Crackdown on Illicit Software in Popular WoW Guild

Summary

• World of Warcraft streamer Pirate Software was expelled from the OnlyFangs guild following a disastrous Dire Maul North run resulting in Hardcore character deaths.
• His refusal to accept responsibility for the deaths prompted Guild Master Sodapoppin to remove him.

Pirate Software's expulsion from the prominent World of Warcraft streaming guild, OnlyFangs, stems from a failed Dire Maul North run in the recently added World of Warcraft Anniversary servers. The resurgence of Classic WoW Hardcore gameplay, fueled by the Anniversary servers' November 2024 launch, has seen a spike in character deaths, despite Blizzard's official Hardcore servers launched in August 2023 initially experiencing a decline in popularity. The Anniversary servers revitalized Classic WoW, significantly impacting the population of the original Classic servers. Among the casualties were Sara and Snupy, whose deaths directly led to Pirate Software's banishment.

Social media posts confirm Sodapoppin's decision, detailed in a Discord statement. The statement cites widespread guild discomfort following the deaths of two members during the Dire Maul run. The incident involved the group pulling a boss before clearing nearby Gordok ogres. When a party member urged a retreat and reset, Pirate Software abandoned the group during the escape, resulting in the deaths of Sara and Snupy. While typically manageable under standard OnlyFangs rules, Pirate Software's unwillingness to take responsibility, further amplified by alleged threats to fellow streamers (as suggested by members like Mizkif), sealed his fate. A video documenting the event (containing strong language) is available online.

Why Pirate Software's Expulsion From OnlyFangs?

The primary criticism leveled against Pirate Software centers on his refusal to acknowledge his role in the deaths. Sodapoppin, during a post-run analysis, highlighted Pirate Software's failure to utilize crowd control, specifically Blizzard rank 1, to mitigate the threat without excessive mana expenditure. Pirate Software's Twitter response disputed the guild's handling of the situation.

OnlyFangs has experienced significant member turnover since its recreation on the Anniversary server Doomhowl, and some expelled members may form their own groups. With Blizzard's ongoing Classic WoW updates introducing Vanilla-accurate patches and content, further OnlyFangs Hardcore character deaths are anticipated as new dungeons and raids become accessible.