Since its debut in 2019, players have been loving the nostalgia trip ofWorld of Warcraft Classic. The game has brought players back to the earliest days of Azeroth and let them experience some of the best years of the 19-year-old MMO. Almost nothing has been altered, and Blizzard has further expanded its offerings with the introduction ofBurning Crusade ClassicandWrath of the Lich King Classic. All three of these titles have been a treat for fans, but the logical next step may not be received well.
World of Warcraft Classicgave players a way to experience the game’s launch state whileBurning Crusade Classiclet them explore the game’s first expansion. Wrath of the Lich King Classicthen replacedBurning Crusade Classicand let players experience the game’s second expansion again. As of now, it seems like theWorld of Warcraft Classictrain has come to a stop, but that could all change at Blizzcon 2023. There is a chance thatCataclysm Classiclooms on the horizon, and that may not be the direction many players want this experience to go.
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Cataclysm Classic Seems Like the Logical Next Step
World of Warcraft Classicplayershave been able to replay vanilla and the game’s first two expansions. These are often considered the golden years of the MMO, and many players never want to leave this version of Azeroth. However, if Blizzard wants to keep releasingWorld of Warcraft Classicexpansions then it will need to re-release the game’s third expansion.World of Warcraft: Cataclysmmarked a major shift in the game, and is partially whyClassichad to exist in the first place, but it is also next in line for theClassictreatment.
World of Warcraft: Cataclysmsaw the game’s first major world revamp as Deathwing rained destruction down on the people of Azeroth. The old world was torn asunder and replaced with a brand-new damaged world, the talent system was completely overhauled, the classes were all changed, new races were introduced, and almost everything about the game was revamped. Many of these changes can still be seen today, and much of Dragonflight hinges on events that happened during Cataclysm. Its release significantlychanged the future ofWorld of Warcraft, and Blizzard has not looked back since.
Cataclysm May Be Too Controversial to Redo
WhileWorld of Warcraft: Cataclysmis next in line, that expansion is also the main reason thatClassichad to exist in the first place. The world was completely changed and many of the game’s systems were overhauled. Since its release, players have been clamoring for a return to the old world and mechanics of the first two expansions.World of Warcraft Classicgives them that, andadding Cataclysm to that brand feels wrong. It would be missing the point of it completely, and some players would have little interest in revisiting it.
World of Warcraft: Cataclysmmay get theClassictreatment soon, but players may not care enough to check it out. It does not have the same appeal as the previousClassicreleases, and it goes against the concept. While Blizzard may be able to get fans excited about its potential, it may be a losing battle against much of the fanbase.
World of Warcraft Classicis available now on PC.
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