The War Within 11.X Patches & World Soul Saga Speculation Thread

[Makorus]

This 100%!

Cataclysm Classic will only show why people wanted to play Vanilla/TBC/WOTLK again so badly.

Every reason why most people wanted to play the Classic era servers was introduced/removed in Cataclysm.

Cataclysm design is the antithesis of Vanilla, and Retail nowadays has only doubled on everything that Cataclysm design brought up more than a decade ago.

I hope they bring Cataclysm Classic with no changes whatsoever, and hopefully, they will understand why Retail has been declining so fast since that time.

I think Classic showed why we evolved from that.

It's been a colossal failure, and the only reason it is still relevant is because of Hardcore, which has nothing to do with the gamedesign of Classic.

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Some art that appears AI-generated was posted by a relatively trusted source. While the art doesn't look to me like it's concept art or a real screenshot, it does look like it may be meant to hint at something overall.

Which one is that?

[Luck4]

I think Classic showed why we evolved from that.

It's been a colossal failure, and the only reason it is still relevant is because of Hardcore, which has nothing to do with the gamedesign of Classic.

What? Classic is failure? I mean, I'm sure Cataclysm Classic will be a failure...

But Vanilla/TBC/WOTLK are nearly 20 years old, yet they managed to generate hype after being re-released for the 2nd or even a 3rd time. Vanilla/Classic is generating hype by just being released with a gimmick, while Retail is releasing brand new content at a pace we've never seen before, and nobody cares.

[Makorus]

What? Classic is failure? I mean, I'm sure Cataclysm Classic will be a failure...

But Vanilla/TBC/WOTLK are nearly 20 years old, yet they managed to generate hype after being re-released for the 2nd or even a 3rd time. Vanilla/Classic is generating hype by just being released with a gimmick, while Retail is releasing brand new content at a pace we've never seen before, and nobody cares.

"Generating hype" and being actual products people play are two different things.

Vanilla was big for a while, fair enough, but TBC/Wrath was dead on arrival lmao.

It just proved that people like the concept of Classic, but not the actual game.

The reason Hardcore is such a big thing is because it's a streamer-bait gimmick. People use "Oh, Classic has more Twitch viewers than DF, therefore it's better!" as if that means anything.

[hipolnalrt]

I'm guessing World of Warcraft: The Dark Below

Okay, okay, hear me out - The Dark Below may be a term for the Twisting nether, or somehow related to it. It also invokes voidy things. I'm betting Towellie has seen this title and just immediately assumed Dark Below meant under water things. But I think the hint/leak images that may be AI or not are pointing to a voidy, dreadlordy expansion. Thus The Dark Below.


Edit: its been 10 years since the first Dark Below fake leak, so.. anniversary?

[Luck4]

The reason Hardcore is such a big thing is because it's a streamer-bait gimmick. People use "Oh, Classic has more Twitch viewers than DF, therefore it's better!" as if that means anything.

Hardcore realms and Classic-era realms are booming. You should leave the Retail bubble and check them out.

I know I did, and I'm impressed. I think you should give it a shot as well.

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And I say this as someone who never played Vanilla before. I started in late WOTLK, and now I understand why so many people love Vanilla so much.

[pacotaco]

Honestly, looking at these (granted they are really kinda small, it does sort of give proper Ingame Screenshot vibes. You know, in the sense that it looks better than it would ultimately look on live, because the footage was processed and captured on showcase rigs for the purpose of being trailer shots etc.). Straight Artwork would be different and it doesn't give me high quality AI Art vibes at all, just because the art style that you CAN make out on some of these, if you scoot in real close is very distinct, compared to what I've seen of AI Art trying to replicate the WoW Style.

They give real eco-dome vibes:

[Santandame]

Something to bear in mind is that the Ethereal’s can likely replicate any environment they choose within the eco domes. They don’t have to just be jungles. They could easily be the size of a zone too.

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I wouldn't be so hasty to assume things. We still have key art featuring a totally unrelated character, so if this art is supposed to hint at anything, I'm thinking it's a specific region like Silithus.

I think that could just be as simple as Metzen being back and Thrall being synonymous with Metzen.

[Valysar]

My french uncle who works at Blizzard sent me this :

[Lazarel]

Can be easily faked tho.
How about that build no. ?

[Foolicious]

"Generating hype" and being actual products people play are two different things.

So true. Just look at the last hyped games from Blizzard and how many player's stick around after preordering.

Overwatch 2, Warcraft reforged, Diablo IV.

My french uncle who works at Blizzard sent me this :

They could at least use the same shade of colour for the title if they want it to be believeable.

[MCMLXXXII]

Imo Cata classic would only make sense if retail gets a revamp. Everything you want to do in Cata is already present in retail.

[Makorus]

Imo Cata classic would only make sense if retail gets a revamp. Everything you want to do in Cata is already present in retail.

Except Class Design and end-game.

That's like saying "Oh, there's no need for Vanilla/TBC classic" because everything is already in Wrath classic.

[Valysar]

I've done it myself, that's why it's a rather poorly done edit haha, but "Avaloren" is a really good looking name imo

[MCMLXXXII]

Except Class Design and end-game.

That's like saying "Oh, there's no need for Vanilla/TBC classic" because everything is already in Wrath classic.

I'll give you class design but the end game stuff is still there. The differences between retail and vanilla, TBC and Wrath classic are like day and night. Between Cata and retail? Not so much.

