WoW dev was surprised that players 'like being jumped' by the upcoming Prey system—even on its hardest difficulty, where 'going AFK might get you killed'
PC Gamer
by Harvey Randall February 20, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The upcoming *Prey* system in *World of Warcraft: Midnight* has surprised developers by how much players enjoy being ambushed by bosses during their open-world adventures. Senior game designer Kim Flak revealed that while the feature was designed to add dynamic challenge and break monotony, players embraced the surprise element with enthusiasm. Even on the hardest difficulty, where leaving your character unattended (AFK) could lead to defeat, players found the experience thrilling and engaging.
Prey works by ambushing players with specific boss enemies they’ve been hunting, eventually leading to a 1v1 showdown. This system addresses a long-standing issue in MMOs: open-world difficulty. Traditional tasks like world quests and dailies often feel repetitive, but Prey adds unpredictability and urgency, forcing players to adapt their strategies on the fly. For example, players must think about their crowd control abilities, talent builds, and health management during these unexpected encounters.
Blizzard ensured fairness by implementing rules across three tiers of difficulty. On lower levels, ambushes only occur when players are in combat, preventing random attacks while AFK or completing tasks. However, Nightmare mode raises the stakes—players must stay vigilant, as leaving their character unattended could result in death. Despite these risks, Flak noted that players surprisingly embraced the chaos, viewing these moments as fun and surprising rather than frustrating.
The system’s success highlights how players appreciate unpredictability and skill-based challenges over static content. For MMOs, this could mark a shift toward more dynamic, moment-to-moment gameplay experiences. *Prey* not only innovates but also aligns with modern gaming trends that prioritize variety and surprise to keep players engaged. With *World of Warcraft: Midnight*, Blizzard is setting an example for how MMOs can evolve to meet player demands for challenge and excitement.
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Originally published on PC Gamer on 2/20/2026