World of Warcraft leads talk to us: Player Housing, Horde vs. Alliance, future classes and specs, player identity, the elusive ‘Xbox version,’ and more

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For over two decades, World of Warcraft has consistently ruled the top tier of its gaming genre since its initial release, maintaining its position as a dominant force in the world of online role-playing games.

The video game industry has undergone some peculiar and not entirely positive transformations, yet amid shifting gamer preferences, financial aspects, and competition from various entertainment sources, World of Warcraft has managed to maintain its strength consistently over time.

After being taken over by Microsoft and Xbox, World of Warcraft has embarked on a new phase in its existence, focusing more on enabling players to express themselves while aiming to improve the game for players of varying skill levels and time availability. World of Warcraft, alongside Blizzard Entertainment, will carry on this practice with World of Warcraft: Midnight, the upcoming major expansion planned for early 2026.

We had a chat with the key figures behind World of Warcraft, Ion Hazzikostas and Holly Longdale, to find out about the exciting developments coming up for this iconic gaming franchise, as it moves into its third decade.

After 20 years, why are we getting Player Housing?

Initially, I was curious about understanding the reasoning behind Blizzard choosing this moment to introduce World of Warcraft “Player Housing,” a long-requested feature that enables players to personalize and even construct their own homes within communities populated by real players. Given that players have been asking for this since the game’s inception, I wonder what factors led to its implementation now.

Ion Hazzikostas, the Game Director, explained that creating housing was such a massive project that it couldn’t be completed within a regular expansion period. Instead, it needed development spanning over multiple expansions, which is not something Blizzard normally aims for. Hazzikostas further added that the idea of implementing housing had been discussed numerous times, and each time they considered its development, it didn’t align with the typical expansion development cycle. However, this time, they decided to adopt a longer development cycle that could encompass multiple traditional expansion cycles. The decision to make housing a reality and release it at Midnight was made even before Shadowlands was launched. They knew it would take this long to get it right, ensuring a version that would stand strong 20 years into World of Warcraft’s lifespan, providing players with what they desired and what they deserved.

In essence, the new project is leveraging numerous technological structures we’ve developed over time, such as the smooth operation of Delves and the flexibility of Torghast. These features have enabled us to create a foundation for player housing, expanding the game environment to accommodate large numbers of players.

The goal is to always have purposeful activities, even as you live within the world of Azeroth. Housing aligns wonderfully with that purpose…

Holly Longdale, Executive Producer WoW

Executive Producer Holly Longdale additionally commented, discussing the progression of World of Warcraft’s ideology to provide players with a broader range of in-game self-expression options. “Starting with Shadowlands and moving into early Dragonflight,” she explained, “we have embarked on a new evolutionary path for World of Warcraft, now reevaluating how our content caters to the various playstyles of our players.

Our goal is to create an engaging experience where you always have something significant to pursue while exploring Azeroth. Owning a house in Azeroth would be ideal for this purpose, allowing you to claim a part of the world as your own and personalize it according to your preferences.

Here’s an attempt at paraphrasing: “We’re progressing towards new features such as Housing, Delves, and Transmog 2.0, with the aim of enhancing player individuality. We plan to carry on this journey. Your opinions matter greatly, so feel free to share your feedback. I’ll be discussing with players at Gamescom. It’s important to remember that World of Warcraft wouldn’t exist without its players, and we strive to create a game that thrives based on your input.”

On player identity and Horde vs. Alliance

I playfully admitted that my career choice as a journalist was mainly driven by aspirations to climb the ladder and perhaps one day request playable ogres (though not entirely true). As we delved into the development of fantasy gaming, I shared that in World of Warcraft: Midnight, the race from Haranir is set to debut, and Silvermoon City will be integrated into the main map of Azeroth. This update will include flying capabilities and a comprehensive overhaul. However, it will primarily be accessible for Alliance players.

During our discussion on gaming fantasy’s evolution, I humorously revealed that my decision to become a journalist was partly driven by the ambition to ask for playable ogres (though somewhat exaggerated). I then shared exciting news from World of Warcraft: Midnight-the new race in Haranir will be introduced, and Silvermoon City will join the main map of Azeroth with flying capabilities after a complete makeover. While this expansion is available to Alliance players, it’s worth noting that accessibility may vary for other factions.

Over time, World of Warcraft’s narrative has been centered on the ongoing conflict between players aligned with the Horde and Alliance factions. However, in more recent years, Blizzard Entertainment has softened this division, allowing players from opposing factions to team up. Currently, an unofficial truce exists between the Horde and Alliance, yet both sides feel that Blizzard shows partiality towards the Horde. This perception arises due to a noticeable increase in the elimination of Horde characters in recent years. Previously, critics claimed that Blizzard exhibited a pro-Horde bias, as significant events often focused on the Orcs and Forsaken races within the Horde.

