Warcraft celebrates its 30-year legacy with the Warcraft Direct, highlighting updates across various titles. World of Warcraft reveals new content for Season 1 of The War Within, including a new zone and raid. WoW Classic is set for Mists of Pandaria: Classic in 2025, while Warcraft 3: Reforged receives a major update. Hearthstone introduces Starcraft crossover characters, and Warcraft Rumble marks its first anniversary with new features. Viewers can earn in-game rewards during the event.
Celebrating 30 Years of Warcraft: An Iconic Legacy
Three decades have flown by since the launch of Warcraft: Orcs and Humans, marking the dawn of one of the most legendary franchises in the realm of video games. While World of Warcraft has been the cornerstone of this legacy for the past 20 years, the Warcraft brand has also introduced a plethora of other games. From the classic Warcraft 1, 2, and 3 to the card game Hearthstone, which is commemorating its 10th anniversary, and the newly launched Warcraft Rumble celebrating its first year, the franchise continues to thrive.
This year, in lieu of the traditional BlizzCon, Blizzard has organized the Warcraft Direct, an online celebration of 30 years of the franchise. This event not only honors the past but also sheds light on the future of their gaming titles. In this article, we delve into the key announcements made during the event, detailing each game that was highlighted!
World of Warcraft: The War Within Updates
Kicking off the event was the spotlight on World of Warcraft. As Season 1 of The War Within nears its conclusion, game director Ion Hazzikostas shared exciting updates about the upcoming expansion and patch 11.0.7. Key highlights include:
- A brand-new zone: the goblin underground capital, Terremine (Undermine), embroiled in a fierce war among four cartels.
- The upcoming raid, Liberation of Terremine, reminiscent of Dazar’alor or the Siege of Orgrimmar, will see Gallywix as the final boss!
- An exciting new dungeon called ‘Operation Open Vents’ will join the Mythic+ rotation, alongside other dungeons from TWW and the return of the Mine from Battle for Azeroth.
- Introducing ultra-fast land vehicles capable of drifting: the D.R.I.V.E.
- New chasms and a companion will also be unveiled.
- An all-new arena designed for PvP enthusiasts!
As for future plans beyond 11.1.5, while specifics are scarce, hints suggest that housing features may be introduced in the next expansion, Midnight. This long-awaited feature will enable players to create and personalize their in-game homes with various items. Additionally, a mysterious green logo at the end of the timeline hints at the possibility of Legion: Remix, similar to the previous Mists of Pandaria: Remix game mode.
Exciting Developments in Other Warcraft Titles
Turning to WoW Classic, while there were no announcements for Classic +, some important updates were shared:
- Mists of Pandaria: Classic is set to debut in 2025 after the conclusion of Cataclysm: Classic.
- New Vanilla Classic servers will launch on November 21, featuring PvE, Hardcore, PvP, and RPG options, with progression extending at least to Burning Crusade Classic.
- The Season of Discovery will continue, with Ahn’Qiraj making its return this winter, followed by Naxxramas and new exclusive endgame content tied to the Scarlet Crusade.
As for the remastered titles, Warcraft 3: Reforged is finally receiving a long-awaited 2.0 update, complete with a revamped interface, HD graphics, and various gameplay enhancements. In addition, both Warcraft 1 and Warcraft 2 are set to receive full remastering, allowing players to experience the franchise’s origins in modernized form.
Hearthstone is bursting with news as well! The next mini-set will feature a crossover with Starcraft, bringing iconic characters like Kerrigan, Artanis, and Jim Raynor to the card game. The 2025 roadmap reveals three upcoming expansions: the Emerald Dream, the Veiled City, and the Heroes of Time, all steeped in the Warcraft lore.
Warcraft Rumble, now celebrating its first anniversary, is hosting an in-game event filled with new rewards. The announcement of Split Leaders adds powerful new units to the game, with beloved characters like Sylvanas leading the charge. Additionally, a PC beta is slated for December 10, 2024, promising more exciting details soon.
The Warcraft Direct is poised to reward viewers with in-game bonuses across all Warcraft titles. If you’re a fan of WoW, Hearthstone, or Warcraft Rumble, don’t miss this chance to collect rewards in just 20 minutes!
Finally, the Season of Discovery in World of Warcraft is set to reignite one of the most cherished global events within the game, as revealed by a developer. But the question remains—will this be a positive change for players?