All Articles: World of Warcraft

World of Warcraft is set to celebrate its 15th anniversary later this year, and Blizzard plans to kick off the festivities with the launch of World of Warcraft Classic, which will be available for free to all subscribers, on August 27.

This authentic re-creation takes players back to the beginnings of Blizzard Entertainment’s groundbreaking massively multiplayer online role-playing game, a time when Onyxia spread terror from her lair in Duskwallow Marsh, Leeroy Jenkins became a sensation after some ill-advised heroics in Upper Blackrock Spire, and only the bravest or most foolhardy quested alone in Stranglethorn Vale.

With World of Warcraft Classic, Blizzard has rebuilt the original WoW in its most polished and complete state—as it was at the time of the “Drums of War” update (patch 1.12.0), originally released August 22, 2006.

“Building and launching World of Warcraft back in 2004 was immensely challenging,” said J. Allen Brack, the President of Blizzard Entertainment. “A tornado literally tore the roof off one of the game’s data centers during the early days of testing—but Blizzard was fortunate to have hundreds, and then thousands, and then millions of people around the world cheering our developers on.”

Current World of Warcraft subscribers will get the chance to test out World of Warcraft Classic a few months early beginning tomorrow. According to Blizzard, a Closed Beta will begin on May 15th, and it’ll be followed by a series of stress tests over the Summer.

In addition to the impending launch of World of Warcraft Classic, Blizzard is also getting ready to release a special 15th Anniversary Collector’s Edition for the MMORPG that’ll come packed with a “treasure trove of collectibles and in-game bonus items”:

This treasure trove of collectibles and in-game bonus items comes with 30 days of game time for World of Warcraft and includes an imposing statue of Ragnaros the Firelord that stands over 10 inches tall; a pin depicting the head of Onyxia, Broodmother of the Black Dragonflight; a mousepad adorned with a map of Azeroth; a set of fine art prints that illustrate Azeroth’s storied past; and a pair of mounts… the Alabaster Stormtalon, and the Alabaster Thunderwing… in honor of the moment WoW players first took to the skies.

The World of Warcraft 15th Anniversary Collector’s Edition will be available on October 8, and it’ll be priced at $99.99.

Blizzard has announced that the World of Warcraft: Battle For Azeroth expansion will march into stores on August 14. The MMORPG’s seventh major add-on will be available in three different packages, including a Standard Edition ($49.99), a Digital Deluxe Edition ($69.99), and a Collector’s Edition ($99.99).

Players who purchase the Digital Deluxe Edition will receive access to a Seabraid Stallion (Alliance) Mount, a Gilded Ravasaur (Horde) Mount, and Tottle the Baby Tortollan Pet, as well a variety of content for the remainder of Blizzard’s catalog. These in-game items include an “Azeroth Is Burning” Card Back for Hearthstone; a Primal Flamesaber Mount in Heroes of the Storm; Horde and Alliance Sprays for StarCraft II; and a collection of faction-themed extras for Overwatch.

Battle For Azeroth’s Collector’s Edition will come housed in collectible packaging with everything from the Digital Deluxe Edition and several bonus items…

World of Warcraft: Battle For Azeroth – Collector’s Edition

• Horde & Alliance Double-Sided Mark of Allegiance – Declare your allegiance with this hefty two-sided emblem (stand included). Place it on your desk or shelf and proclaim your chosen faction to the world.
• Hardcover Double-Sided Book: Elegy & A Good War – This limited-edition hardback collects two new World of Warcraft novellas depicting the Burning of Teldrassil from the points of view of the Alliance and the Horde. Each story includes original artwork exclusive to this edition. Written by Christie Golden and Robert Brooks.
• Battle For Azeroth Digital Soundtrack – Each Collector’s Edition contains a key to download the stirring orchestral pieces from the expansion’s soundtrack—the perfect mood music for laying siege to your enemies.

Players who pre-order any version of Battle For Azeroth at the expansion’s official website will receive a Level 110 Character Boost to use immediately, as well as a chance to “begin [your] journey to recruit the first four of the expansion’s new Allied Races.”

Finally, a new trailer for World of Warcraft: Battle For Azeroth can be found after the break. (more…)

Blizzard is hosting their annual BlizzCon convention this weekend, and the developer is shining a big spotlight on World of Warcraft. The long-running MMORPG is on the verge of its 13th anniversary, and Blizzard used the occasion to announce the game’s next expansion, as well as plans to launch “Classic” servers sometime in the near future.

You can read all about both stories after the break. (more…)

Blizzard has announced that World of Warcraft‘s sixth expansion, Legion, will be available on August 30. In addition to an increased level cap, Legion will add a number of new features and options to World of Warcraft:

• New Hero Class: Demon Hunter — Unleash the demon within as an all-new melee hero class gifted with preternatural mobility—and the ability to metamorphose into hellish new forms.
• New Feature: Artifact Weapons — Smite the Legion with class-specific weapons of lore. Unlock abilities and traits, and customize your weapon to suit your needs.
• New Continent: The Broken Isles — Discover the fate of a lost night elf civilization, confront twisted fragments of the Emerald Nightmare, and hunt agents of the Legion in all-new zones. Forge your own path through the Broken Isles as you explore content that dynamically scales to your level.
• Boost to Level 100 — Come fully prepared to battle the Legion with a level-100 character boost, and fight alongside your friends in this epic new chapter of World of Warcraft.
• New Feature: Class Hall — Gather with fellow members of your class and unite followers of your order—including iconic characters from Warcraft lore—to carry out missions at your command.
• New PvP Honor System — Fight for fame, glory, and a range of new PvP-specific powers as you face the opposing faction in Arenas and Battlegrounds.

Naturally, Legion also adds a significant new chapter to the long-running MMO’s lore:

In this expansion chronicling the events following Warlords of Draenor, all hellfire breaks loose when the warlock Gul’dan, betrayer of the orcs and twisted servant of the Burning Legion, unleashes a demonic invasion force upon Azeroth unlike any the Horde and the Alliance have ever faced. To save their world from annihilation, heroes must unlock the mysteries of the mythic Broken Isles, master powerful Artifact weapons, and strike a forbidden pact with the Demon Hunters of the Illidari—vengeful disciples of the dreaded Illidan Stormrage.

Set to be released in a Standard Edition, a Digital Deluxe Edition, and a retail-only Collector’s Edition, players who pre-order World of Warcraft: Legion through WoWLegion.com will receive early access to the Demon Hunter class and the ability to boost one character up to level 100.