This year, Blizzard Entertainment's annual games event went digital, dubbed BlizzConline 2021. Gamers were expecting news from some of the company's flagship franchises like World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, Overwatch, and more. As part of the opening ceremony, Blizzard revealed an upcoming way World of Warcraft players could get free pets in the game.
As part of BlizzCon, Blizzard usually celebrates with different digital rewards in its games. The company also announces a new pet that World of Warcraft players can get by supporting different charities, called the Charity Pet Program. Last year, players could get Dotty the alpaca, and the year before, the baby yeti Whomper was released.
Right after the reveal of the Chains of Domination content coming to World of Warcraft: Shadowlands, Blizzard announced details for this year's Charity Pet Program. Starting off, it was revealed that the way players could get these pets will be slightly different from previous years. Typically, the charity pets would run players about $10. This year, Blizzard announced that while players can donate any amount they wish to the charity, the rewards will be gifted to players after the overall community reaches a certain donation goal.
When the community donates enough, players will be gifted Bananas, a baby ape battle pet. Veteran players might recognize this pet, as it was originally added during the Burning Crusade era of World of Warcraft. Bananas was able to be summoned with the rare Banana Charm item, which was only available to players who received the King Mukla card in the World of Warcraft Trading Card Game expansion, Through the Dark Portal. Now, Bananas will be available to all players.
Not only that, but if players reach a certain donation stretch goal, they will receive a second pet. The second pet is the brand-new Daisy, a baby sloth. Daisy will hang around players' necks like a backpack. It looks like the trend of World of Warcraft releasing baby pets for charity isn't slowing down any time soon.
The chosen charity this year is Doctors Without Borders, an international organization that usually helps areas without proper medical infrastructure, often areas with victims of political violence and natural disasters. Players who decide to donate this year can be rest assured that their contributions are going to a good cause.
Blizzard often adds content to its games in order to support different causes. Even with Overwatch, Blizzard released the Pink Mercy skin in Overwatch, and the proceeds went to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. It is great when massive companies like Blizzard use their influence to help make the world a better place, and fans are always happy to get rewards out of it, too.
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands is available now on PC.