BlizzCon 07: Second WOW expansion officially unveiled

By Tor Thorsen, Ricardo Torres, GameSpotPosted Aug 3, 2007 12:19 pm PT

Blizzard takes the wraps off Wrath of the Lich King at its annual event in Anaheim; expansion will add continent of Northrend to MMORPG.

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ANAHEIM, Calif.--Following two very public leaks in Germany and the US, Blizzard Entertainment surprised virtually no one today when it announced the second expansion to its wildly popular massively multiplayer online role-playing game, World of Warcraft. Titled the Wrath of the Lich King, the expansion will add a passel of new content to the game, which now boasts a staggering 9 million players worldwide.

The announcement was made by Blizzard's Frank Pierce this morning at BlizzCon, the Vivendi Games-owned publisher's annual fan event. First, he briefly talked about some content updates that introduce guild banks and integrated voice chat via live content updates. Then he discussed Zuluman, a new 10-person instance in the Ghost Lands featuring Forest Trolls battling against Blood Elves.

He looks like an understanding fellow...

Then, after coyly mentioning that Blizzard's "dev team has been working on bigger things," Pierce officially unveiled Wrath of the Lich King. The expansion will open up the continent of Northrend--first seen in Warcraft III--to WOW players for the first time.

The expansion's storyline will center on the lich king Arthas Menethil, who was prominently featured in the expansion Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne. Arthas has "merged with the spirit" of another lich king, Ner'zhul, the former orc shaman and Undead Scourge leader introduced in Warcraft II: The Tides of Darkness. Now, the joined ghostly monarchs have "set things in motion that could threaten all life in Azeroth," according to Pierce. Apparently, players will be introduced to the story as soon as they set foot into Northrend.

BlizzCon venue, the Anaheim Convention Center.

Wrath of the Lich King will raise the level cap in WOW to 80 and will add new abilities and talents to all classes. It will also introduce the Death Knight hero class and a new profession--inscription--that will let players permanently enhance spells and abilities. The expansion will also add new character-customization options, such as hairstyles and dances.

As for Northrend itself, the realm will feature several new zones to explore, with "hundreds of new quests, monsters, and items," according to Pierce. The expansion pack will also introduce numerous five-person dungeons, as well as 10- and 25-person raids.

The not-quite-undead scourge.

Pierce also said Blizzard developers have big player-versus-player plans for Wrath of the Lich King. The add-on will sport new areas and battlegrounds, and will add siege weapons for the first time. It will also introduce buildings that can be destroyed by siege weapons, adding another level to combat.

Pierce's presentation concluded with the first trailer for World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King. The cinematic began with a voice-over of Arthas telling two humans in a burning forest that "I was once like you." After some shots of a massive forge, two other humans--a male and female--are shown being battered by a gigantic Yeti. The male runs off into a snowy forest, where he is surrounded by undead. The next shot shows the male human in black Death Knight armor, standing before a seated Arthas on a throne. "In the final hour, all must serve the one true king," proclaimed Arthas before the convention center lights came up.

Real-world access to Azeroth.

Blizzard did not announce a release date for Wrath of the Lich King. However, the first WOW expansion, The Burning Crusade, arrived approximately 15 months after being introduced at BlizzCon in October 2005.

[UPDATE] Shortly after the conclusion of the Lich King presentation, the official Web site for the game went online.

167 Comments

  • hercufles

    Posted Oct 27, 2007 7:34 am PT

    well i quited wow long time ago cause i had diffecutlies finding a group or raiding guild i ratgher wish they balanced classes more i just wanna play my lvl 70 fury warrior.

  • ognen

    Posted Aug 24, 2007 3:41 pm PT

    I can't say you're not right, but WoW is something that many people feel different about. Sure, It's one of the most succesful MMO games of all time with it's loads of players but there's an other side of the opinions...

    Many people are aware to even start playing this game because it's a game that makes you play more and more. And everybody needs to face it: "There is no end"... I have many friends of mine, who now have ruined life thanx to WoW. I don't want to blame Blizzard for making a great franchise like this. I realy respect them, I've played this game and it's realy a "DEFINITION" for today's MMO's. But if u got in that freaking world, u can't get out. You give your life to you're second life character and you lose all your friends (and thats "DEFINITION" too). So chose: playing a realy realy cool game and explore a great world, or stay with the life you already have because you still have some people into it that are on it's "Friends List".

    PS: Don't try to click "N" to find out who they are

  • jakkaj

    Posted Aug 9, 2007 11:36 am PT

    NO MMO has anything to do with RP. Thats like saying a butterknife is a weapon made for killing just because it shares an edge with, say, sword.

    Keeping that in mind, there is no other MMO that is anywhere close to its rate of success. Ppl are saying DAoC, EQ, UO, L2, and other titles, are better in this respect or another. But the truth is there IS 7 million accounts created. And no other game has made me feel so much acomplishment after getting through a rough spot due to my playing skills as a healer, dps, or tank. No other game emphasizes the different play styles so much, and how much they influence the game. You say its itemized. Every MMO is. Rotfl at that argument, almost every game is itemized. Even CS is. **** the first Tomb Raider had different weapons... But show me a game with such variation in stats and models. Doh?

    You are saying dumbed down. I can agree its not as complex as other games, but it is complex enough, and if u think its NOT, well, many RL RP (since u like bringing that up) players start from diecing every action then going to narreating every action, making a one odd throw per session. Simple is ussually better then overcomplicated wouldnt u say? Im not saying WoW is the best game. Never. It is based on grinding too much, it has weak balance, community is not very nice (in general, but then again it seems to me there are few MP communities that are worth getting to know), and (as in all MMO) expansions hardly add anything new. There are a few things i liked more in other games like the trading system from EvE, or the pets from SWG, but all in all, there isnt a MMO which doesnt share above flaws, all or some. So where is all the hate comming from? U lost or GF for playing, your mates decided to move on from the old stuff? If so, it s just a game, and as such it has done much, much better then most there s on the market. Nuff said.

    PS. I have played DAoC, EvE, SWG, L2, several f2p MMOs and heard bout UO. Spent a very long time with GW for teh PvP, and prolly will continue that way, cause im sick of ppl hardcore grinding and telling me they r RPing...

  • Crystall3d

    Posted Aug 8, 2007 3:23 pm PT

    I respect any wow player still inside the game but excuse me! "wow" has very very little to do with "RP" term and the "Massive" is as massive as" Battlefield 2140" etc. which has 40/40 multiplayer capacity.. so what s left? Multi player game, MPG it is now only a MPGame... which is ridiculously based on items so Itemized Multiplayer Game that stands out s IMP and we all know which class have IMP pets .... anyway :p

  • diablobasher

    Posted Aug 8, 2007 3:50 am PT

    STOP SAYING 'ADDICTING'!!! DAMMIT!!! IT'S AN ASSAULT ON THE QUEENS ENGLISH AND IT MAKES MY EYES HURT!!!!

    *seethes*

  • butler14

    Posted Aug 8, 2007 2:58 am PT

    "Jason1414

    Horrible, deplorable, boring, poorly made."

    The fact that you can't remember what you wrote in your (awful) review of WoW says it all :p

  • NeoNavarro

    Posted Aug 8, 2007 1:27 am PT

    Well what can I say? I love WoW. But, I think nearly three solid years of playing I'm going to have to throw in the towel. I just find the game and expansion to be very repetitive and boring at times. Plus I'm running out of things to do. Maybe I'll go out side... maybe get a girlfriend... or go to school and who knows perhaps get a job? LOL

  • BringTheBlood

    Posted Aug 7, 2007 8:27 pm PT

    personally im ready for something new for wow, it needs to come sooner, im bored with everything else. and i agree they need to make it easier to lvl. other then that im pretty excited.

  • HummaKavula

    Posted Aug 7, 2007 4:22 pm PT

    More of the same crap we've seen for the last 3 years will not make me get back to WoW.

  • dafokinman

    Posted Aug 7, 2007 11:52 am PT

    i think Blizz should either start new characters on a higher lvl or make it easier to lvl my main a lvl 47 and im bored already this is when i make a new toon and have some fun with it

  • Jason1414

    Posted Aug 7, 2007 8:39 am PT

    I just searched every one of my posts, and I never said WoW was "poorly made". I said it was a decent game, and I said it was a good game, but its certainly not the BEST game. As for DAoC, its not the best either, but its a very very good MMO, and back in its day, was one of the best. Its very well refined and polished, its deep level of customization trumps WoW's 10 times over, it has the best end game content in both PvE and PvP, and RvR has no competition out there.

  • butler14

    Posted Aug 7, 2007 3:05 am PT

    DOAC has very respectible PvP elements, and **** all else, and you know it. EQII is a joke, period.

    No other MMO is as packed full of quality elements like WoW. Nothing really comes close, hence it's total western domination.

    "WoW is a good game, but certainly not the best game of all time."

    Changing your tune? And btw, i loved your review. Anyone that says WoW is 'poorly made' is either making a bad attempt at humour, or derranged.

