Blizzard Launcher

Current look

Blizzard Launcher (the application may actually be called the "World of Warcraft Launcher") is a utility application introduced with patch 1.8.3 to ostensibly provide news links and a minimal set of pre-launch configuration options for the actual game and the patch downloader. Behind the scenes it would also theoretically provide some measure of scanning and protection from trojan viruses and third party cheat programs.

The launcher may effectively be replaced by the Battle.net desktop app at some point.

Battle.net desktop app

Note: This is a generic section stub. You can help expand it by clicking  Edit to the right of the section title.

In mid-June 2013, a new Battle.net desktop app was announced with a request for beta testers with the goal to unify launching of most Blizzard online games (Diablo III, Starcraft 2, etc.). The app was made available as an open Beta in August 14, 2013.

Features

• Act as a scanner and warn the user of malicious software.
• Provide news links about WoW and Blizzard.
• Control the options of the Blizzard Downloader in regards to pre-patching.
• Update the game. New in Patch 2.1.
• Options button to show options panel.
  • Minimal pre-launch game preferences.
  • Patch downloader preferences.
  • Button link to Parental Controls web page.
• Public Test button link to PTR login web page.
• ? button to show web links panel.
  • Community page web link.
  • Forums page web link.
  • Blizzard Store page web link.
  • Technical Support page web link.
  • Parental Controls page web link.
• First run "optimization". New in Patch 4.3.2.
• Repair Tool option under the Help menu. New in Patch 5.0.4.
  • When selected, it will show "Repairing game data..." status with a blue status bar at the bottom with a large "Skip" button to the right.

Controversy

There was a bit of controversy regarding the Launcher as it was scanning the computer for malicious software, which some people believed to be an invasion of privacy.

Possible security issue

The new Launcher may present a security issue. It does not obey the 'default' browser setting of Windows,^{[citation needed]} and thus launches Internet Explorer when any link is clicked. Although this may be fixed in the future, in the past the 'Trial' Launcher has been observed to have some links obey the Default setting, and other links not obey the setting. Thus it could be said that although the Launcher is claimed to aide against some malware, some of its behavior reduces security benefits that might otherwise exist.

In Mists of Pandaria

This section concerns content exclusive to Mists of Pandaria.

This section concerns content that is out-of-date. Reason: New look for Win launcher released on 31-Jul-2012.

The Windows version of the launcher has menus at the top-left of the window. The Mac version has the menus at the top-left of the screen (standard location).

Beta launcher (Win7) circa build 15781.	Beta launcher (Mac) circa build 15913.
	Beta launcher Mac menus circa build 15589.

In Cataclysm

This section concerns content exclusive to Cataclysm.

Launcher in the RED setup phase.

Launcher updated with a Cataclysm-themed layout as per Patch 4.0.1 build 12857.

Cataclysm-themed launcher with streaming status color codes.

In the upcoming expansion World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, the launcher will be updated to "stream" installation and patch data. The new launcher is broken up into three stages of download progress:

• SETUP (RED): Core game, or 5% of content, is being prepared. You cannot enter the game at this time.
• AVAILABLE (YELLOW): Base game, or 70% of content, is not completely applied. You can play, but your game experience will not be ideal. You should ideally have 1 MB/sec or better when choosing to play.
• PLAYABLE (GREEN): Extended, or 25% of content, is almost complete. You may begin playing at this stage with few game issues. You should ideally have 1 MB/sec or better when choosing to play.

The Updater and Downloader have been integrated closely into the Launcher, resulting in less application switching when patching and installing.

Later text, for patch updates, for color coded streaming status (percentages and other specifics were removed):

• SETUP Core game content is being prepared. You cannot enter the game at this time.
• AVAILABLE Major game content is not completely applied. You can play, but your game experience will not be ideal.
• PLAYABLE Final game content is almost complete. You may experience a few game issues while playing at this stage.

Optimization

Optimization notification

As of Patch 4.3.2 on the PTR, the launcher now has an "optimization" feature.

It will reorganize the game files currently installed on your hard drive to integrate all previous patch files, essentially "cleaning up" what’s on your computer and reducing the full installation size and will process these cleanups with no additional hard drive space required beyond what the patch is adding. Because of that you may see them appear more frequently with patches.

Here is the message (it may launch a web browser to show this message) it gives when it first runs:

The Launcher is optimizing your World of Warcraft install. This is a process we run from time to time to improve game performance and reduce the size of the install on your hard drive.

