Turtle WoW, a fan-made variant of World of Warcraft Classic, which has introduced new character options and zones, has gained significant traction. Nevertheless, its success has caught the attention of Blizzard, leading to a copyright infringement lawsuit filed against the server last month. In response, the Turtle WoW team issued a strong statement affirming, “Turtle WoW is here to stay.” On October 17, they released an open letter addressed to Blizzard, requesting a formal licensing structure for fan-made mods and private servers.

The letter highlights the flourishing modding community in gaming, referencing successful games like EverQuest and Minecraft, and emphasizes that it reflects both the quality of the game and the passion of its community. The Turtle WoW team advocates for Blizzard to embrace fan-driven content as part of its legacy rather than alienate its dedicated player base.

The letter asserts, “Many successful games have a modding community. It is a part of gaming culture and a testament to the game’s quality and the community’s passion.” It argues that recognized fan servers can draw back players who have left the official game in search of unique experiences that mainstream titles may not offer. Furthermore, it can provide Blizzard with inspirations for new content.

Players show continued support for fan-made servers even in the face of legal threats, and the Turtle WoW team appears determined to endure any challenges ahead.