World of Warcraft has big things coming in 2024 and beyond, for both the current, so-called retail version of the game and the popular WoW Classic that turns back time to before many of the changes that have happened in Azeroth over the decades. The ever-changing, yet familiar, MMORPG is turning 20 this year, but that isn’t slowing it down any. Several new features and content additions are coming to both versions of the game, including the first in the upcoming trilogy of expansions that will comprise The Worldsoul Saga.
As the game enters its 20th year, it continues to be the all-time most popular leader of MMOs, with huge populations of active players in both the modern version of World of Warcraft and in World of Warcraft Classic. The already massive story of the adventures taking place in Azeroth continues to evolve and grow with every passing year, and in 2024 that trend continues. Over the coming months, numerous updates and content drops will frequently be added to both versions of WoW.
Every WoW Expansion Confirmed For 2024 & Beyond
World of Warcraft developers surprised the BlizzCon 2023 crowd by announcing not one expansion, but three that are coming in Tthe Worldsoul Saga.
World Of Warcraft’s 2024 Roadmap
Upcoming Content For Retail WoW
The modern version of World of Warcraft, often referred to as the retail version, will be seeing plenty of changes coming even before the launch of its next expansion this autumn. Before WoW: The War Within is released, the current expansion, WoW: Dragonflight, will have three more large content updates that will wrap up the story of Dragonflight. Here is everything that Blizzard has announced will be coming over the year, in addition to many surprises that are teased to be in store for players along the way.
Seeds of Renewal Patch 10.2.5 | January 16, 2024 | Dragon Isles Epilogues, Reclamation of Gilneas, dragonriding worldwide, follower dungeons, Azerothian Archives, and the Outland Cup. |
Patch 10.2.6 | Early Spring | Though no information has been given regarding what will be added, a skull and crossbones pirate flag banner is shown on the roadmap graphic. |
The War Within Alpha | Early Spring | Alpha testing will begin for The War Within expansion. |
Season 4 | Spring | Dragonflight raids revisited, new PvP season begins, new Mythic+ season begins, new open world rewards. |
Dark Heart Patch 10.2.7 | Late Spring | Timerunning: Pandamonium, Harbinger quests, Troll & Draenei heritage armor revealed, and a new holiday event. |
The War Within Beta | Late Spring/Early Summer | Beta testing will begin for The War Within expansion. |
The War Within Pre-Patch 11.0.1 | Early Summer | World events to prepare for The War Within, warbands added to the game, dynamic flight added, and guild updates. |
WoW: The War Within | Mid to Late Summer | New Expansion: The War Within officially launches with a new campaign story, dungeon delves, hero talents, Earthen Allied Race, four new zones, eight new dungeons, new raid, and a new PvP season. |
The War Within Content Update 11.0.5 | Autumn | Added story and quests, new content and system updates, and the WoW 20th Anniversary Event. |
World Of Warcraft Classic’s 2024 Roadmap
Upcoming Content For WoW Classic
WoW Classic has been seeing a lot of evolution over the past year, with Classic Hardcore added in 2023, as well as many new updates and changes to the retro-style game. Although Classic tries to step back in time to allow players to enjoy experiencing World of Warcraft as it once was, there have been a surprising amount of fun things that developers have been able to add, and that are planning to be added. In 2024, the launch of Cataclysm Classic will once again change the face of Azeroth, and many more updates are expected with Season of Discovery.
WoW Classic Season of Discovery Phase 2 | February 8 | Level 40, new runes, new PvP event, and the Gnomeregan raid. |
Cataclysm Classic Beta | Late Winter | Beta testing will begin for Cataclysm Classic. Sign-ups are available now on the Blizzard website. |
WoW Classic Hardcore Updates | Early Spring | Self-Found mode added to WoW Classic Hardcore. |
WoW Classic Season of Discovery Phase 3 | Spring | Level 50, new runes, and a new raid. |
Cataclysm Classic Pre-Patch | Late Spring | Pre-patch event, Worgen & Goblins added, improved guild features, account-wide collections, and transmogs. |
WoW Cataclysm Classic | Summer | Expansion: Cataclysm Classic is released with its campaign story, four raids, seven dungeons, two heroic dungeons, PvP battleground, and Darkmoon Island. |
WoW Classic Season of Discovery Phase 4 | Summer | Level 60, new runes, and end-game activities. |
Cataclysm Classic Patch | Late Summer | Rise of the Zandalari expansion content added. |
Cataclysm Classic Patch | Autumn | Rage of the Firelands expansion content added. |
WoW Classic Season of Discovery Phase 5 | Late Autumn | End-game content updates for Season of Discovery. |
Every WoW Classic & Hardcore Season Of Discovery Profession, Ranked
World of Warcraft Classic has introduced the Season of Discovery and Hardcore servers, where death is permanent. But professions can save you.
World Of Warcraft’s Worldsoul Saga Is Just Beginning
2024’s WoW: The War Within Expansion Is Part One Of Three
2024’s launch of the WoW: The War Within expansion is the first of a multi-expansion storyline that World of Warcraft will be telling over the next few years to celebrate its 20th Anniversary. The massive narrative will dig deep into the foundations of Azeroth with information on the Titans and the fate of Azeroth’s world-soul. Because of the way they all tie together, the three expansions are planned to be released closer together than past expansions have been, and will form one overarching story.
BlizzCon 2023 World of Warcraft Interview: Maria Hamilton & Kristy Moret
Two formative leads on World of Warcraft’s worldbuilding discuss their design principles, in advance of The War Within’s release sometime next year.
Looking toward the future of WoW and WoW Classic, it feels as though the development teams at Blizzard just keep speeding up by adding more content at a rapid pace, ever-expanding the narrative and world of Azeroth and beyond. 2024 will be filled with nearly constant updates on both versions of the game, including many quality-of-life features and changes such as warbands, delves, and guild updates. World of Warcraft will have a busy year in 2024, and players should have plenty to do for a while.
- Franchise
- Warcraft
- Platform(s)
- PC
- Released
- November 23, 2004
- Developer(s)
- Blizzard
- Publisher(s)
- Blizzard
- Genre(s)
- MMO
- ESRB
- T
