BlizzCon 2023: In-depth Interview with Maria Hamilton & Kristy Moret

Hey there fellow WoW enthusiasts! Today, we have some exciting news about the future of World of Warcraft. In a recent group interview at BlizzCon 2023, Associate Design Director Maria Hamilton and Lead World Artist Kristy Moret shared their insights on The War Within expansion. From narrative focus and zone design to new features like Warbands, Dynamic Flight, and AI, there's a lot to unpack. So let's dive right in and explore what's in store for us!

The War Within: A New Narrative Focus

The developers expressed their commitment to delivering a compelling storytelling experience in The War Within expansion. They want players to have a leisurely time, fully immersing themselves in the rich narrative and enjoying the story arc. To ensure this, the Season content will not be available during the early access period. The developers aim to strike a balance so that the expansion never feels mandatory or gives players an unfair advantage.

The Future of Cross-Realm Guilds and Regions

The interview also touched upon the opening up of Cross-Realm Guilds, allowing players to connect and play with friends from different realms. As for regions, the developers acknowledged the complexity of region-based gameplay and the technical challenges it poses. While they are philosophically inclined towards opening up regions, this remains a work in progress.

More Druid Customization in The War Within?

Druid players will be happy to hear that the developers are enthusiastic about expanding Druid customization. In patch 10.2, we've already seen some additional options, and the team aims to continue adding more in The War Within and future expansions. They are actively listening to player feedback and want to fulfill the desires of Druid fans.

The Worldsoul Saga: Coming Sooner Than Expected

Exciting news for lore enthusiasts! The Worldsoul Saga will be arriving at a faster pace than we're accustomed to. While specifics weren't disclosed, the developers hinted at restructuring their teams and dedicating resources to ensure a swift release. They want to ensure that players aren't waiting until 2030 to complete this epic saga.

Dynamic Flight: A New Frontier?

One of the hot topics discussed was the possibility of flight form becoming a Dynamic Flight option. Unfortunately, no announcements were made regarding this feature. However, it's evident that the developers are constantly exploring new ideas and looking for innovative ways to enhance gameplay.

Delves: An Exciting Gameplay Experience

Delves are a unique gameplay feature that offers repeatable content with no lockout. Players can team up with friends and delve into challenging adventures. While the availability of improved loot may be more limited, the developers want to emphasize the joy of playing with friends and creating fantastic memories together.

• Warbands: Uniting Your Entire Account Roster

In The War Within, your entire account roster becomes part of your Warband. However, not all characters will be present in the cool camp selection scene. Both Horde and Alliance characters are included, fostering a sense of camaraderie and unity among players.

• A Balance of Hero Talents and Character Progression

Concerns were raised about potentially convoluting character progression with the addition of Hero Talents and subsequent systems, similar to borrowed power. The development team is keenly aware of previous issues with such systems and is determined to avoid repeating the same mistakes. They want to strike a balance between exciting new abilities and maintaining the essence of class fantasy.

• Expanding the Void and Shadow Threats

The upcoming expansion, Midnight, focuses heavily on the Void and the threats it poses. While nothing specific was mentioned about the inclusion of Ethereals, there is a definite emphasis on exploring the Void and shadow-related storylines. The developers hinted at potential choices but couldn't elaborate further at this time.

Distinct Expansions with Unique Stories

The developers emphasized that each expansion will be a complete, standalone experience with a full suite of activities and zones for players to explore. While the overarching story will connect them all, there will also be smaller, localized stories within each expansion that add depth and excitement. They are committed to ensuring that players can enjoy a cohesive narrative while still being thrilled by the uniqueness of each expansion.

Mount Customization and Future Enhancements

Mount customization has been a hit with players, especially with the introduction of Dragonriding mounts and the newly announced Delve mount. The developers expressed their love for this feature and assured players that they would continue to explore opportunities to expand customization options. However, they mentioned that older mounts are less likely to receive additional customization, as the focus is now on implementing Dynamic Flight.

Support Specs and Major WoW Content Patches

No new support specs were announced at this time. Regarding major content patches, the developers have seen success with the roadmap approach and intend to continue providing similar information to players. While the scope of the roadmap may be limited to approximately one year, it ensures players have an idea of the content they can expect before purchasing future expansions.

• Cross-Realm Guilds and Potential Trade Restrictions

While the developers couldn't confirm the specifics, they hinted at potentially reducing trade restrictions for Cross-Realm Guilds. However, the exact details are yet to be finalized.

• Account-Wide Progression with Warbands

Warbands bring account-wide progression to World of Warcraft, but there is some uncertainty about the inclusion of hunter pet collections. It remains to be seen if a shared stable will be available for all characters in a player's Warband.

