The Inside Scoop: World of Warcraft's Worldsoul Saga, Warbands, Hero Talents, and Beyond

BlizzCon, as usual, was filled with thrilling announcements regarding the future of World of Warcraft. However, this time, Blizzard is venturing into uncharted territory by revealing not just one or two, but three expansions. The Worldsoul Saga, consisting of The War Within, Midnight, and The Last Titan, aims to mark a milestone in the game's 20-year history while also laying the foundation for the next 20 years. Fans can anticipate an abundance of fresh content, a captivating overarching narrative, and more. In our recent interview at BlizzCon, we had the opportunity to sit down with cinematic narrative director Terran Gregory and technical director Frank Kowalski to discuss the direction and challenges of the Worldsoul Saga, as well as the newly announced features including Warbands and Hero Talents. The following transcript has been edited for clarity and conciseness.

Q: My first question is about the main challenges you faced while planning three expansions simultaneously.

Gregory: That's an excellent question. It's always a challenge to anticipate future developments and make commitments to the community regarding our vision and roadmap. We extensively discussed this while preparing to launch the Worldsoul Saga, and we firmly believe that this is the right direction. We are boldly forging ahead with a vision for Warcraft, and it's clear that we have only just begun.

We aim to honor the 20th anniversary of World of Warcraft with utmost sincerity, while also conveying our unwavering commitment to continue unveiling captivating stories in this vast universe. The key lies in our unwavering diligence to create an audacious and consistent product that meets the expectations of our loyal fans. Is it a daunting task? Undoubtedly. Does it evoke a sense of trepidation? Absolutely. Yet, we stand ready to tackle this challenge head-on. The anticipation for this product fills us with excitement, and we eagerly await the moment when players embark on the epic journey of the Worldsoul Saga alongside us.

Kowalski: The challenge is that we are extending our vision more than ever before. We constantly anticipate what lies ahead. We consider all the upcoming expansions and their contents, and then we think about the next expansion and its content. However, now we are expanding our gaze even further.

We always have a forward-thinking approach, not only in terms of the storyline but also in terms of the content we aim to offer the players. I believe, this time, we have taken a more daring step. It certainly adds an extra level of excitement and poses challenges on both fronts, but it's something we are wholeheartedly invested in.

Gregory emphasized the importance of staying committed when you have an idea of what lies ahead in the future. In contrast, when you're uncertain about what's coming next, you might lose interest and become disengaged halfway through. However, in this case, knowing that the next topic is Midnight and it aligns with your interest in Void stuff, it generates a great deal of excitement. Gregory advises not to miss the start of that particular segment.

Q: Were there alternative storylines considered for the Worldsoul Saga in all three expansions? Are there any unresolved storylines that were contemplated but won't be included in the Worldsoul Saga?

Gregory: We haven't disclosed all the details of the Worldsoul Saga yet, so it's hard to determine what's not included when we still have much more to unveil in the future. This is always a challenge in the vast world of World of Warcraft, where there are countless stories and beloved characters. Deciding which tale to focus on is something we constantly deliberate during development. The creative and development teams collaborate to discuss our desired direction.

Chris Metzen, upon returning, had ideas on what direction to take, but also collaborated with the team to determine our collective passions and areas of enthusiasm. This led us to converge on a captivating storyline that we are eager to craft, hoping that it will ignite the same level of excitement in our audience.

Q: When it comes to Metzen, the way he discussed the Worldsoul Saga seemed like the culmination of all the stories and almost a conclusion to the journey. Could this mean WoW 2 is confirmed?

Gregory: That is indeed the intention. Chris also mentioned that this is meant to propel us into the next 20 years of World of Warcraft. While there may be concerns about whether this feels like an ending or if we're tying everything up neatly, I don't think that's the case at all. I believe it's simply an aspiration to give some of our greatest storylines a memorable climax.

However, this does not mean that we cannot incorporate the idea of having reminiscences of the thrilling cliffhangers from the past as a symbolic representation, just like in Frozen Throne, right? In Warcraft 3, the story concluded with Arthas taking the throne, but what implications does that hold for the future of Warcraft?

It is akin to envisioning a perpetual cycle and desiring the narrative of World of Warcraft to always evolve. We continue to experience these monumental moments and retain the sense that the 20-year history can culminate in a climactic event, while also generating enough new stories to keep us engaged.

Kowalski: Although some story arcs that have accumulated over 20 years are coming to an end, it will also mark the beginning of new ones. Our dedication to World of Warcraft extends to the next 20 years. As evident with features like Warbands, we remain committed to developing timeless systems that will endure. If we were to create World of Warcraft 2, we wouldn't introduce a plethora of new systems in the existing game. We are determined to continue World of Warcraft for decades to come.

Q: When it comes to Warbands, my colleague and I were trying to understand its mechanics and wondered if it would be possible to have both Classic and Retail characters in the same game. However, it seems that Warbands is currently exclusive to the Retail version?

Kowalski: Yes, at the moment Warbands is specifically designed for the Retail game. Our main focus is to enhance the experience within the Retail version. World of Warcraft has undergone significant changes over the past two decades. We have been with the game since its inception, when the player's journey was closely intertwined with the journey of their character. Just to give an example, I personally played as a Night Elf Rogue for three years. Whenever I logged into World of Warcraft, that was my main activity.

Over time, our perspective on the game has evolved. As a dedicated demon hunter player, I no longer refer to myself as simply a demon hunter in World of Warcraft, but rather as a main. Despite this, I still have my DK Alt and occasionally feel inclined to play it.

