Patch 11.1, New Expansion Revealed, and Classic Comeback: Anticipations for WoW in 2024 and 2025


# Warcraft Direct: What to Expect from WoW in 2024 and 2025

In 2024, Blizzard undertook a notable transformation in their engagement with the player community by substituting the conventional BlizzCon trade show with a livestreaming event dubbed **Warcraft Direct**. This innovative format enabled Blizzard to announce a variety of thrilling enhancements for **World of Warcraft (WoW)**, which included a roadmap for 2025 and a preview of forthcoming content for **WoW Classic**. The event, which spanned approximately an hour, was filled with revelations, featuring the long-awaited **Warcraft remaster** alongside numerous fresh features for WoW.

In this piece, we outline all the essential details disclosed during Warcraft Direct, emphasizing both **Retail WoW** and **WoW Classic**.

## WoW: The War Within – Patches 11.0.7, 11.1, and 11.2

Let’s kick off with the current version of WoW, commonly known as **Retail WoW**. Players are presently engaged in the tenth expansion, **The War Within**, while navigating the interim patches that implement gradual updates to the gameplay. The next patch anticipated is **11.0.7**, scheduled for deployment in **winter 2024**—most likely around late November or early December.

### Patch 11.1: The Undermine Update

The initial major patch of this expansion, **Patch 11.1**, is projected to emerge between **winter and spring 2025**, likely in **January or February**. This patch will offer a new raid, dungeons, zones, and a brand-new season, among various other additions. A standout feature of Patch 11.1 will be the unveiling of the **goblin city of Undermine**, allowing players to traverse this legendary site, and in quintessential goblin style, swap their regular mounts for **motorized vehicles**.

### Patch 11.2: Summer 2025

Subsequent to Patch 11.1, Blizzard intends to roll out two minor patches in the spring of 2025. The second major patch, **Patch 11.2**, is anticipated to land in **summer 2025**, with a provisional release timeframe in **July**. This patch will further enrich the game with additional zones, dungeons, and raids, ensuring player engagement throughout the year. After Patch 11.2, Blizzard is set to disclose more minor updates in **fall 2025**.

### Roadmap Overview

The roadmap unveiled during Warcraft Direct presents a transparent outlook for players regarding what lies ahead over the next two years. It delineates the schedule for patch releases, significant content enhancements, and even hints at the forthcoming expansion.

## WoW Midnight: Expansion Reveal at Gamescom 2025?

Among the most thrilling news from Warcraft Direct was the announcement of the next WoW expansion, **WoW Midnight**. As indicated by the roadmap, the expansion is slated for an official reveal in **late summer 2025**, coinciding with **Gamescom 2025**. This timeline hints at the possibility of Blizzard utilizing the event to present the new expansion to the global audience.

### When Will WoW Midnight Be Released?

The roadmap suggests a **November 2025** launch for WoW Midnight. However, this would create a relatively brief period between the announcement and the launch, prompting inquiries about Blizzard’s approach to the standard alpha and beta testing intervals.

For context, **The War Within** was disclosed in **November 2023**, with alpha testing commencing in **April 2024** and beta testing in **July 2024**. The expansion then debuted in **August 2024**, providing Blizzard a nine-month timeline between announcement and rollout. Should Blizzard pursue a similar schedule for WoW Midnight, the expansion might still debut in late 2025, albeit within a shortened testing timeframe.

## WoW Classic: Mists of Pandaria and Classic Reboot

### Mists of Pandaria Classic

Another notable revelation from Warcraft Direct was the affirmation of **Mists of Pandaria Classic**. WoW Classic continues its exploration through the game’s past, with Mists of Pandaria set to launch in **2025**. This announcement was accompanied by a nostalgic trailer offering fans a preview of what to anticipate from the cherished expansion.

If Blizzard maintains its current rhythm of releasing one Classic expansion annually, we can look forward to **Warlords of Draenor Classic** in **2026** and the much-anticipated **Legion Classic** in **2027**.

### WoW Classic 20th Anniversary Edition: Classic Reboot

In addition to Mists of Pandaria Classic, Blizzard declared a new **Classic reboot** to commemorate WoW’s 20th anniversary. Set to commence on **November 21, 202**