Blizzard Entertainment Sues Unauthorized 'World of Warcraft' Platform Project Ascension

Blizzard Entertainment filed a federal lawsuit against the operators of the unauthorized World of Warcraft private server, Project Ascension, on June 12, 2026. The 51-page complaint, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, alleges copyright infringement, Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) circumvention, and civil RICO racketeering violations. Blizzard claims Project Ascension bypassed official security protocols to distribute pirated legacy World of Warcraft client software, enabling over one million players to access a modified, classless version of the game for free. The platform allegedly generated millions of dollars by selling custom in-game "Donation Points" to users, with profits reportedly funneled through shell companies to conceal assets and evade taxes. The lawsuit also notes that Project Ascension's infrastructure is hosted by the Russia-based Aeza Group, an entity sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury for aiding cybercriminal activity. This legal action follows Blizzard's successful shutdown of the rival server Turtle WoW in May 2026. Blizzard is seeking a permanent injunction, forfeiture of the server's source code, an accounting of revenues, and maximum statutory damages of up to $150,000 USD per infringed work.