World Of Warcraft Dials Back Sexual Content In-Game

In the wake of the concerning Activision Blizzard lawsuit, the company has been doing some tidying up. Whether this is a result of a sincere attempt to right past wrongs or simply trying to wipe the slate to make themselves look better is for you to decide - but either way, changes are coming.

The boldest change the company has made recently is the announcement that Overwatch’s cowboy hero- formerly recognised as McCree - would be undergoing a name change due to the character being named after a member of staff involved directly in the events listed in the sexual harassment claims of the lawsuit.

And now, World of Warcraft is the latest title to see some changes.

World Of Warcraft Changes Paintings - Citing ‘Sexual Content’

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As World of Warcraft is pushing to bin some of the more sexually suggestive elements that linger in the game, players have already noticed a few changes to in-game paintings.

As revealed by WoWhead, some of the paintings depicting women have either been changed or entirely replaced.

One of the paintings depicts a woman with a deeply-cut robe, which has now been altered to give her a different outfit in a bid to cover her up. Another, where a woman is seen lying down, has now been entirely replaced, with a a bowl of fruit taking its place.

It’s a small change to be adopted by the WoW team in a game-wide tidy-up, but it'll presumably take any chance to distance itself from questionable attitudes towards women at this stage. The company is in a lot of trouble, and this is arguably just another step in too little, too late, policy.

How Has The Activision Blizzard Lawsuit Affected WoW?

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The Activision Blizzard lawsuit has created a lot of change in many of the company’s outputs, but none moreso than World of Warcraft. Blizzard promised immediate in-game action to keep the game sanitary and free of any sexually suggestive content, but many of the actions in-game came directly from the fans.

An in-game protest organised by role-playing guild Fence Macabre was organised and executed to raise money for Black Girls Code, all while standing up for the victims of Activision Blizzard’s alleged, disturbing actions.

While fans continue to stand in opposition to Activision Blizzard’s actions, the company continues its attempt to fix its tarnished image in wake of the lawsuit. After accusations of treating women horrendously, maybe replacing them with bowls of fruit isn’t the wisest call.

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