Blizzard Entertainment recently concluded its highly anticipated Warcraft 30th Anniversary Direct, a nearly hour-long presentation reminiscent of a mini BlizzCon, overflowing with exciting updates from the sprawling Warcraft franchise. Fans were treated to insights about the next significant update for World of Warcraft, tantalizing teasers regarding its upcoming expansion, and enhancements for World of Warcraft Classic. In addition, the event revealed long-awaited remasters of iconic titles and provided an overview of future planned updates for both Hearthstone and the mobile title Warcraft Rumble.
If you weren’t able to catch the live broadcast, fear not—we’ve compiled all the key announcements and reveals from Blizzard’s monumental Warcraft 30th Anniversary Direct:
World of Warcraft: The War Within next major update unveiled
Kicking off the event, Blizzard turned the spotlight on the retail version of World of Warcraft, currently approaching the conclusion of the expansion’s first major narrative arc, The War Within. Fans were introduced to the upcoming major patch, titled “Undermine(d)”, which will immerse players in the clandestine underground goblin capital of Undermine for the first time in history.
Scheduled for release in early 2024, the patch promises a treasure trove of new content, including a customizable vehicle, fresh storyline elements, a brand-new arena map, a challenging dungeon, two new delves, an extensive raid experience, and a variety of other enhancements. For a deeper dive into everything planned for update 11.1, Undermine(d), click here to read more.
World of Warcraft: Midnight will feature player housing at last
In a thrilling conclusion to the presentation, Blizzard unveiled an intriguing “one more thing” regarding its next planned expansion, titled Midnight. Although the release of Midnight is still some time away, today’s tease confirmed that it will finally include a long-demanded feature: player housing. Additional details remain sparse, but enthusiasts can look forward to a more comprehensive reveal scheduled for late next summer.
World of Warcraft: Classic is headed to Pandaria
As expected, World of Warcraft Classic continues to progress through the expansion timeline, with Blizzard announcing its imminent shift to Mists of Pandaria in 2025. However, in response to community feedback regarding the rapid pace of Classic’s expansion journey, Blizzard will introduce brand new “vanilla” Classic realms on November 21. These new realms will feature fresh PvE, PvP, and Hardcore servers, which will gradually evolve through Classic’s historical update schedule, starting with the Molten Core raid opening weeks after their inaugural launch. Additionally, the PvE and PvP realms will eventually transition into The Burning Crusade Classic, effectively rebooting the expansion progression.
Warcraft I and II are being remastered
Opening today’s presentation, Blizzard made an exciting announcement, revealing that remastered versions of both Warcraft I and II would be made available immediately. These remasters, which enhance—not replace—the originals, will feature fully updated graphics along with various quality-of-life improvements to enhance gameplay. Notably, Warcraft II’s remaster will include multiplayer support, allowing players to engage across all legacy custom maps that will remain compatible.
Moreover, Blizzard is set to roll out a significant patch for Warcraft III: Reforged, which will encompass a comprehensive graphics overhaul and address various quality-of-life enhancements aimed at refining player experience. All three remastered titles will be included in a versatile Battle Chest that features pricing options tailored based on users’ existing libraries.
Hearthstone is getting a crossover with…Starcraft?!
In the Hearthstone tavern, the community got an exciting sneak peek at the game’s roadmap for 2025, showcasing a thrilling upcoming crossover with another beloved Blizzard franchise: Starcraft.
As the new year kicks off, Hearthstone will debut a mini set inspired by StarCraft, spotlighting themes and unique powers derived from each of the three dominant factions: Protoss, Zerg, and Terran. Following this, players can anticipate the first expansion of 2025 focused on the enchanting Emerald Dream, succeeded by a nostalgic return to Un’Goro Crater with The Shrouded City expansion. The year will conclude with an adventurous time-themed expansion called The Heroes of Time, featuring fan-favorite time traveler, Chromie.
Warcraft Rumble is coming to PC
Fans of Warcraft Rumble can look forward to new split faction leaders in a forthcoming update, adding complexity to gameplay. These leaders will belong to two distinct families simultaneously, expanding the tactical possibilities within the game. This update will introduce character favorites such as Orgrim Doomhammer, Malfurion Stormrage, and Anub’arak, while established characters like Sylvanas will acquire a secondary faction as well.
Importantly, the mobile sensation Warcraft Rumble is set to celebrate its first anniversary by making a significant leap to PC gaming. Blizzard announced unexpected plans to launch a beta for the game on desktop platforms starting December 10th.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to [email protected].
**Interview with Blizzard Entertainment Senior Producer, Lisa Tran**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Lisa! The Warcraft 30th Anniversary Direct was a huge success, offering fans a ton of exciting updates. What was the highlight of the event for you personally?
**Lisa Tran:** Thank you for having me! For me, the highlight was definitely the reveal of the next expansion for World of Warcraft, titled Midnight. The inclusion of player housing has been a long-requested feature, and I think it’s going to change how players interact with the game world significantly. Seeing the community’s excitement around that was really special.
**Editor:** Absolutely! There was also a big announcement regarding the upcoming patch for World of Warcraft: The War Within, called “Undermine(d)”. Can you tell us more about what players can expect from that?
**Lisa Tran:** Sure! “Undermine(d)” is setting the stage to immerse players in the underground goblin city of Undermine for the first time. Along with a customizable vehicle and new story elements, players will experience a challenging dungeon and an extensive raid—a lot for them to dive into. We’re also really focusing on quality-of-life improvements to enhance the gaming experience.
**Editor:** That sounds fantastic! Moving on to World of Warcraft Classic, the shift to Mists of Pandaria is certainly exciting. Can you explain the decision behind introducing new “vanilla” Classic realms?
**Lisa Tran:** We really listen to our community’s feedback, and we saw a desire for a slower, more nostalgic progression through content. By introducing fresh Classic realms, we’re allowing players to experience the game as it was from the start while we gradually roll out the expansions. We hope this gives everyone a chance to enjoy the game’s history at a pace they find enjoyable.
**Editor:** And how about the remasters of Warcraft I and II? That was quite the surprise!
**Lisa Tran:** Yes! We’re really thrilled about the remasters. They enhance the original games with updated graphics and various quality-of-life improvements while maintaining the nostalgia factor. Adding multiplayer support for Warcraft II is something we know the community has been looking forward to as well, and we can’t wait for players to experience it.
**Editor:** Lastly, the Hearthstone crossover with Starcraft piqued many players’ interests! What should fans expect from this collaboration?
**Lisa Tran:** It’s going to be an exciting blend of two beloved franchises! We’re exploring cool gameplay mechanics and artwork that features characters and lore from Starcraft. We’ll be providing more details soon, but rest assured, it’s going to be an awesome addition to Hearthstone’s rich history of crossovers.
**Editor:** Thank you so much for your insights, Lisa. With all this exciting news coming out of the 30th Anniversary Direct, it’s clear that Blizzard has a lot in store for fans. We can’t wait to see what’s next!
**Lisa Tran:** Thank you! It’s an exciting time for us and our players, and we appreciate all the support. Keep an eye out for more updates!
