What you need to know
- World of Warcraft is a legendary 20-year-old MMORPG from Blizzard Entertainment, now owned by Microsoft.
- The game is gearing up for its latest expansion, The War Within, with a range of new trailers detailing the game’s characters and story setting.
- This latest trailer showcases Alleria Windrunner, who wields dangerous void magic to combat the various threats facing the game’s world of Azeroth.
- The trailer has led to calls for Warcraft to explore an animated feature show in the vein of Netflix’s League of Legends “Arcane.”
As a tech enthusiast with over two decades of gaming under my belt, I can confidently say that the latest developments in World of Warcraft have me more excited than a level 60 paladin on a mount speed boost. The upcoming expansion, The War Within, is set to kickstart a new saga titled “Worldsoul,” promising three expansions over the next few years.
On August 26, 2024, World of Warcraft drops its latest expansion: The War Within.
1. World of Warcraft maintains its title as the globe’s most thriving subscription-based MMORPG, catering to millions of players across different game settings, such as WoW: Classic and Season of Discovery. The main attraction in World of Warcraft is its “retail” segment, which chronicles the ongoing storyline that has been unfolding for approximately 20 years. World of Warcraft: The War Within initiates a fresh narrative arc, now officially called “Worldsoul.” Over the coming years, this tale will unfold across three expansions, with the initial focus on an underworld zone called Khaz’Algar.
In a recent reveal, we got a glimpse of Xal’atath, the latest antagonist, taking center stage in the ongoing World of Warcraft narrative. Styling itself as “The Harbinger,” this entity is causing chaos across Azeroth, and now, powerful political figures are hearing an unsettling, eerie sound emanating from within the planet’s core. Among these figures is Alleria Windrunner, a character who has been growing more significant in the overarching storyline.
Yesterday, Blizzard unveiled an engaging animated video centering around Alleria’s past, emphasizing her intricate bond with the corrupted influences of the Void.
The Void serves as a wellspring for dark magic often linked to malevolence, yet some characters such as Warlocks, Rogues, and Shadow Priests have learned to control its power, using it as a tool instead. However, other users risk insanity in the process. Notably, Neltharion, once the Aspect of Earth, was driven mad by the Void’s influence, ultimately metamorphosing into the catastrophic mutant dragon known as Deathwing.
Indeed, shadow users of all stripes are still generally met with suspicion and even derision in the World of Warcraft universe. The Horde expelled a sect of Void researchers, who eventually settled in with the Alliance, adding playable “Void Elves” to the character roster. Their leader is the afforementioned Alleria Windrunner, who unleashed the powers of the Void. Those who infuse their abilities with shadow magic run the risk of losing their very sanity. Alleria’s own husband Turalyon, a Paladin of the Holy Light, is shown to be devastated in the trailer by her usage of the power. Alleria is convinced that using the Void is the only way to actually combat the forces of the Void itself.
A darker tone we’ve not seen from Warcraft in years
With the latest trailer for Xal’atath, it seems Blizzard is making an effort to emphasize that the Void isn’t just a soft, blue magical entity as one might have perceived through recent expansions. Instead, Xal’atath exhibits a palpable sense of dread and horror, much like the ghost from The Ring.
It seems to me that after facing criticism over the burning of Teldrassil, World of Warcraft started moving away from its darker themes. Blizzard has also chosen to downplay the conflict between the Horde and Alliance player factions, not just for gameplay reasons, but to allow players to collaborate more freely. Personally, I believe that this shift may have inadvertently diluted World of Warcraft’s unique identity.
It appears that the recently released trailers might signal Blizzard’s intention to intensify the ominous atmosphere once more, with the Void Lords serving as the current chief antagonists in the Warcraft universe. So far, there hasn’t been much explanation about why these beings should fill us with dread, but they are known for hurling cosmic horrors called Old Gods across the universe. These Old Gods collide with planets like asteroids and spread like a vast, intelligent, tentacled malignancy. Although players have previously defeated the Old Gods on Azeroth, this has paved the way for encounters with the Void Lords themselves. However, we’ve yet to see much of them beyond brief glimpses. Players have been using shadow magic without significant repercussions, and Xal’atath, who is believed to be the herald of the Void, hasn’t revealed her true intentions yet either.
In light of the apparent defeat of the Old Gods, the dissipation of the Burning Legion, and the annihilation of traditional antagonists like The Scourge – it’s crucial for World of Warcraft to introduce compelling, high-pressure threats as it gears up for the next two decades. Traditional Disney villains won’t suffice; instead, a more terrifying narrative is needed. I wouldn’t mind seeing a Warcraft series on Netflix, inspired by the animated Alleria trailer – excellent idea!
World of Warcraft: The War Within launches on August 26, 2024 for Windows PC.
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2024-08-16 19:53