A forum post on Tuesday confirmed that the private World of Warcraft Classic server Turtle WoW will cease operations immediately. The notice follows a court‑issued cease‑and‑desist order after a judge granted Blizzard a preliminary injunction in the copyright case filed last September. With the legal hurdle cleared, the project’s administrators decided to shut down the modded MMO today for its loyal player base.

Court filings reveal the parties reached a settlement that obligates specific actions by both sides, though the exact terms remain sealed. The agreement effectively ends the infringement suit, allowing Blizzard to protect its intellectual property while forcing the private server to dismantle its codebase and user data. Legal experts note the move underscores the risks of operating unauthorized game replicas.

Developer Torta signed the shutdown note with a nostalgic farewell, recalling eight years of community‑driven content, raids, and friendships. Players are urged to back up personal logs before the servers go offline permanently. The closure removes one of the most enduring fan‑run alternatives to Blizzard’s official Classic offering, leaving the niche of legacy MMO hosting markedly smaller.