Windows Central interviewed Senior Game Director Ion Hazzikostas and Assistant Lead Quest Designer Mark Kelada who shared their vision for WoW, covering everything from the anticipated player housing to upcoming updates like the Undermine patch. Here’s a breakdown of the key highlights.
Player Housing
Ion Hazzikostas explained that the team is eager to hear player feedback on what they want from the system, calling it a long-term development priority. While Blizzard remains somewhat tight-lipped about details, they promise more updates on player housing in 2025, as the expansion nears release.
The Undermine(d) Patch (11.1): A Goblin City Adventure
Set to launch early next year, the Undermine patch is the first major content update for The War Within. Players will finally venture into Undermine, the goblin capital, to experience its vibrant and chaotic culture. The patch will include:
- A new 8-boss raid culminating in a showdown with Gallywix.
- The continuation of the Worldsoul Saga, focusing on Xal’atath’s plot to subvert Azeroth.
- A variety of lighter, character-driven stories to balance the overarching conflict.
Improvements to Mythic+ and Hero Talents
In the interview, Ion touched upon the subjects of the difficulty curve for players transferring from Delves to Mythic+, and upcoming balance changes to Hero Talents.
Smoothing the Difficulty Curve
Ion acknowledged player concerns about the steep difficulty curve, particularly for players transitioning from Delves to Mythic+7, and higher. They’re also working on refining the Crest gearing system to make it more intuitive for new and returning players.
Players feel a lack of incentive to run lower-tier keys once they outgear them. To address this, they are exploring ideas such as adding cosmetics, like pets, mounts, or titles.
Hero Talent Changes
Blizzard wants to get rid of the “one build fits all” approach for Hero talents by exploring ways to add more diversity to talent trees.
Commitment to Quality Storytelling
Mark Kelada emphasized Blizzard’s dedication to crafting meaningful stories that resonate with players. The team has worked to ensure that villains like Xal’atath are as compelling as the game’s heroes. While heavy lore moments remain a focus, Blizzard also plans to include lighter, culturally rich narratives to avoid player fatigue.
On the Alliance vs Horde conflict, Hazzikostas noted that the game has shifted towards collaboration between factions to tackle greater threats, like the survival of Azeroth itself.
Head over to Windows Central for the full interview.
