Breaking: A notorious 2006 hack targeting the production of the South Park episode “make Love, Not Warcraft” involved Blizzard Entertainment utilizing a rarely-deployed security measure known internally as “deathtouch” to eliminate a hacker’s character within world of Warcraft, co-creator Trey Stone revealed.
The incident, detailed in a recent Slashfilm report, occurred during the creation of the episode, which satirized the addictive nature of World of Warcraft and the behavior of its players. According to Stone, the hacker infiltrated the animation program used by South Park‘s production team, causing disruptions.
Stone explained that ”deathtouch” was an extreme measure rarely used by Blizzard, requiring significant security clearances for activation. “To bust out death code – or deathtouch or whatever – Blizzard was like ’We have to ask permission. Get the double … turn the keys. It was a big deal, and they actually did bust out deathtouch and kill that guy, whoever it was that hacked into the system,” Stone said.
The hacker’s actions reportedly did not compromise the episode’s production beyond causing delays. “Make Love,Not Warcraft” aired on schedule and became a highly-rated installment of the series. The episode was created under the show’s famously rapid production schedule, with Stone and Matt Parker completing it approximately 12 hours before its broadcast.
The episode’s creation involved two simultaneous animation teams: one focused on the primary narrative, and another dedicated to recreating the in-game World of Warcraft sequences. Both teams delivered their respective scenes concurrently to meet the tight deadline.
Released in 2007, the film adaptation of World of Warcraft, directed by Duncan Jones, followed the episode’s popularity.
On IMDb, ”make Love, Not Warcraft” holds the second-highest user rating among all South Park episodes, surpassed only by “Scott Tenorman Must Die,” and ranking above the 2024 episode “Sermon on the ‘Mount.” The show, which debuted in 1997, continues to achieve cultural relevance with its distinctive animation style and satirical commentary.
