WoW: Forever is another timeline of the MMO
The world of World of Warcraft is about to get a time machine. Rumors are turning into reality for fans of the massive MMO, as a new branch, World of Warcraft: Forever, is set to reset the clock back to the game’s origins in 2004.
Unlike previous attempts to revisit the past, WoW: Forever isn’t simply a nostalgic trip; it promises to explore uncharted territories of Azeroth, revealing stories and lore that were left untold during the game’s original progression. It’s a deep dive into the foundation of the world, built upon the foundation of the game’s very first year.
PC Gamer received early insight into this massive undertaking, and the details revealed at the BlizzCon Opening Ceremony paint a picture of a truly expansive experience. The game will begin players in the first year of WoW, featuring a level cap of 60 for the foreseeable future, ensuring that the experience is accessible and engaging for all players.
But the scope of the overhaul goes far beyond simple nostalgia. The new iteration is packed with fresh content designed to excite players at every level. Expect three entirely new zones to explore, alongside several existing zones that have been meticulously overhauled to fill in the vast, unexplored spaces of the vanilla map. To further expand the gameplay, players will gain access to nine new dungeons and two brand-new raids.
Beyond the landscape changes, the new game introduces exciting new elements for character creation. Players will be able to introduce a brand-new race, the Skyborne Elves, expanding the diversity of Azeroth. Furthermore, the game introduces intriguing new class and race combinations, hinting at unique character builds such as a Forsaken paladin, a dwarf shaman, and an orc mage.
This design philosophy echoes successful strategy games, taking the 2006 version of the MMO not as a preserved relic, but as a dynamic jumping-off point for a grander adventure. While some worry that creating multiple branches might dilute the player base, the sheer scale of the project suggests that if any MMO can sustain three official forks, it is undoubtedly World of Warcraft and Blizzard.
World of Warcraft: Forever is set to be playable at BlizzCon this weekend, with a beta testing phase kicking off this Thursday. The full launch is scheduled for November 4th. While the experience is covered by the existing WoW subscription, upgrade packs, including access to exciting features like the new Skyborne race, will be available on Battle.net starting at $30.
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