Tag: roadmap

  • State of Azeroth Broadcast Coming January 29 — Roadmaps, Classic Plans, and a Housing Reward

    State of Azeroth Broadcast Coming January 29 — Roadmaps, Classic Plans, and a Housing Reward

    Blizzard is about to kick off a brand-new developer spotlight, and World of Warcraft is first in line.

    On January 29 at 9:00 a.m. PST, Executive Producer Holly Longdale and Senior Game Director Ion Hazzikostas will return live on the official Warcraft channels for a special State of Azeroth broadcast, offering a fresh look at what’s next for WoW in 2026.

    📅 When & Where to Watch

    • Date: January 29, 2026
    • Time: 9:00 a.m. PST / 5:00 p.m. GMT
    • Live on: YouTube and Twitch

    What Blizzard Will Reveal

    This broadcast is expected to be more than a simple update. Blizzard confirmed they will share:

    • The 2026 roadmap for modern World of Warcraft
    • The upcoming roadmap for Classic WoW
    • A glimpse into the future of Azeroth’s next major chapter

    Exclusive Housing Decor Item

    One of the biggest teasers: viewers who tune in live will learn how to unlock an exclusive Housing decor reward, hinting that player housing will remain a major focus going forward.

    Part of the Blizzard Showcase Event

    State of Azeroth is also the first presentation in Blizzard’s new Showcase series celebrating 35 years of Blizzard, with additional spotlights coming soon for Overwatch, Hearthstone, and Diablo.


    What Might Be Coming?

    While Blizzard hasn’t revealed specifics yet, this broadcast could finally bring clarity on:

    • The next phase of The War Within
    • Progress toward Midnight and the Worldsoul Saga
    • Future Classic content beyond Anniversary realms
    • Housing system details, expansion timelines, and seasonal plans

    If you care about WoW’s direction in 2026 — Retail or Classic — this is one livestream you won’t want to miss.


    Stay tuned on WowClassicUI.com right after the broadcast — we’ll cover all major announcements, roadmaps, and rewards revealed live.

    Watch Blizzard: The Next Chapter on YouTube

  • TBC Classic Anniversary Roadmap — Phases, Dates & What’s Coming

    TBC Classic Anniversary Roadmap — Phases, Dates & What’s Coming

    The Burning Crusade Classic Anniversary is the next major milestone for WoW Classic players. Starting from fresh realms launched for the 20th Anniversary in November 2024, these servers now move forward into The Burning Crusade — with a structured roadmap, phase system, and some important quality-of-life changes.

    This guide explains the full TBC Classic Anniversary roadmap: release dates, phase content, and what players should expect at each stage of progression.

    Key Release Dates

    The confirmed timeline for the start of The Burning Crusade Classic Anniversary.

    • TBC Pre-Patch: January 13, 2026
    • TBC Classic Launch: February 5, 2026
    • Phase 1 Raids Open: February 19, 2026

    The TBC Classic Anniversary realms are the same servers launched on November 21, 2024 for WoW Classic’s 20th Anniversary. These realms now progress naturally into The Burning Crusade.


    What Makes Anniversary Servers Different?

    Several modern improvements are included from day one.

    • Improved reporting system
    • Guild leadership dethroning system
    • Chronoboon Displacer with up to 10 stored buffs
    • Improved PvP honor system (Phase 2)
    • Graphics upgrades
    • Instant mail between characters on same account
    • No buff/debuff limit
    • Dual Spec

    Pre-Patch – January 13, 2026

    The Burning Crusade truly begins here.

    The pre-patch is almost an expansion on its own. It introduces:

    • Blood Elves for Horde
    • Draenei for Alliance
    • Jewelcrafting profession (up to 300)
    • New starter zones, Silvermoon City & The Exodar
    • Paladins for Horde & Shamans for Alliance
    • Faster leveling (15% less XP from 20–60)
    • Increased quest XP from level 30+
    • Cheaper & earlier mounts

    Phase 1 – February 5, 2026

    Outland opens. Level cap increases to 70.

    • New zones: Outland
    • Level cap raised to 70
    • Normal & Heroic dungeons
    • Reputation grinds & attunements
    • Raids (Feb 19): Karazhan, Gruul’s Lair, Magtheridon

    Phase 2 – Serpentshrine & Tempest Keep

    Two major raid tiers arrive.

