WoW: Forever Beta Bans Inappropriate Names, Dev Shows No Sympathy

Blizzard is cracking down on inappropriate character names in the World of Warcraft: Forever beta, issuing forced name changes and removing extreme violators. A senior dev has no sympathy for those claiming wrongful bans.

Ever jumped into a beta and immediately seen a character name that made you do a double-take? That's exactly what's happening in World of Warcraft: Forever, and Blizzard is already swinging the ban hammer.

The beta for the upcoming MMO is in full swing, and according to a post from Blizzard, some players are pushing the limits with disrespectful character names. The studio issued a reminder to keep names respectful and within policy, noting that forced name changes are going into effect and users with the most extreme violations have been removed from the beta. That's right—if you thought you could sneak in something crude, think again.

Of course, not everyone is happy about it. Threads are popping up across the web with players claiming Blizzard is overreacting, arguing that mildly crude or silly names are being targeted unfairly. But the developers aren't buying it. Senior game producer Tom Ellis took to Twitter to set the record straight, saying, "Anyone saying they were removed from beta for naming their character 'Billy Mcsuckmahballz' is telling little white lies. That character likely just received a forced name change." He added that multiple people had to read through every name that was removed, and that Blizzard can see every character you've created—not just the one you're playing. In other words, don't try to play innocent.

Ellis didn't hold back, concluding, "I read the list. No sympathy. Be a better human next time." Ouch. But honestly, it's hard to argue when they have a database of every name you've ever made. While a handful of fans are still upset, plenty more are celebrating the crackdown. One reply simply said, "Based. Thank you." It's clear that keeping things SFW in a massive MMO community is no easy task, but Blizzard seems committed to it.

Some responses point out that the devs have missed a few inappropriate names, but this is just the beginning. The full release of World of Warcraft: Forever is set for November 4. According to a dev, the game is "for the millions of people who have had their accounts lapse" in Classic. So if you're planning to jump in, maybe keep your character name clean—or risk a forced change or worse.

What do you think about Blizzard's no-nonsense approach? Will you be picking up World of Warcraft: Forever when it launches? Let us know in the comments!