World of Warcraft Classic enthusiasts eagerly awaiting fresh 'vanilla' servers are now rejoicing, as new servers are set to launch on November 21 to commemorate WoW's 20th anniversary. Simultaneously, Cataclysm Classic players will advance to Mists of Pandaria in 2025. Blizzard revealed this news during its Warcraft 30th Anniversary Direct, confirming that the new vanilla servers, excluding the upcoming Hardcore servers, will transition to The Burning Crusade Classic when the time comes. While Blizzard noted that these new servers may not necessarily proceed all the way to Cataclysm, it's difficult not to feel a sense of déjà vu.
In an interview with GameSpot, WoW Classic lead software engineer Nora Valletta and software engineer Kevin Vigue provided further insights into what newcomers on these fresh servers can anticipate, their views on progressing to Mists of Pandaria, and lessons learned from more experimental endeavors like Season of Discovery. Utilizing advancements in server technology, Blizzard aims to create larger realms with more players but fewer realms overall for this batch of new servers. Notably, there will be no dedicated role-playing or RPPvP servers, a departure from the norm. Quality-of-life enhancements, such as the Chronoboon Displacer for saving world buffs, faction balancing on PvP realms, and adjustments to the original game's Honor PvP rank system, will be available at launch. Additionally, the controversial GDKP runs will be banned in North America and Europe, a measure first introduced in Season of Discovery.
In a shift from 2019, the game's initial raid, Molten Core, will not launch immediately. Instead, the new servers will feature a group-finder tool to assist players in forming groups without relying on add-ons. A recent unpopular change updating the guild interface in WoW Classic and Season of Discovery to a more modern version will be reversed for the new servers, giving players the choice between the modern UI or the original appearance. Valletta and Vigue emphasized that while they don't plan to make this a regular practice, they felt it was appropriate for guilds.
Adding to the sense of familiarity, Blizzard announced that Cataclysm Classic servers will transition to Mists of Pandaria in Summer 2025. Although players revisited Mists of Pandaria earlier this year in modern WoW's Remix event, Valletta and Vigue believe the Classic version will offer a distinct experience. They also highlighted that each expansion serves as an entry point for some players, making Mists of Pandaria their 'classic.'
Regarding the ongoing WoW Classic Season of Discovery, more content is on the horizon, including the Naxxramas update later this winter. This update will introduce new 'instanced' content, such as encounters against the Scarlet Crusade and the Karazhan Crypts. Valletta and Vigue remained tight-lipped about future plans after Season of Discovery but acknowledged the valuable insights gained from the seasonal server.
The WoW Classic news was part of the broader Warcraft 30th Anniversary Direct, which also featured new remastered versions of Warcraft 1 and 2, a StarCraft mini-set for Hearthstone, and more.
Source link: https://www.gamespot.com
