World of Warcraft Adding Heartfelt Tribute NPC in Patch 11.1

Summary

• World of Warcraft's Patch 11.1 may feature Lord Ibelin Redmoore, an NPC tribute to the late player Mats Steen, known from the documentary "The Remarkable Life of Ibelin."
• This patch is set to introduce new content in the Goblin city of Undermine, with a speculated release date around February 25.
• Dataminers have revealed that the Ibelin Redmoore NPC will be a Private Investigator, a nod to Steen's roleplaying persona within the game.

World of Warcraft is preparing to honor Mats Steen, the subject of the moving documentary "The Remarkable Life of Ibelin," by introducing his player character, Lord Ibelin Redmoore, as an NPC in the upcoming Patch 11.1. While specifics remain under wraps, fans can anticipate encountering this poignant tribute in the next major update to the game.

Patch 11.1 marks the first significant content update for World of Warcraft: The War Within, promising new adventures in the Goblin capital, Undermine. Although an official release date hasn't been confirmed, clues from the ongoing Turbulent Timeways event point toward a potential launch around February 25.

Interestingly, the new content isn't limited to Undermine. Dataminers have uncovered files for a new NPC named Lord Ibelin Redmoore in Patch 11.1. This character mirrors the avatar of Mats Steen, who passed away in 2014 from complications related to Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Despite his passing before the Warlords of Draenor character model update, Ibelin's avatar in the game reflects the higher-fidelity appearance featured in the documentary.

Lord Ibelin Redmoore NPC in World of Warcraft Patch 11.1

Mats Steen, through his character Ibelin, was renowned for his roleplaying within the guild Starlight. The NPC version of Ibelin will carry the title of Private Investigator, a tribute to his in-game detective work around Stormwind. Ibelin was celebrated for engaging with the community through this persona.

The exact nature of this in-game tribute is yet to be fully revealed. Speculation among players suggests that Ibelin might be seen wandering the familiar taverns of Stormwind or following the daily route Steen used to take, which spanned from Stormwind through Westfall, Duskwood, the Redridge Mountains, and back through Elwynn Forest. If included in Patch 11.1, fans might get a glimpse of Ibelin in the Public Test Realm builds well before the patch goes live.

This addition marks the third tribute to Ibelin within World of Warcraft. The first is a replica of his real-life grave on an islet in Crystal Lake in Elwynn Forest, and the second is the Reven fox pet and backpack sold in a charity bundle to support CureDuchenne. The multiple memorials to Steen reflect the profound impact his story has had on the World of Warcraft community.