World of Warcraft is set to celebrate a number of milestones in 2024. One of the best MMOs of all-time will celebrate its 20th anniversary by kicking off the Worldsoul Saga – a trilogy of expansions charting a new chapter in Azeroth's history, beginning with The War Within. WoW Classic will celebrate its fifth birthday by bringing about the return of Cataclysm, positioning the divisive expansion alongside some forward-thinking seasonal experiences. It's an exciting time for Warcraft, and the game's vice president and executive producer says we haven't seen anything yet.
I sat down with Holly Longdale to get a sense of what the future holds for World of Warcraft. It's incredible, really, that Blizzard Entertainment is still pushing to surprise and delight players after 20 long years. The War Within, which will allow you to descend into the dark depths of Azeroth for the very first time, is described to me as a "huge risk", albeit one which – if Longdale and her colleagues can get it right – will set out a "foundation" for the continuing evolution and expansion of Warcraft.
