Blizzard Entertainment marked Warcraft’s 30th anniversary with a virtual event packed with announcements. From a nostalgic orchestral concert celebrating the franchise’s history to a remastered Warcraft RTS and updates for World of Warcraft Classic and modern WoW, the event offered something for every Warcraft fan. Let’s dive into the highlights.
A golden statue of a man holding a big bowl on top of a roof. The world around him is pink and purple.
World of Warcraft: The War Within Receives First Major Content Update
World of Warcraft’s latest expansion, The War Within, released in August, is receiving its first major content update, Undermine(d). Players will journey to the goblin city of Undermine to confront Xal’atath the Harbinger. The update introduces a new dungeon, two new delves, and a unique ground mount system. Players can experience high-speed races within Undermine, testing their driving prowess. The Undermine(d) update is slated for release on November 23rd.
Player Housing Finally Arrives in World of Warcraft
After two decades, World of Warcraft is finally getting a player housing system. A teaser trailer offered a glimpse of this long-requested feature, though details remain scarce. This exciting addition will be part of the Midnight expansion, scheduled for a full reveal in Summer 2025.
World of Warcraft Classic Revisists Mists of Pandaria
World of Warcraft Classic continues its journey down memory lane with the announcement of Mists of Pandaria. This 2012 expansion introduced players to the Pandaria continent and the pandaren, a race that evolved from a playful concept to a beloved part of the WoW universe. Mists of Pandaria notably introduced the Monk class and the first faction-neutral race in the game.
Remastered Warcraft RTS Games Now Available
The Warcraft franchise began with real-time strategy (RTS) games, and Blizzard is now offering a remastered Warcraft Battle Chest. This collection includes all the original RTS titles with updated graphics and quality-of-life improvements. Players can choose between classic and modernized visuals. Furthermore, Warcraft 3: Reforged, the 2020 remaster, will receive a 2.0 update to address previous issues.
Additional Announcements from the Warcraft 30th Anniversary Event
Beyond the major announcements, Blizzard shared a number of other exciting updates:
- World of Warcraft Classic: 20th Anniversary Edition launches on November 21st, allowing Classic Era players a fresh start.
- Hardcore servers will be available, progressing through content updates into Burning Crusade Classic. Players can also transfer their hardcore characters to non-hardcore mode.
- Heroes of Starcraft mini-set is coming to Hearthstone.
- Hearthstone will receive three expansions in 2025: Emerald Dream, The Shrouded City, and The Heroes of Time.
- Warcraft Rumble is coming to PC with an open beta on December 10th, featuring a new dual-family play feature.
In conclusion, Blizzard’s 30th-anniversary celebration showcased a commitment to both the past and future of the Warcraft franchise. From remastered classics to highly anticipated updates and new content, there is something to excite every Warcraft enthusiast.
