"This Is So Funny": Asmongold Reacts As World Of Warcraft Appears To Mock Pirate Software In Its New Video

Pirate Software's infamous Hardcore controversy gets an apparent WoW reference.© NDTV Library

Asmongold couldn't stop laughing after hearing a line in World of Warcraft's latest promotional video that appeared to take a shot at Pirate Software's infamous Hardcore dungeon controversy. The remark came in the second episode of Planet Azeroth, where narrator Bill Bailey made a pretty specific distinction while describing the pirates of Booty Bay. It reminded Asmongold right away of Jason “Thor” Hall's 2025 incident in WoW Classic Hardcore. He called the apparent Blizzard reference hilarious, and admitted Pirate Software had basically become a meme in the World of Warcraft community.

The Booty Bay narration included a pointed remark about pirates abandoning their groups

The second episode of World of Warcraft: Planet Azeroth went up on IGN's YouTube channel on October 30, 2026. Around 1:16, the video takes viewers to Booty Bay, where narrator Bill Bailey runs through the different characters found in the area. One line in his description sounded awfully familiar to anyone who followed the Pirate Software controversy.

“Here, you'll find goblins, gankers, and pirates. And to be clear, when I say pirates, I'm referencing the swashbuckling kind, rather than the type that goes soft and abandons you to be mauled when the situation gets dire.”

Blizzard didn't mention Pirate Software by name. But the part about abandoning a group when things get dangerous looks a lot like the incident with Thor during a Dire Maul North dungeon run in January 2025.

WoW Forever trailer roasts Pirate Software in an official Blizzard video. Asmongold confirms it is real. “This is an official Blizzard video. This is hilarious” https://t.co/uZb6hCx46n

— Fan: Olympus News (@OlympusNewsLOL) October 31, 2026

Asmongold laughs at the apparent Pirate Software reference as Sodapoppin also reacts

On his October 30 livestream, Asmongold watched the clip and picked up on the possible reference right away. He sounded surprised first, then burst out laughing.

“‘Blizzard made a joke about Pirate Software.' No way! No way. I'm sorry, I know this is, like, really serious. But this is also... ‘World of Warcraft making a comical Pirate Software reference in the official video.' No way! I love it. I hope Thor does, too. I do. I hope he takes it in stride. This is so funny. He has actually become a meme.”

The original controversy goes back to January 2025, when Thor left his group during a Hardcore run after multiple enemies attacked the party. Two OnlyFangs guild members, Snupy and Sara, died during the encounter. 

When people questioned him about walking away, Thor defended it by pointing to his remaining mana, saying, “What are you talking about, why I'm walking? You see my mana? What am I supposed to do?”

Sodapoppin watched the Planet Azeroth segment too and found the wording funny.

“Oh, that's crafty. Oh, that's crafty! ‘When it gets dire.' Shut the **** up!”

As of this writing, Pirate Software hasn't publicly responded to the apparent reference.