    • Serpentshrine Cavern
    • Tempest Keep
    • New attunement chains

    Phase 3 – Mount Hyjal & Black Temple

    • Mount Hyjal
    • Black Temple
    • Lowered heroic rep requirement (Revered → Honored)
    • Reduced attunement restrictions

    Phase 4 – Zul’Aman

    • Zul’Aman raid
    • Catch-up gear for alts & latecomers
    • Timed run for Amani War Bear

    Phase 5 – Sunwell & Isle of Quel’Danas

    • Sunwell Plateau raid
    • Magisters’ Terrace dungeon
    • Isle of Quel’Danas daily quest hub
    • Final battle against Kil’jaeden

    Phase 5 represents the full conclusion of The Burning Crusade experience — and one of the most memorable raid eras in WoW history.

  • WoW Classic Players Want a “Forever Home” – And Blizzard Is Listening

    WoW Classic Players Want a “Forever Home” – And Blizzard Is Listening

    After years of seasonal realms, progression reruns, and temporary experiments, WoW Classic players are increasingly asking Blizzard for a real “forever home” for their characters and communities. A recent player letter to Game Director Ion Hazzikostas sparked fresh discussion when Blizzard acknowledged that the team is aware of this request and is actively thinking about the long-term future of Classic.

    Instead of endlessly hopping from one seasonal realm or expansion cycle to another, many Classic fans want a stable place to settle down, build guilds, and invest time without worrying that their realm will eventually be retired or forced into the next era.

    What Does a “Forever Home” Mean for Classic?

    When players talk about a “forever home” for WoW Classic, they usually mean a few key things:

    • Stable, long-term realms – Servers designed to stay online for the long haul, without scheduled shutdowns or forced progression.
    • Persistent characters – No need to transfer or reroll every time a new season or version appears; your main stays where it belongs.
    • Room for Classic-specific content – A place where Blizzard can experiment with Classic-focused features (new raids, systems, or balance changes) without wiping the slate clean.

    In past interviews, members of the Classic team have already hinted at the idea of Era-style servers or dedicated realms that could become a permanent home for certain rulesets or experimental mechanics, rather than purely seasonal content that disappears once a phase is over.

    Blizzard’s Response So Far

    The topic recently resurfaced when a Classic player wrote directly to Ion Hazzikostas to ask whether any long-term projects were planned for Classic beyond the usual progression cycles. The reply didn’t come with a full roadmap, but it did acknowledge that:

    • The team knows players are looking for a long-term future for Classic.
    • There is internal discussion about what that might look like.
    • Blizzard wants Classic to feel less like a temporary event and more like a stable home for those who prefer that style of WoW.

    That may not be the hard confirmation everyone is waiting for, but it is a clear sign that the “forever home” concept is on Blizzard’s radar — and that community feedback is having an impact.

    Why This Matters for the Classic Community

    For many players, WoW Classic isn’t just a side mode — it’s their main MMO. Guilds have rebuilt rosters, communities have formed around specific eras, and players have sunk hundreds (or thousands) of hours into characters they don’t want to abandon.

    A proper long-term home for Classic would:

    • Strengthen guilds and social ties by removing the constant fear that a realm will be retired.
    • Stabilize the in-game economy by keeping players and resources on the same long-running realms.
    • Make Classic more welcoming for returning players who just want to pick a server and stay there without needing to follow every new seasonal reset.

    On top of that, a clear long-term vision for Classic would help distinguish it from retail: one version of Azeroth focused on ongoing evolution and modern systems, the other centered on a more grounded, old-school MMO experience with its own path forward.

    What’s Next?

    Right now, Blizzard hasn’t officially unveiled a detailed plan or roadmap that answers every question about Classic’s future. But between community posts, interviews, and this recent exchange with Ion, one thing is clear: the team knows players want a permanent home and is actively exploring what that could become.

    Until we get a full announcement, Classic players will keep theorycrafting possible outcomes: expanded Era realms, hybrid seasonal/permanent models, or even brand-new Classic-only features meant to live on stable servers instead of temporary ones.

    Whatever form it takes, a “forever home” for WoW Classic would be a huge milestone for the game’s legacy community — and something many of us at WoWClassicUI will be watching very closely.

    Sources & Further Reading

    For players who want to dig deeper into the discussion and Blizzard’s recent statements, here are a few useful links: