Blizzard has announced its next upcoming expansion for its flagship MMORPG. World of Warcraft: Shadowlands will be the eight expansions since the game’s original launch back in 2004.
We got our first look at Shadowlands via a cinematic trailer during the Blizzcon 2019 opening ceremony. We’re no experts when it comes to WoW lore (ain’t nobody got time for that) but here are the basics.
We see Sylvanas Windrunner approach the domain of the Lich King before an epic showdown that ultimately has her coming out on top. She strips the crown from him and it looks as though she’s going to don the iconic helm herself but she tears it apart instead. This causes a cataclysm that breaks open the Eternal Vale between life and death.
We’re going to the Shadowlands which is basically WoW’s version of the afterlife where souls go to rest. This realm predates everything in the game’s timeline and will take players somewhere they’ve never been before. We’re not in Azeroth anymore.
The Shadowlands will play host to familiar fallen characters you’ve encountered in the past. Never meant for mortal eyes, this entirely new area sports a diverse array of environments from floating islands of Bastion and the mystic forests of Ardenweald, as well as the blighted lands of Revendreth and Maldraxxus.
In this new realm, players will need to choose a Covenant to align with in their quest to restore balance between the forces of life and death. Expect some nifty looking Covenant armour ets to show up during your playthrough.
Expect new dungeons, raids, and other endgame content.
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands doesn’t have a confirmed release date but will be arriving next year at some point.
Shadowlands had previously been leaked before Blizzcon thanks to a merch listing on the official Blizzard gear store. This was then followed by a shot of the Lich King as well as the Shadowlands logo art via the World of Warcraft Public Test Realm.