• Ensuring Relevance of Outdoor Content

The developers acknowledged the previous issue of outdoor content losing its appeal over time. They are aware of the player concerns regarding this and strive to address the problem. Superblooms, for example, incorporate dynamic scaling that allows players to complete activities with fewer participants. Additionally, The War Within features various styles of outdoor content, including Delves, to cater to different difficulty levels and group sizes.

• Events and Technological Advancements

While no specific events similar to "Secrets of Azeroth" were announced, the developers expressed their enthusiasm for experimenting with and building upon such experiences. They are constantly exploring new technologies and ideas, aiming to provide unique and engaging content for players.

• Exploring Boundaries and Technical Limitations

The developers revealed that they didn't have to scale back any plans for The War Within due to technical limitations. They highlighted the use of new technologies in areas such as the Crystal in Hallowfall Canyon, which dynamically changes the lighting of the zone to progress the narrative. Another example is the Air-Lock zone traversal tech, which allows zones to react to player actions like never before.

Player Experience and Loot Acquisition in Delves

Delves are intended to address the progression concerns of time-restricted players, ensuring they can still enjoy meaningful gameplay. However, the developers emphasized that group size won't affect loot acquisition. This decision aims to foster inclusivity and allow players to fully engage in the content regardless of their preferred playstyle or available group size.

Keeping the Excitement Alive

Some players expressed concerns that the announcement of three expansions at once might dampen the excitement and sense of surprise. However, the developers assured fans that there is still plenty more to unveil and explore within each expansion. They promised a strong, cohesive narrative and incredible features that would blow players' socks off. The Midnight expansion, in particular, holds many surprises and delights for players.

The Power of Parallel Development

As for the decision to announce three expansions simultaneously, the developers acknowledged the slower release of content in the previous expansion, Shadowlands. They recognized the importance of delivering content at a faster pace and committed to a roadmap similar to the one introduced in Dragonflight. By working on multiple expansions in parallel, they aim to keep the content flowing and satisfy the community's appetite for new adventures.

• Proletariat's Contribution

The developers praised the contribution of Proletariat artists, who seamlessly integrated into existing teams and expanded the world-building aspect of future content and expansions. This integration has brought fresh perspectives and enhanced the overall quality of quests and narratives in Dragonflight.

• The Role of AI in WoW Development

While the developers acknowledged the exciting potential of AI, they emphasized the importance of using it ethically. They do not intend to replace the creative work done by the development team with AI-generated content. However, they have utilized machine learning to streamline certain tasks, such as refitting helmets to all character races. AI may also assist in refining training materials for onboarding new developers, but it will not be used to generate art or replace human passion.

The Faction System and Cultural Exploration

The developers expressed their commitment to further exploring the faction system and promoting faction interaction and cooperation in narratives. However, from a technical standpoint, significant changes to the system are unlikely. As for cultural exploration, the team strives to develop in-game cultures that reflect real-life cultures responsibly. They have collaborated with experts and speakers from diverse backgrounds, such as the involvement of indigenous speakers during the development of Tuskarr art and style in Dragonflight.

• Updates and Enhancements to Older Zones

In response to a question about updates to older zones like Northrend and Quel'thalas, the developers confirmed that they are open to giving these areas a fresh coat of paint. While full updates to all older zones may not be feasible, they want to focus on specific areas related to the expansions. They mentioned the concept of "Chromie Time," where players can experience older versions of zones alongside the updated ones, ensuring both continuity and new experiences.

• The Dragonflight Leveling Experience

Concerns were raised about newer players potentially missing out on major characters from upcoming expansions due to the focus on Dragonflight as the new leveling experience. The developers assured players that they would ensure awareness of core characters even during the Dragonflight leveling experience. The goal is to provide players with a comprehensive understanding of the key characters while they progress through the leveling journey.

Key Characters in The War Within

During the panel, the developers highlighted several major characters who will have an impact on The War Within expansion. Alleria is expected to play a significant role, alongside iconic characters such as Magni, Anduin, and Thrall. However, they hinted that anyone could be fair game, as the events of The War Within affect all of Azeroth.

Behind the Scenes with Metzen and Dynamic Flight

The interview also touched upon the collaboration with Chris Metzen, the legendary Warcraft creator. The developers expressed their excitement and joy in working with Metzen, who shared his love for Dragonflight and helped shape the future of WoW alongside them. His creative input and vision have been instrumental in the development process.

And there you have it, folks! This interview provided us with valuable insights and exciting hints about the upcoming expansion and the future of World of Warcraft. With Dynamic Flight, engaging new gameplay features, fantastic storytelling, and the dedication of the development team, The War Within promises to be an unforgettable experience for all WoW players. Stay tuned for more updates as we journey closer to The War Within!