WoW Patch 11.1 Introduces Emotional Tribute NPC

Summary

• World of Warcraft's Patch 11.1 may introduce Lord Ibelin Redmoore, an NPC tribute to the beloved player Mats Steen, known from the documentary "The Remarkable Life of Ibelin."
• The patch will bring new content to the Goblin capital city of Undermine, with a speculated release date around February 25.
• Dataminers have revealed that the Ibelin Redmoore NPC will be titled Private Investigator, paying homage to Steen's roleplaying career within the game.

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

Patch 11.1 marks the first significant content expansion for World of Warcraft: The War Within, featuring fresh adventures in the Goblin city of Undermine. Although an exact release date for the patch is yet to be confirmed, clues from the ongoing Turbulent Timeways event point toward a potential launch on or around February 25.

Notably, the addition of Lord Ibelin Redmoore diverges from the Undermine focus of Patch 11.1. Dataminers uncovered the new NPC model within the patch files, mirroring the appearance of Mats Steen's avatar from the documentary. Despite Steen's passing in 2014 due to Duchenne muscular dystrophy, before the Warlords of Draenor character model update, his avatar is depicted with the updated, high-fidelity look seen in the film.

Lord Ibelin Redmoore NPC in World of Warcraft Patch 11.1

Mats Steen, through his character Ibelin, was a prominent figure in the World of Warcraft roleplaying community, notably as a member of the Starlight guild. The NPC version of Ibelin carries the title of Private Investigator, reflecting his in-game persona as a detective in Stormwind, known for engaging with fellow players.

The exact nature of this in-game tribute remains uncertain. Speculation suggests that Ibelin might be found in Stormwind's taverns, where he was known to frequent, or perhaps following the route Steen commonly took: from Stormwind through Westfall, Duskwood, the Redridge Mountains, and back to Elwynn Forest. If included in Patch 11.1, rather than a subsequent update, players might encounter Ibelin in the Public Test Realm builds well before the official release.

This tribute to Ibelin marks the third in-game memorial to Mats Steen within World of Warcraft. The first is a virtual replica of his real-life grave located on an islet in Crystal Lake, Elwynn Forest, and the second is the Reven fox pet and backpack, recently offered in a charity bundle to support CureDuchenne. The multiple homages to Steen underscore the profound impact his story has had on the World of Warcraft community.