The year of game delays continues. Yesterday, “World of Warcraft: Shadowlands” expansion was officially delayed until later this year. The announcement was made by executive producer John Hight via World of Warcraft’s official Twitter.
“World of Warcraft: Shadowlands” will introduce four new zones: Maldraxxus, Bastion, Ardenweald and Revendreth. It follows the story of Sylvanas Windrunner who confronts the reigning Lich King. She tears the Lich King’s Helm of Domination from him, shattering the veil between realities and opening a portal to the Shadowlands. These Shadowlands are Warcraft’s version of an afterlife. Somehow the Maw, the place in the afterlife reserved for the most evil people, has began to absorb all souls into it.
Originally, Shadowlands was set to release on October 27. No official date has been given with the delay announcement. However, we can expect it before the end of 2020. A pre-patch for the expansion is arriving on October 13. This patch “lays a lot of the groundwork for the expansion and includes our revamped character levelling, new-player experience on Exile’s Ranch, and a host of new character customization options.”
According to Hight, the main components of the expansion are complete and ready to share. However, after listening to feedback the team believes they need more time to polish and balance interlocking components of the expansion. This is especially true for endgame content. Delaying the expansion allows the team to ensure it is at optimal performance by the time it arrives in players’ hands. So hold out just a little longer WOW fans, you’ll be exploring the Shadowlands before you know it.