  • Jason1414

    Posted Aug 6, 2007 8:43 pm PT

    Oh sorry, didn't get to answer that one question in there. "Name an MMO that successfully blends so many elements together in one package."

    Dark Age of Camelot, EQII

  • Jason1414

    Posted Aug 6, 2007 8:41 pm PT

    "Name a more polished, refined MMO." Dark Age of Camelot

    "Name a more in depth MMO in either PvP or PvE terms." Dark Age of Camelot for PvP no question, EverQuest for PvE

    "Name a more customisable MMO (everything from character to UI)" Oh this should be a blast. AC1, Ultima Online, EQ, DAoC, City of Heroes, EVE, Vanguard, SWG(pre NGE) Name an MMO that successfully blends so many elements together in one package.

    "Then look at some reviews of WoW, are the reviewers all Blizzard/Warcraft RTS fanboys? No, i thought not. WoW is at the top of it's game, and unquestionably so."
    Popularity does not make something GOOD. "This month, PC Gamer magazine just did a run down of the top 100 PC games of all time, guess what came in at number one. But yeah it's all marketing spin and fanboyism."
    If WoW was named best PC game of all time, then that magazine just lost ALL credibility. WoW is a good game, but certainly not the best game of all time. THAT is EXACTLY marketing spin and fanboyism. WoW has the most subscribers? Therefore more people know it, therefore putting it in at number one makes more people happy. I'm sure anyone here can name several dozen BETTER PC games than WoW. I don't think any MMO should hold "best PC game" title.

  • grendel61CMG

    Posted Aug 6, 2007 9:31 am PT

    Garry's Mod is so infinitely cooler than World of Warcraft.

  • LisaGansky

    Posted Aug 6, 2007 9:23 am PT

    I really don't know if I'll be able to survive getting to level 80.

  • butler14

    Posted Aug 6, 2007 8:49 am PT

    Name a more polished, refined MMO.
    Name a more in depth MMO in either PvP or PvE terms.
    Name a more customisable MMO (everything from character to UI)
    Name an MMO that successfully blends so many elements together in one package.

    Then look at some reviews of WoW, are the reviewers all Blizzard/Warcraft RTS fanboys? No, i thought not. WoW is at the top of it's game, and unquestionably so.

    This month, PC Gamer magazine just did a run down of the top 100 PC games of all time, guess what came in at number one. But yeah it's all marketing spin and fanboyism.

  • Jason1414

    Posted Aug 6, 2007 8:12 am PT

    Oh come on, you're playing the "the names are unique" card? So you're saying if I have two identical twins and name one Bob and one Tim they're both completely new and different? I'm not preaching anti WoW "bull", it's truth. Here is exactly why WoW was successful. Now, keep in mind, all MMOs are addicting, especially your first one. Blizzard is a very well respected company with its slew of RTS games. Blizzard announces a new game set in its popular World of Warcraft. All those RTS fans start looking at the game. The good marketing convinces them to try it. Blizzard makes a very basic, very simply, very easy MMO, and so the RTS people don't have much trouble adjusting to the new genre. Now since its an MMO, its inherently addictive, and they think its wonderful. It pulls in slews of other people that are called "MMO hoppers" because nothing else was coming out at the time. Now all these newly addicted RTS people start preaching that this game is God, because they've never played an MMO before and think WoW is the greatest thing ever conceived. This convinces other noobs to come to WoW, and they stay because its just so damn easy and addicting. That is WoW's success right there. Simplification, timing, and relying on noobs from their RTS fanbase. And now, the lore those RTS people joined for is being butchered...yeah, great game.

  • DryvBy2

    Posted Aug 6, 2007 7:54 am PT

    @Jason1414 Here's something new they did: Horde vs. Alliance. Haven't seen those names in other games before. Here's something else: Thrall is in the game. That's original. Barrens chat. That's original too. If you don't like WoW, then why did you feel the need to click on BlizzCon's WoW expansion?

  • butler14

    Posted Aug 6, 2007 4:59 am PT

    Jason1414 preaching the usual anti-wow bull. WoW wasn't created to reinvent the wheel, only to refine and develop it - thats all you need have said.

    It DOES have original elments (albeit few of them,) but more over it has vast amounts of refined and polished elements from other titles.

    You reakon WoW's success is down to marketing and only marketing? I'm not even going to dignify that comment with a counter, it speaks for itself. And yes i've played multiple MMO's over the past 8 years, and have chosen WoW over every single one untill something better is released (AoC, WAR.)

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