and are perhaps still considering) the idea of “dramatically” lowering the game’s current maximum player character level of 120.

I was only made aware of these rumors relatively recently myself, so I consider now to be as appropriate a time as any to contribute my two cents to this sometimes-heated discussion. First, however, I feel it would be appropriate for me to lead with a bit of background on the subject of “squishing” various aspects of World of Warcraft’s gameplay for the sake of those who might be unaware.

The game has undergone two “squishes” at various points throughout its long and venerable history. According to my research, the first of these squishes was implemented in Patch 6.0.2, near the start of the lifespan of the (less-than-beloved) expansion Warlords of Draenor. Of course, although I played the game rather often back then, I didn’t quite understand what the squish would entail or why it was needed.

Thankfully for players such as myself, Blizzard issued an official statement detailing why they considered such a move to be necessary, as well as what players could expect in the wake of the squish. Within this statement, Blizzard declared that “we’ve gotten to a point where the numbers involved are no longer easy to grasp.” Blizzard went on to explain that “in order to bring things down to an understandable level, we’ve reduced the scale of stats throughout the game.”

In summary, Blizzard concluded that statement by mentioning that players “will still be just as powerful, but the numbers that appear will be more easily parsed.” Essentially, for example, tanks would have their health reduced from somewhere in the neighborhood of one million health down to a somewhat more manageable four hundred thousand or so.

In order to avoid the perception of a decrease in players’ power, however, enemy health and stats were also squished alongside player stats. Blizzard went rather far out of their way to emphasize that this squish was most assuredly not a direct nerf of player power and should not be perceived as such. Blizzard reiterated this same point leading up to the squish that took place alongside the release of Battle for Azeroth as well.

That clarification didn’t stop Blizzard from invoking the ire of a considerable portion of their player base, however. Speaking of the two-part squish that took place alongside Battle for Azeroth’s release, I feel that the changes to item levels in this context were necessary; I readily admit that I might be in the minority in that context, though.

Sure, having item levels at or near 1000 at the end of Legion might have played a significant role in making players feel more powerful, especially with the bonuses players received from Legion legendary items and fully-empowered artifact weapons. On the other hand, though, I can easily see how working with those numbers as they were (let alone increasing them) would quickly become untenable.

I think that last point leads me nicely into my thoughts on this rumored “level squish” concept. According to a Reddit user by the name of Nivens, Blizzard has reportedly been sending surveys to players in which they ask such questions as, “Are you aware that the maximum level will be reduced in the future (i.e. level squish)?”

Within that same survey, Blizzard also reportedly asks players how much they would like or dislike a reduction in character levels, alongside a claim that the new level cap will be “dramatically lower” than its current state. I know that probably sounds at least a bit alarming at first glance; it certainly does to me, at least.

However, based on what game director Ion Hazzikostas has recently said when discussing the concept of a level squish, I think we should at least give Blizzard a chance in this context before we instinctively start lighting our torches and sharpening our pitchforks. Allow me to elaborate.

According to the venerable fan site Wowhead, as well as the video of a Q&A session with Hazzikostas which took place this past March 21st; the main reason a level squish is being considered is due to the idea that “[i]t would be cool if every level you earned would give you a reward, instead of levels that currently give you nothing.”

In that same Q&A session back in March, Hazzikostas acknowledged the idea that the current max level might be discouraging for new players, even those who want to get into the game alongside their friends.

I seem to recall Hazzikostas posing a question in this context which I personally think raises a notable point. Namely, if memory serves, Hazzikostas rhetorically asked, “I have to go through how many levels before I can do the new stuff with [a friend]?”

On a personal note, that very same idea has discouraged a handful of my friends from getting into the game alongside me; that’s one of the biggest reasons I think a level squish might be beneficial for WoW. If attaining max level is made less daunting, and each level-up is more rewarding, I think a system like that could be just the metaphorical shot in the arm the game needs.

If it’s done right, a level squish could both encourage new players to give the game a try and possibly win back former players who have burned out on the game as a whole. However, note my choice of words there: “if a level squish is done right.”

I think that if Blizzard implements a level squish in order to address the concerns voiced by Ion Hazzikostas, and does so properly without overstepping any boundaries, such a squish could potentially be one of the best things that’s ever happened to WoW.

For now, though, we have to remember that the level squish is (supposedly) little more than a rumor. We must also bear in mind that if it does actually come to pass, it falls to us, the player base, to hold Blizzard to their word. I suggest exercising cautious optimism until we know more about a proposed level squish.