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Blizzard Entertainment ending support for Windows XP, Vista

by Mark Tyson on 20 February 2017, 11:01

Tags: Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ:ATVI), Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), XP Home, Windows Vista

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Over the weekend Activision Blizzard announced that it was ending support for older versions of Windows. Specifically support for Windows XP and Windows Vista will end in; World of Warcraft, StarCraft II, Diablo III, Hearthstone, and Heroes of the Storm. Affected users will be required to upgrade to Windows 7 or newer to keep playing their favourite Blizzard titles.

Blizzard notes that Microsoft already ceased mainstream support for these OSes in 2009 and 2012 respectively. Many other companies have already abandoned these versions of Windows and such action will continue, especially as Vista's extended support period ends this April.

It isn't clear when Blizzard's support for its games on Microsoft XP and Vista will end. The firm states it will be "later this year", and that it is a process, a staggered, scheduled, ceasing of support.

You will certainly know if you are a Blizzard gamer who is affected, as "after these older operating systems are no longer supported, the games will not run on them." If you are want to hold off Windows/PC upgrades until the last moment Blizzard promises advance notice as each game is changed to remove support for the older Microsoft OSes. Keep an eye on the appropriate Battle.Net forums for that news.

 



HEXUS Forums :: 11 Comments

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Good, it's time XP stops being used (as great as it was, it's now a hackers paradise). Vista was ok in the end with the right hardware added, but a minimum of 7 should be where it's at
Tabbykatze
Good, it's time XP stops being used (as great as it was, it's now a hackers paradise). Vista was ok in the end with the right hardware added, but a minimum of 7 should be where it's at
Depends on what it's used for. In an online environment, including online gaming, I agree, but I have several machines running XP because it supports necessary legacy hardware or software, and believe me, those machines aren't getting hacked. Or upgraded.
It was nice while it lasted but makes no sense supporting 5 Windows OS's.
AGTDenton
It was nice while it lasted but makes no sense supporting 5 Windows OS's.
Also agreed, but not everything needs ongoing support …. like my legacy systems, which work on a “as it ain't broke, don't fix it” basis. I'm NOT suggesting this as a policy for everybody - simply that the blanket assertion that XP is no longer useful and ‘all’ systems need to be W7 or later.
Saracen
AGTDenton
It was nice while it lasted but makes no sense supporting 5 Windows OS's.
Also agreed, but not everything needs ongoing support …. like my legacy systems, which work on a “as it ain't broke, don't fix it” basis. I'm NOT suggesting this as a policy for everybody - simply that the blanket assertion that XP is no longer useful and ‘all’ systems need to be W7 or later.
This not about PCs that are not online and not used for gaming.

I agree with the others, it is time for XP and Vista users, where possible, to move on, especially if those PCs are used online.