The 30th anniversary of Warcraft became a true event for fans of Azeroth worldwide, and Blizzard decided to celebrate this occasion on a grand scale. A whole range of exciting announcements was made during the festive stream, covering various parts of the legendary universe.
Among the major news were remasters of the cult games Warcraft I and Warcraft II, bringing players back to the origins of the legendary series, and patch 2.0 for Warcraft 3 Reforged. For World of Warcraft fans, a Roadmap for WoW The War Within and WoW Classic was presented, promising new expansions and content. Additionally, Blizzard announced the relaunch of WoW Classic, allowing players to return to the original versions of the game.
Heartstone fans were not left without attention – in honor of the 30th anniversary of Warcraft, a new miniset in collaboration with the Starcraft universe will be released, adding elements of this popular series to the game. Furthermore, players received an announcement for the release of Warcraft Rumble on PC, allowing fans to dive into the familiar universe on a new platform.
Remasters of Legendary RTS and Updates to Existing Ones
The first major announcement at the celebratory stream was the update for Warcraft 3 patch 2.0 This update was especially anticipated, as Blizzard fixed many problems that appeared after the remaster release. The patch resolved numerous bugs and optimized the game, significantly improving the gameplay experience.
In particular, players now have access to more flexible graphics and control settings, allowing them to tailor the game to their personal preferences. Blizzard also conducted a complete overhaul of the game interface, making it more modern and user-friendly. Additionally, the entire game's graphics received an Up Res – an enhancement in the quality of textures and visual elements, refreshing the look of this cult classic and making it more appealing to today's players.
Immediately after this, we were presented with the remasters of the cult parts of Warcraft, namely I and II – games through which most older players became acquainted with the legendary universe. The game has received significant graphics improvements, with Blizzard managing to maintain the same atmosphere thanks to the soundtrack and voice acting.
For the first part, more convenient controls were added, and the game speed was increased. This is intended to significantly improve the gaming experience for old players and also attract newcomers to try a truly cult game.
But fans of Warcraft II need not despair, as their updates are no less impressive. Firstly, there is a functioning online mode that will allow you to compete with other people, and secondly, all Legacy maps will be playable.
Warcraft Remastered Battle Chest
Subsequently, after the remasters were announced, Blizzard announced the Warcraft Remastered Battle Chest – a collection that unites the restored versions of the classic games Warcraft I, Warcraft II, and Warcraft III with all expansions. This set is intended to give fans the opportunity to return to the origins of the epic saga and immerse themselves in the legendary world of Azeroth in an updated format. All three games received improved graphics, reworked models, an updated interface, and support for modern screen resolutions, making the game experience comfortable even for new players. This set is priced at $40.
World of Warcraft The War Within
Ion Hazzikostas began discussing World of Warcraft (WoW) Retail by introducing the current celebration of the game's 20th anniversary. He announced that in honor of the anniversary, Tier-2 armor sets were reworked, festive events were organized, and time-travel to classic raids was introduced to bring back the atmosphere of the early versions of WoW for players.
Ion then moved on to talk about the future of WoW, announcing the release of five novels that will deepen the story of the new era, The War Within. Additionally, a host of gameplay innovations are expected in upcoming updates.
Specifically, patch 11.0.7 will introduce a new location, Siren Isle, which will add even more content and continue the quest storyline. To the celebration of Winter Veil (the in-game Christmas event), special content will also be added, making the winter events even more exciting.
An even more massive update is expected in patch 11.1.0, in which players will travel to a new zone, Undermine, inspired by goblin themes. This zone is stylistically reminiscent of the goblin starting area but offers much more opportunities for exploration. The new zone will also include the Liberation of Undermine raid and Operation: Floodgate dungeon. Among other attractions, players will receive a new mount – a car that can not only move around but also drift, adding even more style and dynamics to travels in WoW.
At the end of the presentation, Ion Hazzikostas unveiled the long-awaited Road Map for the development of World of Warcraft, which detailed plans for upcoming updates. Details were released on new patches, additional gameplay zones, raids, events, and expansions for WoW scheduled for the coming years. A short video was shown, likely teasing a much-anticipated update, possibly featuring a player housing mechanic long requested by the players.
Blizzard demonstrated that the WoW universe remains alive and dynamic, constantly evolving, and offering players the opportunity to explore new horizons in Azeroth.
World of Warcraft Classic
Clayton Stone and Nora Valleta shared news about World of Warcraft Classic, highlighting successes and future plans for the classic version of the game. The conversation began with a discussion about the Season of Discovery – an experimental season that players appreciated. Developers talked about the upcoming Ahn'Qiraj raid and confirmed that in subsequent phases players will not only face Naxxramas but also new dungeons related to the Scarlet Crusade.
The team then moved to news about Cataclysm Classic. They announced that the Firelands raid is now available and that the final phase of Cataclysm Classic will take place in early 2025. The first major announcement was the release of the new expansion, Mists of Pandaria Classic, planned for summer 2025.
The second significant announcement was the complete relaunch of WoW Classic, starting on November 21. Blizzard assured that the release of classic content will continue, and after this, players can look forward to the relaunch of Burning Crusade Classic.
The development team summarized all these announcements, presenting the Classic Roadmap for 2025 to give players an idea of what awaits them in upcoming seasons of WoW Classic.
Heartstone
The 10th anniversary of Hearthstone started with Nathan Lyons-Smith sharing achievements reached by both the players and the development team over the years. He noted that around 160 billion matches have been played – an incredible number, evidencing the game's popularity and the dedication of its community.
Nathan also assured that players can expect even more cards, new expansions, and numerous surprises that will make the upcoming years in Hearthstone even more thrilling.
Following him, Leo Robles Gonzales took the stage to talk about upcoming novelties, particularly a new mini-set styled after Starcraft. This collaboration promises to be a real treat for fans of both universes and will add to the game a new layer of unique cards and mechanics.
During the 10th anniversary celebration of Hearthstone, a RoadMap for 2025 was shared, outlining plans for future updates and expansions. The developers' map indicated that new thematic mini-sets, large expansions, as well as new mechanics and cards, are expected to help revitalize the game.
Warcraft Rumble
Next, as part of the celebration, the theme of Warcraft Rumble, the newest game in the Warcraft universe, was addressed. The developers shared impressive statistics: over 900 million bosses had been defeated in the game this year, illustrating the immense interest of players and their activity. They also talked about how the game was launched, including the challenges and successes faced during the project's release.
The development team continued by discussing their work on updates for Warcraft Rumble, detailing what players can expect in the future, including new content, events, and gameplay improvements. The final major announcement was that Warcraft Rumble would soon be available on PC, allowing even more players to enjoy the game on a new platform.
Summary of the Presentation
The 30th anniversary celebration of Warcraft was a brilliant event showcasing not only achievements but also the massive potential for the future of Blizzard's universes. From announcements of new expansions for World of Warcraft, including Mists of Pandaria Classic and new raids for WoW Classic, to the launch of Warcraft Rumble on PC, the company continues to offer its players new opportunities to immerse themselves in beloved universes. Remasters of Warcraft I, II, updates for Warcraft 3, and plans for Hearthstone for the coming years show that Blizzard is ready to support and develop its projects, providing fans with even more content and surprises. These announcements confirm that Blizzard not only honors its history but also actively builds its future, maintaining the enthusiasm and support of millions of players worldwide.
After all the announcements, players were treated to a festive finale, enjoying an orchestral concert featuring iconic music from World of Warcraft. This was a perfect conclusion to this unforgettable event, highlighting once again the grandeur of this franchise and its impact on generations of gamers.
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