In other words, it seems like taking out some Alliance bigwigs is on the agenda,” Hazzikostas quipped, “Let me check with Xal’atath and we’ll find out if she has any suggestions.

Indeed, in serving such a broad community with varying tastes and leanings, we choose to give each segment or clique their moment of prominence. This approach allows us to craft more targeted, impactful narratives compared to trying to accommodate everyone and every aspect to prevent anyone from feeling neglected.

Honestly, embracing a variety of fans with distinct tastes and passions certainly comes with its unique set of difficulties. Personally, I believe it’s more engaging and fair to give each segment or community their moment to shine, story by story.

Ion Hazzikostas, Game Director WoW

In simpler terms, Hazzikostas discussed how player feedback during Battle for Azeroth made Blizzard question the extent of faction conflict they should emphasize. He explained that after multiple times when the factions worked together to defeat common enemies like The Lich King or Deathwing, players found it hard to believe they would once again be at odds with each other. As game director for Battle For Azeroth, Hazzikostas initially wanted to focus heavily on faction warfare, but many players coming from Legion expressed confusion about why they were fighting again. He emphasized that the goal is to create a world where there’s still room for conflicts while also ensuring those who hold strong grudges feel represented. The aim is to tell a variety of stories in this context.

As a tech enthusiast, I totally get where Holly Longdale is coming from. She pointed out that every player’s unique identity and desire for self-expression is something the team takes seriously. When they announced Horde and Alliance neighborhoods, they received feedback along the lines of “but I want Ardenweald” – and honestly, it’s intriguing stuff!

Regarding the faction conflict, it’s not like it’s been completely swept under the rug. To put it simply, when the right moment comes, and a story that requires the depth we’re looking for emerges, we might revisit it. However, our goal is to keep evolving this aspect too, because change and innovation are key in the world of gaming.

On adding new classes, new specs like Demon Hunter ‘Devourer’ and Evoker and the support spec experiment

In the popular game World of Warcraft, the expansion titled “Midnight” introduces a fresh specialization for Demon Hunters called Devourer. This new spec aligns with the game’s overarching void-themed narrative, known as the Worldsoul Saga. Notably, this is the first time a single specialization, rather than an entirely new class, has taken center stage in an expansion. This development leads me to ponder if Blizzard might be adopting a novel approach, potentially leading to more distinctive specializations being introduced in the future. Players may envision unique combinations such as Earth-rooted Shaman tanks or time manipulation-focused healing mages, for instance.

Ion Hazzikostas expressed that new specifications could potentially be a useful addition to our arsenal, depending on the situation. While it might not be appropriate to expect these changes, he did mention that they are taking note of the suggestions. As the story progresses, there may be opportunities for certain classes to take center stage or align more closely with the narrative.

As a researcher, I can express that it is highly probable that we will expand Warcraft by incorporating fresh classes in the future. However, this endeavor comes with a substantial ongoing cost related to complexity, group formation, balance, and more. Introducing new specs presents an opportunity for players to showcase their creativity and interact with characters they’ve invested time into through a novel role. This aspect of the game is consistently exhilarating for us.

We view fresh specifications as another useful instrument in our collection, employing them when the situation calls for it. Definitely, we listen attentively to such suggestions.

Ion Hazzikostas, Game Director WoW

In our ongoing discussion about potential class enhancements, I brought up the topic of Evokers. Introduced as a new class and race combination in Dragonflight by Blizzard, Evokers come complete with a fresh DPS role that boosts fellow players within the group. The Augmentation spec has been challenging to balance, though I pondered if Blizzard was finished developing roles with more “supportive” buffing characteristics – a feature long desired for a Bard-like class or similar. Additionally, I inquired about potential improvements to Dracthyr’s transmission options, given the team’s increased emphasis on player self-expression.

Regarding Evokers, we’ve definitely picked up on concerns about transmogrification. The difficulty in depicting armor on that model due to its original design is apparent, but our team acknowledges this issue and is eager to find solutions if possible. It’s an experience that has taught us a valuable lesson for future projects.

The Augmentation Evoker has been under continuous exploration, and it’s been difficult to achieve balance. On one extreme, when a team is perfectly synchronized, maximizing all the utility and boosting capabilities, Augmentation can appear essential. Conversely, if we move away from that optimal scenario, Augmentation may seem out of place or unwelcomed at the high-performance end.

As a tech enthusiast, I must say that Augmentation continues to have its niche in the gaming world today, catering to those who appreciate that unique role. On the cutting edge of gameplay, it can be a challenge to maintain balance. However, we’re keen on finding a solution because we adore the essence of what a “Bard” or similar characters from other MMORPGs represent – the excitement of not leading damage charts but having teammates eager for your presence due to abilities like old-school Windfury. We’re determined to keep refining this concept. Augmentation is still under development, yet it’s an intriguing experiment we remain passionate about.

