A tribute to PC Gamer’s first MMO characters—may they never be forgotten
Blizzard’s release of the World of Warcraft Forever beta has sparked widespread nostalgia among PC Gamer staff, who reflect on their early MMO gaming experiences. The beta reimagines Classic (or Vanilla) World of Warcraft with modernized graphics and quality-of-life improvements while preserving the essence of the original early 2000s experience.
Inspired by the release, PC Gamer surveyed its writers about their first MMO characters and discovered that most staff came of age during the mid-2000s—the era when World of Warcraft and MMOs were becoming mainstream gaming phenomena. What stands out from this exercise is how vividly team members recall specific details about these long-abandoned characters, demonstrating the lasting impression these early gaming experiences left on players.
The article serves as a personal tribute to the formative nature of these gaming memories, celebrating how certain characters from years past continue to resonate with players and the cultural impact World of Warcraft has maintained across generations. The writer admits to never being particularly skilled as a rogue player, while reflecting on how these nostalgic memories connect to the broader experience of gaming in that era.