Blizzard has confirmed that World of Warcraft: Forever will not implement shared tagging, a quality-of-life feature present in the retail version of the game. Developers cited a commitment to the expansion's Classic+ identity and the importance of social interaction.
In response to prominent WoW community figures GingiTV and Nobbel87, Blizzard developer Josh Greenfield stated that "shared tagging is not it" and that "we simply must hold the line on" this particular feature. He explained that while the value of such friction might not be immediately apparent when frustrated, it is "extremely important to our social pillar to maintain some of this friction."
Shared tagging allows multiple players to tag the same enemy, ensuring that all participants receive rewards for its defeat. This system significantly eases solo questing and farming in the retail game. However, its absence in World of Warcraft: Forever is intended to encourage players to group up, fostering a more social experience, which the developers see as core to the expansion's design.
The beta for World of Warcraft: Forever has reportedly seen significant player engagement, leading to competition for resources. Greenfield's proposed solution for players encountering this issue is simple: "group up and get it done together."
This stance appears to resonate with a segment of the player base. Many replies and quote-posts of Greenfield's statement express support, with users like MrGMYT stating, "The Classic team we trust 💙," and covingtown noting that "shared tagging taught players to pay less attention to each other and soon became less social."
World of Warcraft: Forever is currently in beta. Access to the beta requires purchasing the $60 Skyborne pack, which currently limits play to level 20. The full game is slated for launch on November 4 and will be included with the standard World of Warcraft subscription.