Blizzard recently held a special event to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Warcraft franchise. Journalists from the Korean portal Inven managed to talk with the developers of World of Warcraft and Hearthstone, learning details about the upcoming content. We have collected for you the main things from the interview.
Questions were answered by Game Director Ion Hazzikostas and Assistant Quest Designer Mark Callada (World of Warcraft), as well as Executive Producer Nathan Lyons-Smith and Game Director Tyler Bielman (Hearthstone).
World of Warcraft
- Player response to announcements such as the Undermine expansion, the home ownership system, and the progression of the War Within story has been overwhelmingly positive. The team promises to try to meet the audience’s expectations.
- Undermine was able to avoid the destruction caused by the cataclysm, as it was deep underground. The location was designed taking into account the cultural and environmental characteristics of goblins, which are characterized by unpredictability and ingenuity.
- In Undermine, high-speed ground transport will be available, which is several times faster than conventional mounts. As the campaign progresses, players will be able to upgrade their vehicles by adding boosters, improving traction and maneuverability. These mounts are unique to the Undermine location and will highlight the importance of speed and new mechanics.
- In honor of WoW’s 20th anniversary, a new classic server will be launched. This project is inspired by the success of the previous launch of classic servers and is created for new players who previously missed out on this experience. The new version takes into account player feedback and introduces changes such as improved PvP balance and updated buffs.
- The team rethought its development approach to maintain player trust. The focus is on creating both large and small updates that offer a variety of gameplay styles, from resource gathering to combat.
- The developers emphasized the importance of player feedback, which helps improve the game. Many elements, such as home ownership and new raid mechanics, were implemented based on community suggestions.
- The homeownership system announced in the upcoming Midnight expansion is currently under development. In addition to customization options, new social functions are planned. More details are expected next year.
- At the moment, the fate of the fourth season remains uncertain. The development team evaluates the feasibility of launching it based on the need to complete current story arcs and the overall update cycle.
- The War Within expansion focuses on introducing new characters, factions, and cultures. Locations like the Undermine and the Isle of the Sirens reflect the richness of the world of Azeroth and expand the depth of the stories the developers strive to tell.
Hearthstone
- When creating expansions, the team focuses on two things: which ideas are the most interesting and what players will be interested in seeing. Un’Goro was chosen as the setting because it was already familiar to players, and returning there presented a new challenge for the team. The location also determined the choice of characters, creatures and races.
- Unlike Normal Arena, which is similar to the current version of the mode, Underground Arena will offer a more strategic and lengthy experience. In it, players will be able to change some of the cards in the deck after a defeat, and matchmaking will be based not on rating, but on the number of victories.
- The team decided that deck building and polishing was a key part of the arena’s fun. The ability to adjust a deck after a loss should enhance the sense of progression, allowing players to try new strategies instead of sticking with an initially weak deck for the rest of the series.
- Each of the three heroic cards corresponds to a StarCraft faction: Kerrigan for the Zerg (aggressive style), Artanis for the Protoss (resource-focused), Raynor for the Terrans (focused on warships). They reflect the characteristics of their races, adding unique mechanics.
- The decision to use the StarCraft universe is due to the interest of developers and fans within the team. The collaboration was seen as an opportunity to bring the mechanics and aesthetics of this world to the Hearthstone format.
- The minikit is an experimental format. It allowed us to reduce risks by offering players new content in a more condensed volume. However, the number of cards has increased to better convey the unique features of the factions.
- The developers sought to avoid a superficial approach. They worked on the mechanics and style to ensure that the cards reflected the essence of the factions. For example, the Zerg use a lot of small units, the Protoss focus on powerful units, and the Terrans focus on warships.
- The main principles of the game remain surprise and simplicity. Players enjoy unexpected turns, and the laconic texts of the cards make the game clear and deep. The developers also value variety, allowing you to mix serious and humorous elements.
- The team strives to maintain the core concept of the game – simple and fun entertainment with friends. New characters, creatures and spells will be combined with traditional modes, and new formats will evolve based on player feedback.