On solo player content, difficulty, and console versions

As a tech-savvy gaming aficionado, I must say that the realm of World of Warcraft is brimming with variety these days! T

As a tech enthusiast immersed in the vibrant world of Retail World of Warcraft, I’m thrilled to share that Blizzard has been putting in a tremendous effort to amplify the solo gaming experience. Now, we have dungeons designed for solo play called Delves. In the upcoming expansion, World of Warcraft: Midnight, Blizzard is introducing an innovative Prey system. This system will allow players to engage in thrilling open-world hunts for NPC targets and bosses. Who knows? Maybe one day we’ll find ourselves not just as the hunter, but the hunted too!

In Legion Remix, Blizzard introduces Diablo-style adaptable World Tier challenges, enabling players to adjust the challenge level of the open world content, a part that’s grown noticeably easier over time. I questioned whether a feature like this could potentially be implemented in the standard retail version of World of Warcraft, and how Blizzard’s approach towards difficulty has progressed throughout the years.

In simpler terms, Iain Hazzikostas (from Blizzard Entertainment) suggested that it’s quite plausible for Legion Remix’s World Tier difficulty system to transition into the main game. This new system, along with experimental modes, can help them experiment with ideas and adapt them to different versions of the game. If successful, players who enjoy a challenge in the outdoor world could benefit from this new feature. Delves were designed to provide solo players with a sense of progression that they previously lacked. If they can incorporate some of that feeling into the outdoor world, it would be great, he added.

Could the upcoming “Prey” system in Midnight potentially serve as a central element for outdoor challenge progression, much like Delves or Ion Hazzikostas mentioned it could be influenced by player feedback?

Hazzikostas stated, “The outcome could be uncertain,” adding, “it hinges on player opinions and responses. Prey is tailored for the type of gamer we were discussing. It offers an expansive outdoor environment. It’s designed for those seeking to intensify their journey in Midnight. Initially, it is thematically set in Silvermoon City. Your bounty assignments will be from Murder Row. If it lives up to our expectations and if players find it engaging, we plan to expand or refine it for the future. We’re thrilled about introducing an extra layer of peril throughout the outdoor world.

Never say never (on whether or not WoW could eventually leap over to Xbox or PlayStation)

Holly Longdale, Executive Producer WoW

Blizzard has been particularly dedicated to catering to players in various aspects such as game features, level of difficulty, and accessibility. A notable recent addition to enhance accessibility is the “one-button rotation” feature that lets players execute a straightforward sequence of attacks with just one key press. Although it’s not as potent as manually learning the damage rotations, this feature can be extremely useful for those who prefer a simpler gameplay experience. This development has sparked curiosity about whether similar efforts could eventually make World of Warcraft compatible with Xbox or PlayStation controllers, given the recurring questions regarding its potential transition to these platforms.

Holly Longdale stated, “Always consider the possibility, not an absolute. We’re working on figuring out how to tailor our game to a controller setup, which isn’t easy, but it’s necessary for us to do so given the specific requirements of that platform. Some team members are already playing World of Warcraft on a Steam Deck, and eventually, perhaps even the Xbox Ally. We aim to be prepared for what lies ahead. At present, our primary focus remains on our PC audience.

Hazzikostas added, “We face numerous user experience issues with controllers and consoles, especially since World of Warcraft has been developed over 20 years on PC. Regardless of the platform we’re present on, our goal is to maintain Blizzard’s high standard of quality. We strive to ensure that players playing on any platform feel like the game was specifically designed for them, which will involve a long journey for World of Warcraft.

A big thanks to Holly Longdale and Ion Hazzikostas for joining us!

Following a period where Shadowlands seemed to slow down World of Warcraft’s growth, there was speculation that newer MMOs like Final Fantasy XIV might overshadow it. However, Blizzard managed to revitalize the game with successful launches for World of Warcraft: Dragonflight and World of Warcraft: The War Within. Since then, they’ve been consistently releasing content catering to a wide range of player preferences and abilities, transforming the game into one with a much broader audience than before, when it was primarily centered around advanced play.

Introducing Player Housing in World of Warcraft: Midnight could significantly revamp the game, offering a warm and personalized touch that has been missing so far. This feature would allow players to express themselves more deeply through their characters, not just with custom armor sets, but now also with entire homes. The addition of housing provides even more incentives for players to immerse themselves in the game world and share their creations with fellow guild members.

In simple terms, the game World of Warcraft is anticipated to release its expansion called “Midnight” around early 2026, possibly in the Spring season. Moreover, if you pre-order “Midnight,” player housing will be accessible in a beta version before the year’s end.

It appears that I’ll be investing a significant amount of additional time, potentially hundreds of hours, into the game once Player Housing is released. I’m eager to see how the wider gaming community reacts once it becomes available.

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2025-08-25 17:42