Expansion
An expansion is additional software (usually made available for retail sale) that adds new content and features to a game.
The content of an expansion is usually not available to anyone who does not own the expansion. Most expansions will not install or run as stand-alone products.
For example, The Frozen Throne expansion for Warcraft III added new campaigns, units, maps, and other content to the game.
Timeframe
It was stated in an interview prior to the first expansion, that concepts for that expansion had been made, and that Blizzard already had enough ideas for 5-6 more. As of 2023, nine have been released.
Blizzard tend to plan expansions far in advance of the current content; in February 2014 (prior to the Warlords of Draenor alpha) the team had already begun planning the next two expansions.[1]
Following the release of World of Warcraft's first expansion in 2007, Blizzard announced plans to release expansions once per year. However, this rate of production was never delivered, with subsequent expansions arriving roughly every 2 years.
Process
The process of brainstorming a new expansion generally happens 2 expansions ahead which allows for story plot point-making. Typically this happens with a large group and weekly sessions where the developers think of cool things, throw away others. It's a mix of things. They generally think about The World - the world is the main character that you explore and fill with your own story. The first question is "Where do we want to go next?" The story sometimes has to twist and turn to get there (such as Warlords of Draenor). Then they can add features that make sense alongside that world.[2]
Expansions
Warcraft II
Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal — expansion of Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness released April 30, 1996
Warcraft III
Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne — expansion of Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos released July 1, 2003
World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade — first expansion, released January 16, 2007
World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King — second expansion, released November 13, 2008
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm — third expansion, released December 7, 2010
World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria — fourth expansion, released September 25, 2012
World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor — fifth expansion, released November 13, 2014
World of Warcraft: Legion — sixth expansion, released August 30, 2016
World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth — seventh expansion, released August 13/14, 2018
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands — eighth expansion, released November 23/24, 2020
World of Warcraft: Dragonflight — ninth expansion, released on November 28/29, 2022
World of Warcraft: The War Within — tenth expansion, released on August 26, 2024- World of Warcraft: Midnight — eleventh expansion
- World of Warcraft: The Last Titan — twelfth expansion
Expansion features
* Content that wasn't available at the launch of an expansion but was added in a later patch
Roadmaps
Starting with the launch of Dragonflight, Blizzard has revealed roadmaps for the order and timing of content updates within the game. With this precedent, official Blizzard sources verify when additions are expected to go live, either using a concrete month and date, or a general real life season. They have yet to miss or delay a date outlined on a roadmap.
August 2022
(Wotlk Classic)
October 2022
(Dragonflight)
December 2022
(Dragonflight)
March 2023
(Dragonflight)
May 2023
(Dragonflight)
July 2023
(Dragonflight)
September 2023
(Dragonflight)
December 2023
(Dragonflight and TWW)
December 2023
(Classics)
June 2024
(TWW)
November 2024
(Classics)
November 2024
(TWW)
Further release speculation
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This article or section includes speculation, observations or opinions possibly supported by lore or by Blizzard officials. It should not be taken as representing official lore.
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At the end of the day, Blizzard develops everything on Blizzard Time, which is more specifically "Soon". But as a player, we want to know now. That being said, you can always look at the past expansion timelines to get a rough estimate of how the expansion reveal and rollout season will progress.
| Expansion | Previous Patch | Announced | Released | Announce to Release | Patch to Release | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
The War Within | November 2023 (10.2.0) | November 2023 | August 2024 | 9 | 9 |
|
Dragonflight | February 2022 (9.2.0) | April 2022 | November 2022 | 7 | 9 |
|
Shadowlands | January 2020 (8.3.0) | November 2019 | November 2020 | 12 | 10 |
|
Battle for Azeroth | October 2017 (7.3.0) | November 2017 | August 2018 | 9 | 10 |
|
Legion | June 2015 (6.2.0) | August 2015 | August 2016 | 12 | 14 |
|
Warlords of Draenor | September 2013 (5.4.0) | November 2013 | November 2014 | 12 | 14 |
|
Mists of Pandaria | November 2011 (4.3.0) | October 2011 | September 2012 | 11 | 10 |
|
Cataclysm | December 2009 (3.3.0) | August 2009 | December 2010 | 16 | 12 |
|
Wrath of the Lich King | March 2008 (2.4.0) | August 2007 | November 2008 | 15 | 8 |
|
The Burning Crusade | June 2006 (1.11.0)[k 1] | October 2005 | January 2007 | 15 | 7 |
- ^ Patch 1.12.0 wasn't a major content patch.
Amount of time since previous expansion
Expansions have lasted roughly 2 years.
– : 26 months (2004-11-23 — 2007-01-16)- – : 22 months (2007-01-16 — 2008-11-13)
- – : 25 months (2008-11-13 — 2010-12-07)
- – : 22 months (2010-12-07 — 2012-09-25)
- – : 25 months (2012-09-25 — 2014-11-13)
- – : 21 months (2014-11-13 — 2016-08-30)
- – : 23 months (2016-08-30 — 2018-08-14)
- – : 27 months (2018-08-14 — 2020-11-23)
- – : 24 months (2020-11-23 — 2022-11-28)
- – : 21 months (2022-11-28 — 2024-08-26)
Announcement
Blizzard usually announces new expansions at BlizzCon, which occurs in the fall. In 2015, they broke from tradition and announced the expansion at Gamescom. The expansion has typically been released a year or so later.
