This year’s BlizzCon is shaping up to be a celebration of nostalgia, long-running fan wishes, and the future of Warcraft.
Blizzard Entertainment has officially unveiled World of Warcraft Forever, a project that essentially brings the long-requested “Classic Plus” concept to life.
At the same time, strategy fans finally received the kind of announcement they have been waiting more than two decades for: Warcraft III: Reforged is getting brand-new official campaigns alongside a major technical overhaul.
The opening announcements from BlizzCon make Blizzard’s strategy for Warcraft increasingly clear. The company appears to be building the franchise around three parallel pillars: modern World of Warcraft, the retro-inspired Forever experience, and the legendary RTS series that helped establish the Warcraft universe in the first place.
WoW Forever Finally Brings the “Classic Plus” Dream to Life
Months of speculation and rumors within the community were officially confirmed on stage in Anaheim.
World of Warcraft Forever is designed as a third standalone Warcraft experience alongside the “Modern” and “Classic” versions of the game.
The project remains closely tied to the foundations and philosophy of the original MMORPG that captured millions of players more than two decades ago, including a maximum level cap of 60.
However, rather than simply repeating existing content, Forever is set within a kind of first-year World of Warcraft time capsule while introducing a substantial amount of completely new material.
Players can expect three previously unexplored zones, more than 1,000 new quests, nine entirely new dungeons, two major raids, an updated PvP system, as well as new professions and reputation systems.
One of the biggest surprises is the introduction of the fully playable Skyborne Elves, whose homeland will be located in one of the newly opened regions of Azeroth.
BlizzCon attendees are already able to try the game on the show floor, while the official beta is scheduled to begin on September 17.
The full release is currently planned for November 4.
The Ancient Past Meets the Future of Modern WoW
While one part of Blizzard’s Warcraft team is focused on the retro experience, modern World of Warcraft continues moving toward the conclusion of its multi-expansion storyline known as The Worldsoul Saga.
Following the current Midnight expansion, which raised the level cap to 90, upcoming updates will focus on bringing the conflict with Xal’atath closer to its conclusion.
Blizzard has announced the upcoming Eclipse update, version 12.2, while the next major expansion, The Last Titan, is expected to serve as the culmination of decades of storytelling in Azeroth while laying the groundwork for the MMORPG’s next era.
More information about the final stages of the saga is expected early next year.
Warcraft III Gets Its First New Story in More Than Two Decades
Perhaps the most emotional surprise for longtime Warcraft fans was the announcement and launch of the Forsaken Kingdom expansion for Warcraft III: Reforged.
It marks the first official new narrative campaign for the legendary RTS in more than 23 years and is divided into two major chapters.
The first part explores the tragic fall of the kingdom of Lordaeron and the downfall of Arthas Menethil under the influence of Frostmourne and the Lich King.
The second campaign takes players deep into Undercity, offering a closer look at the history and evolution of the undead Forsaken.
Alongside the new campaigns, Warcraft III: Reforged is also receiving a major free 3.0 update, bringing significant visual improvements, performance optimizations, and a completely revised World Editor for creators of custom maps.
The new campaigns will be available separately or as part of a special bundle with WoW Forever, offering a broader Warcraft experience for both longtime fans and newer generations of players.
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