Patch 12.1 may have revealed something rather unexpected.
Since the update went live, players have been reporting some very strange behaviour after disconnecting from the game, leading to speculation that Blizzard could be testing some kind of new disconnect protection system.
According to @Pirat_Nation, multiple players have witnessed characters continuing to move and fight on their own after losing connection. Other X users in the replies are claiming to have seen similar instances, especially in Arenas.
The account, well-known for reporting viral game news, does not provide any direct evidence or sources, so it’s important to take these reports with a hefty pinch of salt. Blizzard themselves also haven’t commented on the situation.
Still, the idea that Blizzard could be testing a disconnect protection system is interesting. Rather than leaving your character stranded mid-encounter, using an AI-controlled system (similar to what we see in follower dungeons) to keep your character up for a few minutes could save a raid wipe or a battleground loss.
Helpful Feature or a Step Too Far?
Naturally, players have already started raising some issues with the idea. Blizzard have spent years battling against bots and automation in WoW, so why is it okay in this instance? And could the system be abused with players deliberately disconnecting to trigger the AI?
Who knows.
On the flip side, this could simply be a bug. Patch launches are notoriously messy and full of issues, so this could be something as simple as server lag.
True or not, Blizzard haven’t confirmed anything. Maybe this is a hidden feature in development, or it could just be a strange bug causing dced Warriors to choose violence.