[Worldshaper]

BlizzCon opening ceremony from 9 years ago. Notice how much focus they had on WoW's anniversary. 2014 for the 10th anniversary!

Just imagine how they'll open this year's ceremony. Sure, there's no Mike Morhaime. In fact, a lot of those dudes are gone now, which is sad.

But METZEN, man.

Edit:

I realise this year is the 19th anniversary, so they probably won't celebrate it that much. But the announcements should still be special!

[micwini]

BlizzCon opening ceremony from 9 years ago. Notice how much focus they had on WoW's anniversary. 2014 for the 10th anniversary!

Just imagine how they'll open this year's ceremony. Sure, there's no Mike Morhaime. In fact, a lot of those dudes are gone now, which is sad.

But METZEN, man.

Edit:

I realise this year is the 19th anniversary, so they probably won't celebrate it that much. But the announcements should still be special!

I mean its the 10th expansion. That alone should be something

[Worldshaper]

I mean its the 10th expansion. That alone should be something

It's the culmination of so much, really. (When it releases in 2024, that is.)

30 years of Warcraft.
20 years of WoW.
10 years since WoD started the second era for WoW, ending with 11.0.
10th expansion.
Metzen back.

[KurtMash]

World of Warcraft: The Dark Heart

In search for the way to steal Azeroth from the Titans grasp, Iridikron and Xal'atath go to the remains of K'aresh to investigate it's destruction and capture the lingering essences of Dimensius. The reason why Dimensius attacked K'aresh in the first place is that it actually had a world soul he wanted to convert into a Dark Titan. The soul did resist the energies, but as a result it exploded. Eventually, after Dimensius left the planet the Ethereals returned to it. They began the proces of rebuilding their civilization, recreating all the different biomes and world they met during their exile. With it's varied habitats, K'aresh has became a universal hub for all races that lost their homes to the void - and other cosmic forces.

While most Ethereals are conversationalists and merchants, focused on fighting the void corruption present in the remains of the broken planet, seeding new life into it, and profiting off of it, there is also a sect that worships the void, sees the curse sent upon them as a blessing and works to bring the Void Lords into existence, so they can share their gift with all of the universe. They work together with Iridikron and Xal'atath to gather the energies, so Azeroth awaits the same fate as K'aresh did - bathed in void energies. This time however, the Galakrond's hunger is added to the mix - so instead of resisting them, she eats the energies and becomes the Dark Titan.

---
I could see this kind of setup working quite well. Ecodomes give us unlimited options of biomes. A mix of races from all of the universe allows us to ground the expansion in existing world even if it is set in space (perhaps we can find there Dreanei, Orcs, Arrakoa, Ogres, Humans, Void elves among others. Maybe some other demon races from before they became corrupted?). Although the first patch is set on K'aresh, we do not lose the connection to Azeroth, and future patches can easily be set on the planet. Perhaps an underground zone around the Soul of Azeroth as a final patch?

[Nibelheimy]

If were to get a 10.3, pushing the next expac release to November 2024. 10th expac releasing on the 20th wow and 30th warcraft anniversary is certainly something to go full on hype with.

They'd honnestly be mad not to go crazy with this one.

My personal opinion is if there will ever be a revamp, so many previous players will be reminiscing about wow during this period with these anniversaries it's the time to do it.

Dragonflight has high retention with it's cadence, but has been said to struggle to get new players in and ex players back. At the very least, the expansion reveal cinematic should be absolutely grand to capitalise on these anniversaries.

[Worldshaper]

2010 - 2016 was the best time to be a Blizzard fan, jesus. At least in the modern era, obviously the 90s were something else.

We got Cata, MoP, WoD, and Legion.
We got Diablo 3 and its expansion.
We got Starcraft 2 and its two expansions.
We got Hearthstone and is first batch of excellent expansions.
We got Heroes of the Storm.
We got Overwatch.
We got the Warcraft movie (not a big fan myself, but still a big deal for it to happen).
Pretty much all the legends were still with the company.

Sure, they weren't all hits. But in general, it was a very exciting time, and there was a lot of polish in everything they did.

Meanwhile, in 2017 - 2023, we've gotten:

BfA, Shadowlands, and Dragonflight.
Diablo Immortal.
Diablo IV.
Starcraft: Remastered.
Diablo 2: Resurrected.
Warcraft 3: Reforged.
Warcraft: Rumble.
Overwatch 2 (Overwatch 1 GONE).
Hearthstone had a bunch of expansions, arguably lost its heart.
Heroes of the Storm was abandoned.
Starcraft was abandoned.
We lost legends like Metzen, Morhaime, Kaplan, Brode, Browder, Bowder, and many others.

BfA and Dragonflight were all right, and I appreciated the remasters for Starcraft and Diablo 2. But other than that, it's been a rough couple of years to be an old school Blizzard fan.

Here's hoping the next seven years (2024 - 2030) is the great revival for Blizzard, under Xbox ownership. What I'm hoping for:

Diablo IV gets back on its feet with some great expansions.
Starcraft revitalised with new games.
WoW has a great 10th expansion with an impending world revamp, and then enters a new era.
WoW and other games on Xbox and Game Pass.
Hopefully a new Warcraft title, perhaps an RPG?
A few animated series on Netflix?
Heroes of the Storm brought back as an evergreen live service game.
Overwatch 1 brought back as a legacy game; OR the "2" removed from the current game, and numerous consumer-friendly improvements made.
The new IP becomes a hit, something to get excited for.
Metzen back on stage! Somebody to look up to.