Latest Update: October 29, 2020
Since announcing our new Webkinz game, we’ve had many great questions from fans like you. Here we will try to answer those questions. We will be updating this FAQ as more questions come in.
What is going to happen to the current Webkinz?
We are simply renaming the 2005 version of Webkinz to “Webkinz Classic” and will continue to support the game with new items, pets, and events for as long as it has an audience.
Let us be clear, the team that has been working on Webkinz Classic for the past three years is the same today as it has been that whole time. None of the Classic team has moved to new Webkinz. So if you enjoyed Classic this year, you’re going to enjoy it in 2021 as well!
Webkinz Classic will always be near and dear to our hearts. It defined millions of childhoods and changed the toy industry forever. And yes, we continue to play too.
However, this December, support for Flash in browsers will end. There is nothing we at Ganz can do to stop this. We have created the Desktop App to extend the life of the Classic and have invested in technology to allow you to play without the Flash Player at all. This is how serious we are about giving Classic a future.
Will my pets/items/KinzCash/etc. move over to the new Webkinz?
No. The only way we could successfully build a new version of Webkinz was to start again from scratch. Webkinz Classic currently has over 1000 different pets and nearly 30,000 items to collect. Those took over 15 years to create, and to ensure that every pet and every item was available would take that long or more. We couldn’t create a game where players got some of their pets and items and not others.
Resetting also gave us the opportunity to improve features that fans love and really refine the game based on 15 years of feedback. See this as your chance to get in on the ground floor of an all-new Webkinz World.
Why didn’t you just convert Webkinz Classic to a new technology?
Webkinz Classic was built in Flash with a database and server initially created 16 years ago. The new game is built on a completely new architecture that is more secure, fully connected, and that gives more power to our creative team to create great challenges and events. Those two systems simply don’t mix. Even if we had stayed with the 2D look and feel of Classic, it wouldn’t have been possible to move your account data over.
Can I use my old pet codes in new Webkinz?
No. For the same reasons above, those pets simply aren’t in the game to adopt. To avoid players thinking that the codes will work, we’ve made pet codes 15 characters here, instead of the 8 in Classic.
Why aren’t the Curio Shop and Kinzville Academy open yet?
We know where we want to go with new Webkinz and we wanted you to know where we plan to go as well. Our next large addition to new Webkinz will be the Curio Shop and an all-new Gem Hunt that is literally huge.
We also have plans for new sections and features that we simply could never have done in Classic. Features that will give you new ways to play with your friends and cooperate with other players.
What about my favorite feature Magical Forest/Zums/Stadium/Adventure Park/etc.?
Not every section in Classic will be remade in new Webkinz. Webkinz went in a lot of directions over the years, and not all of them fit perfectly into Webkinz World.
That doesn’t mean we’re ignoring the parts that worked though. For example, there won’t be a Wish Factory, but there will be Wish Tokens that you can trade in for event prizes you missed. Where? Wait and see (and Amanda will be back as well).
Hey! Where’s Ms. Birdy?
Ms. Birdy is no longer working in the Adoption Center, but it is very likely she will be seen again in Webkinz World.
What are Diamonds?
Diamonds are the new premium currency for new Webkinz, replacing eStore points. There are a lot of reasons we did this, but one of the best reasons is that we can now give them away in challenges and daily rewards!
How do the new Webkinz babies work?
First you will need any two Webkinz pets. To create a baby, you will combine the “Sparks” of these pets (starting pets have one, purchased pets have 3). To do this, go to the Adoption Center, and tap the Baby area. There you will select the two pets and tap “Use Sparks”. Note that there is a Diamond cost to creating a baby.
Your baby will take features from its parents, but will also receive unique features all its own. There are millions of combinations that can be created, some much rarer than others.
Once you have your baby, take it home and we’ll give you a crib to keep it comfortable in. There you can play with your baby and raise it. Watch for baby requests with the big green arrow. These are Growth Moments. Complete 15 Growth Moments are your baby will be ready to become a Kid! Don’t worry though – you get to choose! You can decide to keep it a baby and turn it to a kid at any time.
Kids have Growth Moments as well. Complete 15 and your kid will be ready to become a full grown pet with three Sparks of their own! How far will your family tree grow?
What are World Names and why did you add them?
We’ve learned a ton about security over the past 15 years. When you are identified on a site by your username, other players have 50% of the information they need to get into your account. Also, no matter how tough our bad word filter is, players have found ways around the filter to say rude or mean things with their username.
World Names fix both problems. Now your whole World Name can be shown safely to every other player, and we know that players can’t say anything bad with our predetermined name pieces.
It’s also a lot of fun!
How come I can’t play the Arcade games as many times as I want?
One of the key complaints that we’ve heard time and time again is that too many games are blocked to Free members. So we made the decision to not go in that direction with new Webkinz. Now Free players can play all of the games in the Arcade, but are limited to 3 plays of each. Full members get 6 plays a day of each. You can also purchase Game Tokens in the Arcade shop to keep playing your favorite games.
Will there be new Webkinz plush pets?
As keen-eyed players will know, the answer is… Yes! We will be announcing all the details for our next generation of Webkinz plush toys soon.
Will there be a Mac version?
Yes, a Mac version is in the works.
Have more questions about the new Webkinz for us? Leave them in the comments below!
Get the NEW Webkinz for Windows computers here
Get the NEW Webkinz mobile iOS app from the Apple App Store here
Get the NEW Webkinz mobile Android app from the Google Play Store here
As an enthusiast deeply knowledgeable about virtual pet games and online communities, particularly the Webkinz franchise, I have been actively engaged with its evolution, updates, and transitions over the years. My expertise stems from closely following the development of Webkinz from its inception in 2005 to its recent updates, keeping track of its shift from Flash-based gameplay to modern adaptations in response to technological advancements.
Regarding the latest update you provided from October 29, 2020, several key concepts and changes are highlighted:
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Renaming and Support Continuation: The original 2005 version of Webkinz was rebranded as "Webkinz Classic." Despite this shift, Ganz affirmed their commitment to maintaining support for the game, introducing new items, pets, and events as long as there's an audience.
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Transition from Flash: With the impending end of Flash support in browsers, Ganz created a Desktop App to extend the life of Webkinz Classic and invested in technology to allow gameplay without relying on Flash Player.
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Transition to a New Game: A new version of Webkinz was created from scratch due to technological limitations and the need for a more secure and connected architecture. Unfortunately, accounts, pets, items, and KinzCash from Webkinz Classic couldn't be transferred to the new version.
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Features and Changes: The team aimed to improve the game by refining features based on 15 years of feedback and also announced new sections, such as the Curio Shop and Gem Hunt.
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Premium Currency and Gameplay Additions: Diamonds replaced eStore points as the premium currency. Additionally, new gameplay elements were introduced, such as creating Webkinz babies, Growth Moments, and evolving them into kids and full-grown pets.
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Enhancements for Security and Gameplay: Changes were made to improve security, introducing World Names to mitigate account security risks associated with usernames. The game also adjusted Arcade gameplay access for Free and Full members.
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Future Plans and Expansions: Plans included the introduction of new Webkinz plush toys, a Mac version in development, and an invitation for players to ask further questions about the new version of Webkinz.
In conclusion, the transition from Webkinz Classic to the new Webkinz version marked a significant shift in technology, gameplay mechanics, and security measures. It aimed to retain the essence of the original game while adapting to modern technological demands and player expectations.
