Blizzard Entertainment’s tenth World of Warcraft expansion takes players deep beneath the surface of Azeroth in the first chapter of the epic Worldsoul Saga
The time has come for adventurers to descend into the unknown depths of Azeroth as Blizzard Entertainment officially releases “World of Warcraft: The War Within” today for PC. This landmark tenth expansion for the legendary MMORPG marks the beginning of the ambitious Worldsoul Saga trilogy, with veterans and newcomers alike discovering the subterranean wonders and terrors that lurk beneath the world’s surface.
JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF AZEROTH
“The War Within” introduces players to Khaz Algar, a vast underground continent hidden deep beneath Azeroth’s crust. This new frontier is divided into four distinct zones, each with their own unique environments and challenges:
- Isle of Dorn: Home to the Earthen’s capital city of Dornogal, serving as the central hub for both Alliance and Horde adventurers
- The Ringing Deeps: A cavernous realm where massive Titan machinery hums with ancient power
- Hallowfall: A luminous cavern lit by Beledar, an enormous crystal embedded in the ceiling that acts as an inner sun for the mysterious Arathi people
- Azj-Kahet: The dark heart of the Nerubian empire where Xal’atath, Harbinger of the Void, gathers her forces
“We’re taking players to places they’ve never seen before in World of Warcraft,” explains Chris Metzen, Executive Creative Director of the Warcraft franchise. “The Worldsoul Saga represents our most ambitious storytelling yet, and The War Within is just the beginning of this epic new chapter.”
REVOLUTIONARY NEW FEATURES
“The War Within” introduces several game-changing systems that transform the World of Warcraft experience:
DELVES
This innovative new activity allows players to explore bite-sized instances either solo or with up to four friends. Accompanied by a customizable NPC companion (Brann Bronzebeard), adventurers can tackle 12 unique Delves at launch, each offering valuable rewards including endgame gear equivalent to Heroic raids or Mythic+ dungeons.
WARBANDS
The Warband system revolutionizes the alt character experience by making much of the game’s progression account-wide. Players can share a Warband bank, collections, reputation, renown, flight paths, and even most achievements across all their characters, regardless of faction.
HERO TALENTS
Upon reaching level 71, players gain access to powerful new Hero Talent trees that further specialize their characters. Each class specialization offers a choice between three distinct trees inspired by iconic Warcraft archetypes, providing unprecedented customization and fresh gameplay experiences.
SKYRIDING
Building on the popular Dragonriding feature from Dragonflight, Skyriding expands dynamic flight to over 460 existing flying mounts. Players can toggle between Skyriding and traditional “Steady Flight” across all flyable areas in the game, including the new zones of Khaz Algar.
EARTHEN ALLIED RACE
Players can unlock the ancient Earthen as a playable race for both Alliance and Horde after completing the main campaign. These titan-forged beings are made of living stone imbued with the essence of Azeroth’s worldsoul and can access 10 different classes.
THE STORY UNFOLDS
The primary narrative of “The War Within” centers on the machinations of Xal’atath, the Harbinger of the Void, as she mobilizes Nerubian forces to threaten both Khaz Algar and Azeroth as a whole. Key characters including Anduin Wrynn, Thrall, Alleria Windrunner, and Magni Bronzebeard find themselves drawn into the depths by mysterious visions, setting the stage for the first act of the Worldsoul Saga.
“This expansion represents a true return to form for World of Warcraft storytelling,” says Holly Longdale, Executive Producer. “We’re creating an adventure that both honors the game’s rich history and pushes it in exciting new directions.”
DUNGEONS AND RAIDS
“The War Within” features eight new dungeons—four while leveling and four at max level—culminating in the epic Nerub’ar Palace raid. Located in Azj-Kahet, this eight-boss raid will test players as they battle through the heart of the Nerubian Empire to confront Xal’atath herself.
TECHNICAL ENHANCEMENTS
The expansion also brings numerous quality-of-life improvements:
- Modernized UI including a revamped spellbook, map legend, and quest log
- New arachnophobia filter that transforms spider-type enemies into less-intimidating crab creatures
- Cross-realm guilds allowing friends to join forces regardless of server
- Streamlined profession systems with more intuitive crafting interfaces
EDITIONS AND AVAILABILITY
“World of Warcraft: The War Within” is available in three editions:
Base Edition ($49.99):
- Full expansion access
- Level 70 character boost
Heroic Edition ($69.99):
Everything in the Base Edition- Subterranean Murloc pet
- Stormspine mount
- 500 Trader’s Tender
Epic Edition ($89.99):
- Everything in the Heroic and Base Editions
- Deepdweller’s Earthen Hearthstone
- Storm Hatchling pet
- Sandbox Storm Gryphon toy
- Additional 500 Trader’s Tender (1000 total)
- 30 days of game time
- Immediate access to the expansion during Early Access (began August 22)
The first season of “The War Within” begins on September 10, 2024, introducing Mythic+ dungeons, the first wing of the Nerub’ar Palace raid on Raid Finder difficulty, and new world bosses.
World of Warcraft: The War Within requires a subscription or game time purchase in addition to the expansion. For more information, visit worldofwarcraft.com or thewarwithin.blizzard.com