The entire process will take approximately 15 minutes under normal conditions. Please do not close the Launcher or run World of Warcraft during this time.

Thank you for your patience!

Wrath of the Lich King design change

Blizzard Launcher post patch 3.0.8.

With patch 3.0.8, the launcher was redesigned with a new look. Also added to the "Options" menu was a bare-essentials "Game Preferences" panel, "Downloader Preferences" panel, and a "Parental Controls" link to the "WoW Account Management" website.

History

PTR launcher

Original look of Blizzard Launcher.

Mac version

• World of Warcraft Public Test Launcher.app 1.1.1.1830 - As of PTR Patch 5.4.7 build 17889 on 11-Feb-2014.
  • Warlords of Draenor image assets added.
• World of Warcraft Public Test Launcher.app 1.1.1.1575 - As of PTR Patch 5.3.0 build 16837 on 13-Apr-2013.
• World of Warcraft Launcher.app 1.0.0.1276 - No version change, but undocumented updates downloaded on 5-Mar-2013.
• World of Warcraft Public Test Launcher.app 1.1.0.1398 - As of PTR Patch 5.2.0 build 16547 on 5-Feb-2013.
• World of Warcraft Launcher.app 1.0.0.1276 - No version change, but undocumented updates downloaded on 5-Feb-2013.
• World of Warcraft Public Test Launcher.app 1.0.0.1398 - As of PTR Patch 5.2.0 build 16486 on 26-Jan-2013.

Systems Patch

• World of Warcraft Launcher.app 1.0.0.1276 - As of Patch 5.1.0A build 16357 on 10-Dec-2012.
• World of Warcraft Launcher.app 1.0.0.1113 - As of Patch 5.0.4 build 16016 on 28-Aug-2012.

β

• World of Warcraft Beta Launcher.app 1.0.0.1050 - As of Patch 5.0.4 build 15961 on 11-Aug-2012.
• World of Warcraft Beta Launcher.app 1.0.0.1034 - As of Patch 5.0.4 build 15929 on 2-Aug-2012.
• World of Warcraft Beta Launcher.app 1.0.0.920 - As of Patch 5.0.1 build 15762 on 19-Jun-2012.
  • No version change, but new look as of Patch 5.0.4 build 15913 on 31-Jul-2012.
• World of Warcraft Beta Launcher.app 1.0.0.727 - As of Patch 5.0.1 build 15589 on 25-Apr-2012.

• World of Warcraft Launcher.app 4.2.1 (2756) - As of Patch 5.0.4 build 16016 on 28-Aug-2012.
• 4.2.1 (2747) - As of Patch 4.3.4 PTR build 15595 around 12-Jun-2012.
• 4.2.1 (2736) - As of Patch 4.3.3 build 15354 on 13-Apr-2012.
• 4.2.1 (2730) - As of Patch 4.3.3 build 15354 on 3-Apr-2012.
• 4.2.1 (2727) - As of Patch 4.3.3 build 15354 on 28-Mar-2012.
• 4.2.1 (2706) - As of Patch 4.3.3 build 15354 on 28-Feb-2012.
• 4.2.1 (2685) - As of Patch 4.3.2 build 15211 on 6-Feb-2012.
• 4.2.1 (2683) - As of Patch 4.3.2 build 15211 on 31-Jan-2012.
• 4.2.1 (2650) - As of Patch 4.3.2 build 15148 on PTR on 3-Jan-2012.
• 4.2.1 (2617) - As of Patch 4.2.2 on 11-Nov-2011.
• 4.2.1 (2609) - As of Patch 4.2.2 on 9-Nov-2011.
• 4.2.1 (2608) - As of Patch 4.3.0 build 14899 on PTR on 28-Oct-2011.
• 4.2.1 (2588) - As of Patch 4.3.0 build 14809 on PTR on 9-Oct-2011.
• 4.2.0 (2552) - As of Patch 4.2.2 on 30-Aug-2011.
• 4.2.0 (2551) - As of Patch 4.2.2 on PTR on 16-Aug-2011.
• 4.2.0 (2506) - As of Patch 4.2.0 around 10-Jul-2011.
• 4.2.0 (2492) - As of Patch 4.2.0 on 28-Jun-2011.
• 4.1.0 (2483) - As of Patch 4.2.0 on PTR 15-Jun-2011.
  • World of Warcraft LauncherB removed.
• World of Warcraft LauncherB 4.2.0 (2451) - As of Patch 4.2.0 PTR 6-Jun-2011.
• 4.1.0 (2453) - As of Patch 4.2.0 on PTR 6-Jun-2011.
• World of Warcraft LauncherB 4.2.0 (2410) - As of Patch 4.2.0 PTR 18-May-2011.
• 4.1.0 (2375) - As of Patch 4.2.0 on PTR 18-May-2011.
• World of Warcraft LauncherB 4.2.0 (2366) - As of Patch 4.2.0 PTR 15-May-2011.
• 4.1.0 (2374) - As of Patch 4.2.0 on PTR 13-May-2011.
• 4.1.0 (2346) - As of Patch 4.1.0 3-May-2011.
• 4.1.0 (2317) - As of Patch 4.1.0 26-Apr-2011.
  • 4.1.0 (2310) - As of Patch 4.1.0 on PTR 19-Apr-2011.
  • 4.0.1 (2295) - As of Patch 4.1.0 on PTR 15-Apr-2011.
• 4.0.1 (2210) - As of Patch 4.0.6a.
• 4.0.1 (2120) - As of Patch 4.0.3a.
• 4.0.0 (2104) - ?

