Blizzard has shared its content plans for 2024 for both World of Warcraft and WoW Classic, revealing a content-packed year for both games. Retail World of Warcraft will see three more major updates before the next expansion, The War Within. WoW Classic will instead see the introduction of the much maligned Cataclysm expansion, with a beta period coming shortly beforehand.
The Cataclysm period of WoW Classic is likely to be a very interesting time indeed for the massive MMO. The original Cataclysm expansion was a huge turning point for World of Warcraft, as it was the first time Blizzard set its hand to redesigning the older parts of the game’s world. Before Cataclysm, WoW expansions were set in separate lands, either through dimensional portals or adding new continents. Cataclysm changed all that, by having the dragon Deathwing burst from the ground and radically change the design of every old zone on the continent of Azeroth.
Reception was mixed. While many enjoyed the new and fresh zones, a number of fans missed the older designs they had previously spent so much time and effort in, and bemoaned the fact they weren’t able to return. It was, in fact, a big part of the reason why WoW Classic was originally conceived, as it allowed fans to return to the Azeroth they knew and loved.
Retail WoW fans are to be treated to a deluge of new content. Three more updates are planned before The War Within lands in late summer or early fall, one wrapping up the current narrative, another revisiting the current expansion’s dungeons, raids, and outdoor content, and then a final update adding more quests, armor sets, and a holiday event.
The next expansion, The War Within, will be kicking off a whole new WoW storyline — the Worldsoul Saga — which will stretch over the next three expansions. It’s set to take place in the underground realm of Khaz Algar, will introduce a new Horde race, the Earthen, and increase the level cap, add new dungeons, all the usual stuff you’d expect from an MMO expansion.
No matter whether you’re a WoW Classic or retail World of Warcraft fan, there’s certainly some good eating to be had in 2024.