Jimothy, the internet-famous raccoon known for his distinctively short torso and neck, is making the leap from viral sensation to in-game companion in World of Warcraft. Blizzard Entertainment has confirmed that a functional version of the animal celebrity will be an earnable pet in the MMO's next major content update.
The raccoon's popularity surged in recent weeks as images and videos of him, affectionately nicknamed Jimothy due to his unique spinal condition, were shared widely online. Blizzard initially shared a mock-up of what Jimothy might look like in World of Warcraft, and the overwhelmingly positive player response prompted the developer to bring him into the game.
According to Blizzard, Jimothy is currently undergoing testing for visual and functional effects and is slated for inclusion with the "12.1 Curse of Ula'tek" update. While the exact method for acquiring Jimothy as a pet has not yet been detailed, the team expressed excitement about making him an earnable companion for the community. As with any in-development content, final implementation details could shift before the patch's release.
The arrival of Jimothy coincides with the introduction of new housing features in patch 12.1, including the ability for players to place collected pets within their in-game homes. This system will allow players to assign pets to decorative pet beds, with capacity for up to ten indoor pets and five outdoor pets. Indoor pets can be designated to remain stationary or roam freely, while outdoor pets will be stationary. While most existing pets are expected to be compatible with this housing system, Blizzard has not explicitly confirmed if Jimothy will be.
The "Curse of Ula'tek" update, expected in the coming weeks, will also bring a wealth of other new content. Players can anticipate a new zone, raid, and dungeon, alongside expanded delve content. Additional housing features, such as new blueprints, will be implemented, as will Discord and guild chat integration. Improvements to the game's ping system and cooldown manager are also planned. Datamined information also suggests the update's epilogue may reveal further plot developments concerning the villain Xal'atath.