The early stages of game development, particularly the visual parts and the inspiring concept art that gets produced, can sometimes be more exciting than the finished product.
The War Within ended up being a very well-received expansion, but the recently surfaced concept art from 2021 paints a different picture of what could’ve been. Just look at that hand. LoreAtHome wonders if it could be Azeroth manifested as a physical being.
They do point out that these sketches were made by a concept art studio named West Studio, and not Blizzard. Their website also has more than a few additional sketches and concept art of WoW, well worth exploring!
Source: West Studio
Concept art often allows for far more creative freedom than what ends up in the final in-game version. That contrast can be bittersweet; sometimes it’s easier not to see the original vision at all, just to avoid the “what could have been” feeling.
Perhaps it’s hard to imagine Azeroth potentially having a physical manifestation or being, but it surely would’ve been a glorious thing to see. And we already did get Sargeras stabbing Azeroth. How much cooler would it have been if they clashed swords?
There are already theories about which form Azeroth would take. And honestly? We’re not surprised about the first one.
We’re pretty sure there’s plenty more surprises from Blizzard down the line, be they positive or negative. And concept art like this, in spite of some emotional drawbacks, always leaves hope of one day seeing it in-game, and in action.
