World of Warcraft Classichas been a nostalgic ride for many Blizzard fans. Also known asVanilla, the old game was recreated and re-released, and it’s been quite ayear forWoW Classic.But now players are inching closer and closer to what would have been patch 2.0, bringing an end toClassic.
Released in September 2019,World of Warcraft Classicwas an almost 100% accurate recreation of the originalWoWas it was 16 years ago. The patches were re-released in order, starting with MC, sliding throughAhn’Qiraj and the war effortcoupled with the Scarab Lord grind, and is now getting closer and closer to the release of the final major content patch ofVanilla.
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Naxxramas is on its way in, set to release on December 3rd, 2020. Back in 2004, this was the final big patch for OGWorld of Warcraft, bringing with it a massive raid ending in a battle with the Lich King’s right-hand man,Archlich Kel’Thuzad, an undead necromancer that drops some of the best loot that players had ever seen (at the time). But most importantly, the appearance of the floating citadel ushered in a new era forWoWplayers back in the day:Burning Crusade.
For those who have been loving the re-released content and have been leveling, raiding, and stockpiling gear, the unknown is what comes after Naxxramas. While there have been somerumors ofBurning Crusadeservers heading toClassic, many are beginning to wonder what will be next for the game. It is possible that Blizzard could choose to continue intoBCwith patch 2.0, just as it did more than a decade ago. But where to after that?
IfBCis next on the menu, will players no longer be able to playVanillaat all, or willVanillaservers run alongsideBCservers, allowing players to experience both at the same time? If that occurs, it begs the question of what Blizzard’s end point would be. If it becomes popular enough, and goes on long enough, players could just choose which one of the eight expansions that they wish to play. WhileBurning Crusadein itself would most likely be a great move forBlizzard, the future afterBClooks hazy.
A possibility that could be the future ofWorld of Warcraft Classicafter Phase 6would be for Blizzard to move intoBurning Crusade, which is arguably the best of the early expansions, and then make new content forClassic. It would build out the fanbase both inRetail WoWwhile keepingClassicfresh for those who like the old-school style ofWoW. But whatever Blizzard has in store, hopefullyClassicwon’t be completely abandoned after Naxx.
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