The True Story Of The Man Who Died After A 19-Hour World Of Warcraft Session

Millions of hardcore, casual, and non-gamers have been familiar with "World of Warcraft" since its initial release in November 2004. Blizzard Entertainment released the massively multiplayer online role-playing game, or MMORPG, after the success of prior games in the Warcraft franchise, including the company's first release, "Warcraft: Orcs & Humans" in 1994, according to History Computer.

For nearly two decades, this online gaming world has been nothing short of a sanctuary for millions of players who spend their time achieving greatness through in-game questlines and hundreds of hours of play. Blizzard Entertainment has kept up with its loyal fanbase by pumping out multitudes of content both in-game and outside of it. "World of Warcraft" has merchandise ranging from boardgames to backpacks, and in 2016, the full-length movie "Warcraft" was released.

Players love the game so much that they even dress up as characters for events like Blizzcon, the annual convention hosted by Blizzard Entertainment. There are, however, pieces of Warcraft history that have left a sad mark on the long-standing joy the game brings. This includes one incident that led to the death of a player.

It isn't uncommon for gamers to play for hours at a time, especially with MMORPGs. The open-world concept of popular games like "World of Warcraft" makes them the perfect video game for players to immerse themselves in to obtain higher levels and expand their in-game content. One gamer, however, died after a lengthy session of playing "World of Warcraft."

24-year-old Wu Tai played the game for 19 consecutive hours at an internet cafe in Shanghai, China, when he collapsed. Those near him noticed that he wasn't alright, and, in a quote published by the Mirror, Hsin Lo, who was next to Wu Tai, said, "I suddenly heard him groan, and when I turned to see what had happened, he was very pale and looked uncomfortable. He was dabbing his mouth with a hankie which had blood on it."

Other cafe patrons called emergency services, but Wu collapsed, and they could not resuscitate him (per the Mirror). The official cause of death is unknown to the public. However, there are a plethora of health-related problems that may be linked back to sedentary behaviors, such as playing video games for hours at a time.

Sitting for long periods without taking breaks to move can be dangerous to the human body. According to the Mayo Clinic, some side effects of regularly sitting for prolonged periods are high blood pressure, raised cholesterol levels, and high blood sugar. Another problem that can arise from sedentary behavior is Deep Vein Thrombosis. According to another article published by the Mayo Clinic, "Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs when a blood clot (thrombus) forms in one or more of the deep veins in the body, usually in the legs." These blood clots are more likely to form after periods of inactivity.

While it isn't clear what caused the death of Wu Tai after his 19-hour "World of Warcraft" session, it is a somber way of reminding people to take breaks from sitting. Whether it be for a job, travel, or to get the next achievement in a game, there are side effects that can occur from too much inactivity. The average adult's recommended activity per day is 30 minutes (via Mayo Clinic). This means that marathon gaming is still entirely possible, and the endless fun to be had in games like "World of Warcraft" is still accessible to those who seek it out.