Windows version

This section concerns content that is out-of-date. Reason: Likely updated since Patch 5.0.4.

β

• World of Warcraft Beta Launcher.exe 1.0.0.1034 - As of Patch 5.0.4 build 15929 on 2-Aug-2012.
• World of Warcraft Beta Launcher.exe 1.0.0.920 - As of Patch 5.0.1 build 15762 on 19-Jun-2012.
  • No version change, but new look as of Patch 5.0.4 build 15913 on 31-Jul-2012.
• World of Warcraft Beta Launcher.exe 1.0.0.920 - As of Patch 5.0.1 build 15762 on 13-Jun-2012.
• World of Warcraft Beta Launcher.exe 1.0.0.833 - As of Patch 5.0.1 build 15726 on 23-May-2012 (version didn't change, but a warning alert that the launcher was updated appeared).
• World of Warcraft Beta Launcher.exe 1.0.0.833 - As of Patch 5.0.1 build 15699 on 18-May-2012.

• 4.2.1.2747 - As of Patch 5.0.4 build ????? on 20-Jul-2012.
• 4.2.1.2730 - As of Patch 4.3.3 build 15354 on 3-Apr-2012.
• 4.2.1.2706 - As of Patch 4.3.3
• ...

Patch changes

• β Patch 5.0.1 (Beta): 64-bit client now downloaded by the launcher.
  
• Patch 4.3.2 (31-Jan-2012): "Optimization" feature added.
  
• Patch 4.2.0 (2011-06-28): The PTR temporarily had its own launcher called "World of Warcraft LauncherB" that was called from the regular launcher, but was later removed.
  
• / Patch 4.0.1 (12-Oct-2010): New Cataclysm Launcher. It allows you to play although not all files have been downloaded (red - yellow - green state).
  
• Patch 3.0.8 (2009-01-20): The "Show Launcher" checkbox has been removed; this behavior is now active by default.
  
• Patch 2.1.0 (22-May-2007): The launcher will now start the game automatically, unless the "Show Launcher" option on the login screen is checked.
  
• Patch 1.8.3 (15-Nov-2005): Added.
  

See also

• Battle.net desktop app
• Blizzard Downloader
• Blizzard Repair
• Blizzard Updater
• Public client builds
• Streaming client

External links

Mac Technical Support forum Unofficial 4.0.0.2104-enUS tools patch mirror by Bluespacecow December 15, 2010 5:41:03 AM UTC

News

WoW Official Game Site (US) Launcher Update: Testers Wanted by Blizzard Entertainment, Jun 10, 2013 11:15 AM PDT

WoW Official Game Site (EU) Launcher Update: Testers Wanted by Blizzard Entertainment, 10 Jun 2013 19:15 BST

β News

MMO-Champion Beta Launcher, Brewfest Delayed, Horde Pandaria Intro, Blue Posts, Weekly Roundup by chaud 2012-07-31 07:24 AM

MMO-Champion Beta Launcher Update, Daily Quest Previews, Blue Posts, Curse Weekly Roundup by chaud 2012-06-19 07:26 AM