UPDATED, 1:41 p.m.: Images from the keynote with revealing details of the new WoW expansion:
Earth-shattering? Try Azeroth-shattering.
“World of Warcraft” heads to the maelstrom in the next expansion set, “Cataclysm.”
The premise — while the war against the Lich King grinds on, Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms will be “torn asunder” as an ancient evil awakens.
Goblins are driven out of the South Seas, where they are joined by the Horde. Gilneas’ Greymane Wall is shattered, allowing the worgen to run free, where they team up with the Alliance against the Forsaken.
That’s right. Horde goblins. Alliance worgen.
Level cap goes to 85, Archaeology will be a new second tradeskill, guild leveling will be added, a new character progression — “The Path of the Titans” — and the return of Deathwing, the black dragon aspect.
Whew.
More information, from the press kit:
Confirmed class-race combinations include gnome priests and blood elf warriors.
New battleground will be Tol Barad Island, a “new Wintergrasp-like zone.”
Rated battlegrounds are announced as a part of this expansion.
Flying mounts confirmed for old world.
Confirmed new zones: Uldum, Grim Batol and “the Sunken City of Vashj’ir.”
No word on what guild leveling or the Path of the Titans are.
Scenes from the keynote:
Lots more images after the jump:
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And you know those fancy goody bags Blizzard is giving out? We can’t keep ours so we’re going to give them away to readers. Leave a comment on any of our BlizzCon 2009 posts and when it’s all over, we’ll put all the names in a digital hat and pick some winners. Good luck!
Coverage so far:
