World of Warcraft is entering its 20th year with the release of its tenth expansion, The War Within, and the game seems to be embracing a new level of confidence and ambition. The previous expansion, Dragonflight, was well-received by fans, and recent experiments like Mists of Pandaria Remix have also garnered positive feedback. The War Within is the first part of a trilogy of expansions called the Worldsoul Saga, and the team behind the game is excited to share their ambitious plans with the world.
Game director Ion Hazzikostas acknowledges that World of Warcraft has passionate fans who are not afraid to voice their opinions, but he believes that players have been generally positive in recent times. He feels good about the upcoming expansion and the direction the game is heading. Hazzikostas explains that each expansion should feel satisfying and important on its own, even if it is part of a larger story arc. The team wants to avoid the feeling that the expansion is just a build-up to something bigger, as that could deter players from reaching the finale.
The idea of a trilogy of expansions was born out of the realization that the story of The War Within and the Worldsoul was too vast to be contained within a single or even two expansions. The team wanted to do justice to the story and explore all the characters and elements involved. Bringing back Chris Metzen, the grandfather of Warcraft, to work on the game has been a great experience for the team. Metzen’s innate understanding of the Warcraft universe has been invaluable in creating new locations, cultures, and characters that fit seamlessly into the game.
One of the standout characters in The War Within is Xal’atath, a character who gained popularity during the Legion expansion. Hazzikostas explains that Xal’atath’s transformation into a long-term supervillain was a slow burn, with the team realizing that players were intrigued by her character. The destruction of Dalaran, a city in the game, is a significant event in the expansion. Hazzikostas acknowledges that city destructions in the past have been controversial, but in this case, the destruction is caused by a universal villain, posing a threat to all players.
The expansion also puts dwarves in the spotlight, delving deeper into their origin and culture. Hazzikostas describes the team’s approach to the dwarves as “dwarves dialed up to 11,” and he praises the team for their work in fleshing out the dwarven culture. Another important character in the expansion is Alleria Windrunner, whose journey in grappling with the Void is central to the story. The team wanted to ensure that all players understood her character, so they released an animated short to provide more context.
In terms of content updates, Hazzikostas states that the cadence will be similar to the previous expansion, Dragonflight. The team plans to release a roadmap for 2025 later in the year, and they want to ensure that the expansion is packed with content beyond just the initial release. Hazzikostas emphasizes the importance of patches in how expansions are viewed and appreciated by players. He mentions Mists of Pandaria as an example of an expansion that had frequent patches and is well-remembered by players.
Mists of Pandaria Remix, a recent experiment in the game, was a success according to Hazzikostas. The goal was to make use of the wealth of content that the game has accumulated over 20 years and to make it relevant again. The team wanted to break the rules and do things they couldn’t with long-term content. Hazzikostas hints that there may be another Remix experience in the future, but they need time to digest feedback and decide where to go next.
As World of Warcraft approaches its 20th anniversary, Hazzikostas believes that the team is on an upward trend. They appreciate the trust that the community has placed in them and are working hard to retain that trust. The Worldsoul saga is a testament to their ambition and desire to build a strong foundation for another decade of storytelling. Hazzikostas also shares his favorite dungeon (Black Rook Hold), zone (Hallowfall), and raid (Blackrock Foundry) from the first 20 years of World of Warcraft, highlighting the team’s dedication to creating memorable experiences for players.