Just logged into the game after extended maintenance and the graphics look updated and more sharp. It almost feels retail-ish. Colors also seem to be more contrasty and shadow outlines are really weird.
There was also a photosensitivty splash screen upon launching the game (the same one that popped up on The War Within when it launched).
What did this maintenance/update do to Classic graphics, and why? Did they add retail graphics to Classic? Is there any information or notice Blizzard gave about this?
Here’s a compare screenshot, remove the spaces: https : //imgur . com/a/efOE8Hs
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would like to know this too, are there patch notes…
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Logged in and checked myself, looks like there has been a graphics update, the perfect original 2.5 poly frog model has definitely been changed, smoothed, rounded, a total abomination.
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I’ve confirmed that Anniversary and Era Realms received undocumented texture and lighting changes that mimic Retail: https : //imgur . com/a/efOE8Hs
I can’t post links, so just remove the spaces . I also created a reddit thread about this.
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I wonder if this has anything to do with the suspected XBox port people are speculating with the Photosensitivity Update.
well they definitely had to fix the graphics because it was burning shadows into my screen ever since Tuesday maintenance 
now it seems to be fixed. on era I haven’t noticed any change to the graphics, but if they made anniversary more retail-like, well, that’s fitting enough. you’re playing retail.
Classic and Xbox crowds combined? oh em gee the humanity
Haven’t noticed anything, but I’ve been playing 4k max settings for years. Maybe they added some new AA technique.
Still waiting on rt lighting.
Welcome to classic plus, Vanilla is long gone.
They just can’t resist changing these servers, can they?
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It’s not Retail graphics.
At best they’ve done a Skyrim HD Texture (the official one), at worse they updated the shaders.
still havn’t figured out permanent solutions.
Not sure if anyone else is noticing much more power being used on both CPU and GPU after the most recent Patch.
I9 and 4080, among other great parts, so , not entirely sure why a 20yr old game is suddenly using much more power.
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They hate vanilla soooo much bro