Blizzard may be building Warcraft III 3.0 behind the 2.0.4 branch. One dataminer says so. Nobody official does. Here is the claim, the documented recovery that gives it context, and the checkpoint that settles it.
TL;DR
- Stiven (Sep 5): Blizzard actively works on "Warcraft III 3.0", visible 2.0.4 is partial picture, news possible at BlizzCon. Source: ex-owner of europe-pvpgn.net.
- Public branch: 2.0.4.24235 → 24240 same day. Minor, live, confirmed.
- No Blizzard statement on 3.0 exists. BlizzCon Classic Cup + legacy panels = natural window.
The claim
Stiven's Sep 5 post: Blizzard actively works on the Warcraft III 3.0 version. Players read 2.0.4, "that is what they want you to see". WC3 players may get news at BlizzCon 2026. Attribution runs to the ex-owner of europe-pvpgn.net — PvPGN lineage, Eurobattle.net roots. That community tracks client builds, hashes, version checks closely, so the channel is plausible. Plausible is not confirmed.
The documented recovery
Reforged launched January 2020 to heavy criticism: missing features, technical trouble, classic client removed. The recovery record since:
- 2.0.0 (Nov 13, 2024, 30th anniversary): environments, lighting, UI, HD/classic asset mixing, ranked XP, QoL.
- 2.0.1–2.0.4 (into mid-2026): balance, matchmaking (3v3/4v4 arranged), World Editor (cliff types, stability), Lua GC, bugfixes. PTR into spring 2026.
- Legacy 1.29 client restored (~Apr/May 2026) in Battle.net launcher, offline + LAN. Goodwill move after the launch removal.
- Scene alive: competitive ladder, Hive Workshop custom maps, Classic Cup at BlizzCon (Reforged matches, Legacy + Entertainment) plus "Classic Game Deep Dive" and "Custodians of Legacy Games" panels.
What 3.0 would have to mean
A version jump implies more than balance/QoL: deeper systems, online/custom-game infrastructure, technical modernization, balance philosophy shifts, features serving melee ladder AND the custom-map ecosystem that carries WC3's longevity. Internal numbers surface early or never — codenames appear long before public jumps, if ever.
Caveats, all of them
Single reputable dataminer + unnamed community source. Public activity labeled 2.0.4. No Blizzard statement beyond support + esports presence. Distinguish: confirmed patches, Legacy return, live scene (fact) vs 3.0 internal claim (unconfirmed).
What's next
BlizzCon Classic Cup + legacy panels. News or silence, both resolve the claim. This post updates either way.