WoW Patch 11.1 Introduces Emotional Tribute NPC

Summary

• Patch 11.1 in World of Warcraft is set to introduce Lord Ibelin Redmoore, a tribute NPC inspired by the beloved player Mats Steen.
• This update will also bring new content to Undermine, with a speculated release date around February 25.
• Dataminers have revealed that the Ibelin Redmoore NPC will have the title of Private Investigator, a nod to Steen's roleplaying activities in WoW.

World of Warcraft's upcoming Patch 11.1 is poised to honor the memory of Mats Steen, the subject of the documentary "The Remarkable Life of Ibelin," by introducing his player character, Lord Ibelin Redmoore, as an NPC. While the specifics of this tribute remain under wraps, it is expected to be part of the next major update for World of Warcraft: The War Within.

Patch 11.1 marks the first significant content expansion for The War Within, promising exciting new adventures in the Goblin capital city of Undermine. Although an official release date has not been announced, clues from World of Warcraft's ongoing Turbulent Timeways event point to a potential launch on or around February 25.

Among the new additions in this update, the Lord Ibelin Redmoore NPC stands out for its heartfelt tribute to Mats Steen. Discovered by dataminers within the files for Patch 11.1, this NPC mirrors the appearance and name of Steen's avatar, which was featured in the documentary. Despite Steen's passing in 2014 due to complications from Duchenne muscular dystrophy, his character continues to live on in the game with updated, high-fidelity models.

Lord Ibelin Redmoore NPC in World of Warcraft Patch 11.1

Mats Steen, known in the game as Ibelin, was a prominent roleplayer and a member of the Starlight guild. The new NPC will carry the title of Private Investigator, paying homage to Ibelin's in-game persona as a detective operating around Stormwind. This character was known for engaging with other players and building connections within the community.

While the exact nature of this tribute is still unclear, some fans speculate that Ibelin might be seen wandering the taverns of Stormwind or retracing Steen's well-known daily route through Westfall, Duskwood, the Redridge Mountains, and back to Elwynn Forest. If included in Patch 11.1, players might get a preview of Ibelin in the Public Test Realm months before the official release.

This will be the third tribute to Ibelin in World of Warcraft. The first is a recreation of his real-life grave on an islet in Crystal Lake in Elwynn Forest, and the second is the Reven fox pet and backpack sold in a charity bundle to support CureDuchenne. The continued memorialization of Steen reflects the profound impact his story has had on the World of Warcraft community.