This recognition of evolution extends to Warbands and how players have changed over the course of 20 years. They now approach and perceive World of Warcraft in unique ways. Certain aspects of the game allow players to immerse themselves, experiencing campaigns or Dragonflight with a fresh perspective. With this in mind, our goal was to emphasize the player journey. This led us to the concept of Warbands, enabling players to easily switch their character's appearance while maintaining their sense of being a part of the World of Warcraft universe.

The technical challenge of making Warbands happen and having it be cross-account wide was the most difficult. It involved transferring data and ensuring that everyone can share and access the content. Despite the effort required, we believe it was necessary and the right time to do it.

Now is the perfect time for us to dedicate ourselves and achieve the recognition we deserve. This is the preferred method of gameplay that the community has conveyed to us. They no longer wish to spend their time lingering near the mailbox and organizing items between characters. The primary task is to transfer all of this data, and then determining where each piece belongs.

Shifting our focus slightly, the cinematics were truly breathtaking, showcasing exceptional quality and storytelling. We have made significant progress in this area, evident in the Warcraft live-action movie. Are there any plans to create shorter, story-driven videos or even longer cinematic experiences in the future?

Gregory: Our team at the story and franchise division, responsible for creating high-quality CGI cinematics, possesses exceptional talent. They have consistently supported all of our games throughout Blizzard's long history. Our focus is always on presenting a compelling narrative that complements and enhances the product, and that's exactly what we aim to achieve with Warcraft, as announced by Metzen. Sometimes, even the most monumental experiences can be found in the smallest and most intimate moments.

Q: What challenges did we face when implementing the hero talents?

Kowalski faces numerous challenges, one of which involves determining the appropriate fantasy theme for each specification and class. As a Demon Hunter, he must choose between a Fel-Scarred or a Reaver for his main, and this choice will significantly impact his playstyle.

Another challenge arises when adding more talents for players. Looking back at past experiences, sometimes this results in an overabundance of buttons and actions, requiring simultaneous button presses. The question at hand is whether to continue down this path or pause to consider how players currently utilize their spells. Which of these heroic fantasies will truly capture the essence of, as demonstrated yesterday, the mountain king's use of a storm bolt? Simply put, he aims to hit as many targets as possible.

It primarily revolves around integrating these elements seamlessly with the existing character and allowing for personalized customization based on the thematic choices made. While there are still options to choose from, it streamlines the complex mechanics that players have traditionally depended on.

Q: So, in essence, you have a few choices to consider, correct?

Kowalski: Yeah, just like how we currently do it on the talent tree. There are times when you have the option to choose.

Q: In addition to getting hero talents when leveling from 71 to 80, do you also receive any other talents for the existing trees?

Kowalski: When you level up, you usually receive spec points and class points. The talent points you obtain are specifically for hero talents.

Q: Similarly, did the talent tree undergo significant changes during the Dragonflight update? Can we anticipate more adjustments to the current class and spec talent trees, or is it primarily focused on expansion balancing?

Kowalski: More along those lines. We see what's already there, and we will see if there are any tweaks we need to make as per usual for any kind of major update.

Q: When it comes to story development and future expansions, how much of it is influenced by internal deliberations within the teams, and how much is inspired by the community, such as the theories they generate on platforms like Reddit and others?

Gregory: To begin, it is important to highlight that the individuals working on World of Warcraft are actively involved in its community. Personally, I was a devoted Warcraft player prior to joining Blizzard. This deep passion and involvement serve as constant sources of inspiration. Our creative ideas are derived from various sources, including games, media, Hollywood, our personal experiences, and the books we have read. Naturally, this also encompasses the communities we engage with.

It ultimately comes down to the collaboration and idea-sharing within our crew. What truly excites us is the constant influx of inspiration from various sources. This collaborative process is what makes a Blizzard game truly special and witnessing it unfold is truly enjoyable.

Kowalski: We deeply value and actively consider community feedback, perhaps even more than they realize.

[Everyone Laughs]

We're here all the time, we see everything, and we hear everything. Just to reiterate Terran's point, inspiration does really come from everywhere.

Gregory: We may not have a specific percentage, but I can assure you that we have a clear understanding of the direction and content for both Midnight and The Last Titan. Our excitement for this vision is indescribable.

Kowalski: Currently, our focus involves anticipating future developments in both our systems and storyline. While I can't provide any specific details at the moment, I can assure you that we have a clear roadmap for progress in these areas.

World of Warcraft: Dragonflight is the ninth expansion pack for the renowned massively multiplayer online role-playing game World of Warcraft. Developed by Blizzard Entertainment, this expansion introduces a myriad of exciting features. Dragonflight boasts a refreshed user interface, an increased level cap of 70, and the addition of a new race and class.

Franchise WarcraftPlatform(s) PCReleased November 28, 2022Developer(s) Blizzard, ActivisionPublisher(s) Blizzard, ActivisionGenre(s) MMORPG See at Official Site

Editor's P/S

As a hard fan of World of Warcraft, I am incredibly excited about the future of the game. The Worldsoul Saga is a bold and ambitious undertaking, and I can't wait to see how the story unfolds over the next few years. I'm also intrigued by the new Warbands and Hero Talents features, which should add a lot of depth and replayability to the game.

I'm confident that Blizzard is taking the right approach with World of Warcraft. They are clearly committed to the game's long-term success, and they are willing to take risks to keep things fresh. I'm looking forward to seeing what the future holds for Azeroth and its heroes.