- : 15 months (2005-10-28 — 2007-01-16)
- : 15 months (2007-08-03 — 2008-11-13)
- : 16 months (2009-08-21 — 2010-12-07)
- : 11 months (2011-10-21 — 2012-09-25)
- : 12 months (2013-11-08 — 2014-11-13)
- : 12 months (2015-08-06 — 2016-08-30)
- : 9 months (2017-11-03 — 2018-08-14)
- : 12 months (2019-11-01 — 2020-11-23)
- : 7 months (2022-04-19 — 2022-11-28)
- : 9 months (2023-11-03 — 2024-08-26)
Alpha/Beta testing
Beta testing happens several months before release, where some lucky players get to taste the expansion for free.
- : 3 months (2006-10-12 — 2007-01-16)
- : 4 months (2008-07-17 — 2008-11-13)
- : 5 months (2010-06-30 — 2010-12-07)
- : 6 months (2012-03-21 — 2012-09-25)
- : 7 months (2014-04-03 — 2014-11-13)
- : 9 months (2015-11-23 — 2016-08-30)
- : 6 months (2018-02-07 — 2018-08-14)
- : 7 months (2020-04-09 — 2020-11-23)
- : 4 months (2022-07-14 — 2022-11-28)
- : 4 months (2024-04-18 — 2024-08-26)
Release date announced
The release date is announced a few months before release:
- : 2 months (2006-11-09 — 2007-01-16)
- : 2 months (2008-09-15 — 2008-11-13)
- : 2 months (2010-10-04 — 2010-12-07)
- : 2 months (2012-07-25 — 2012-09-25)
- : 3 months (2014-08-14 — 2014-11-13)
- : 4 months (2016-04-18 — 2016-08-30)
- : 4 months (2018-04-05 — 2018-08-14)
- : 0 months (2020-10-29 — 2020-11-23), originally 2020-08-27 — 2020-10-26 prior to being pushed back, which is about 2 months; it would have been 3 months from the original release date announcement to the push back release date
- : 2 months (2022-09-29 — 2022-11-28)
- : 2 months (2024-06-09 — 2024-08-26)
Amount of time between last raid patch and release
A substantial part of a year has taken place between the last raid patch release from the previous expansion and the launch of the next expansion:
- Patch 1.11 – : 7 months (2006-06-20 — 2007-01-16)
- Patch 2.4 – : 7.5 months (2008-03-25 — 2008-11-13)
- Patch 3.3 – : 12 months (2009-12-08 — 2010-12-07)
- Patch 4.3 – : 10 months (2011-11-29 — 2012-09-25)
- Patch 5.4 – : 14 months (2013-09-10 — 2014-11-13)
- Patch 6.2 – : 14 months (2015-06-23 — 2016-08-30)
- Patch 7.3 – : 11 months (2017-08-29 — 2018-08-14)
- Patch 8.3 – : 10 months (2020-01-14 — 2020-11-23)
- Patch 9.2 – : 9 months (2022-02-22 — 2022-11-28)
- Patch 10.2 – : 9 months (2023-11-07 — 2024-08-26)
Release
Almost all releases have been between September and December, one reckoning of autumn.
- : January 2007
- : November 2008
- : December 2010
- : September 2012
- : November 2014
- : August 2016
- : August 2018
- : November 2020
- : November 2022
- : August 2024
Conclusion
According to the past releases we know, we will typically learn about new expansions at BlizzCon, and have an 11-16 month wait for their releases. Previously, it was possible to learn about new expansions at the Blizzard Worldwide Invitational until being merged with BlizzCon.
There have been some occasions where an expansion was announced elsewhere:
- Legion at gamescom 2015
- Dragonflight on a pre-recorded live stream reveal on 19 April 2022.
At release time
- The rush of players into brand-new, highly-anticipated content can be huge, if you try to play at the moment it is opened up expect some server burps and issues. Blizzard tries to make sure capacity is up before launch, but understand they have no control over how many of the playerbase take off work/school and dive in immediately.
- You may want to log onto any characters at the former level cap and make sure they are in inns to make sure they start to accrue rested bonus.
- While not a part of the expansion, the release of an expansion is usually a gold rush for the savvy player. Many wealthy (in-game) players and guilds try to level up their characters as quickly as possible and will pay any price for profession materials in the auction house. If you can part with the raw materials for your profession for a week or so, you can make a tidy profit until the prices come down.
See also
- Expansion ideas for player ideas about future expansions
References
- ^ chaud 2014-02-26. Warlords of Draenor Dev Interview, Season 15 Begins, Season 14 Titles, Blue Tweets. MMO-Champion.
- ^ Error on call to Template:ref web: Parameters url and title must be specifiedperculia 2019-11-02. . Wowhead.