I spent a lot of time playing games in my college years and, even today, the memories I have playing the original World of Warcraft remain strong. I was nothing more than a simple Undead leatherworker, but exploring Azeroth was thrilling. The excitement of the whole world stretching out in front of me was palpable.
The original Azeroth still holds a thrill for so many gamers. Whether you were a guild leader or a casual weekend warrior who came to the game years after its release, there's a reason WoW became a cultural touchstone. You could truly blaze your own trail, playing the game however you wanted.
That same thrill waits for you in a reimagined original Azeroth in World of Warcraft: Forever. It's a journey completely your own, where you'll dive back into something deeply familiar, but with surprises tucked into every corner in the new and expanded zones. With updated classes, quality-of-life updates, and gorgeous visuals, World of Warcraft: Forever delivers an experience that is a call to adventure for casuals and hardcore alike.
Azeroth awaits
The star of World of Warcraft has always been Azeroth. The way it unfolds around you, from stunning vistas to cavernous depths, is one of the things that keeps players coming back. The changes that have been layered on top of the OG Azeroth could have been much simpler, but the devs couldn't help getting excited about the work they were doing. "Our original pitch internally was: We'll do four new dungeons, and the next thing we know, we're doing six, and the next thing we know, we're doing nine," says Associate production director, Clay Stone.
With more than 1,000 new quests to experience in familiar locales and new zones in Mount Hyjal, Zephras Isle, and the Riverglades, World of Warcraft: Forever's version of Azeroth is like visiting a beloved vacation spot from your youth, seeing something well-loved with new eyes and enough changes to keep things interesting.
It's not simply that there's more to do. You're seeing it all in a new way. With updates to the lighting, water, fog, and other visual effects, it's an experience that is simultaneously more gorgeous than ever and exactly how you remember it.
Restore the feeling
World of Warcraft: Forever takes a deliberate approach to maintain the magic as you remember it. The original character models and spell animations go a long way, but the real star is the slower, more considered leveling experience. "It could be something with the times that we live in," says Stone. "The amount of information and noise that we're facing all the time, the distractions of all the notifications on my phone that are blaring at me everyday, but there's a real longing for that slower, more deliberate pace … There seems to be a deliberate pushback on this 'go go go' nature."
A lot of MMO players fall into a trap of wanting to get incredibly powerful as soon as possible and end up missing out on so much of the story. World of Warcraft: Forever isn't concerned with that destination as much as it's trying to make the journey central to your experience.
How do you want to approach Azeroth? Band together with a guild or go solo. Battle it out with other players with the revamped PVP honor system or find friends to go on max-level raids. You'll have nine new dungeons, 10- and 20-player raids, and rewards at your fingertips. Experience the story in a way that only you can. The choice is yours.
These choices are easier to make than ever. Some of the quality-of-life changes include updates to professions, itemization, and class/spec talents and viability. You'll also find account-wide benefits that encourage leveling alts, which multiple members of the dev team go into in this piece. All this adds up to an experience you can explore at your own pace.
Carve a new path
The changes in World of Warcraft: Forever aren't just to the world. Character combos are updated. With new race and class combos, you'll be able to play as a Dwarf Shaman or an Undead Paladin for the first time. There are also combinations available, such as Human Hunters, Gnome Priests, Troll Warlocks, and Orc Mages.
Finally, journey to the recently discovered Zephras Isle to meet the Skyborne, elves that can join either the Alliance or the Horde. This all-new playable race of elves can be Warriors, Rogues, Hunters, Druids, Mages, or Shamans, giving you a myriad of options to choose from.
Ready to head back to Azeroth? Prepare for launch by subscribing or grabbing a WoW Game Time pass. Keep up with all the latest in World of Warcraft: Forever right here on PC Gamer.
