World of Warcraft Classic may have started out as a means of revisiting a simpler era in the MMORPG’s history, but has since evolved into a bundle of different experiences that have embraced change. Its 2024 roadmap proves that there’s plenty more to do as the Cataclysm expansion prepares to shatter Azeroth once again, while Season of Discovery and Hardcore also have updates coming their way.
World of Warcraft’s 2024 roadmap promises a constant stream of patches across all three of its experiences. If you’re frequently hopping between them, there’s a good chance you won’t have the time to be bored, but even those of us who fancy just one still get something to look forward to.
World of Warcraft 2024 Roadmap
WoW Classic’s 2024 roadmap wraps up the Wrath of the Lich King expansion in early January before Cataclysm Classic begins its beta testing phase.
Season of Discovery servers will gradually have their maximum level cap raised throughout the year as part of several planned updates, while Hardcore enthusiasts looking for even more challenge have a new mode to look forward to. Read on below for a dive into the entire World of Warcraft Classic 2024 roadmap.
WoW: Wrath of the Lich King Classic Ruby Sanctum Raid
Release Date: January 11, 2024
Although defeating Arthas is the culmination of our efforts in the cold lands of Northrend, WotLK Classic’s Ruby Sanctum raid is the expansion’s actual final encounter.
Available at the Wyrmrest Temple in Dragonblight, the raid pits us against Halion and his minions in early January, helping us get back into PvE shape after the holiday break.
WoW Classic Season of Discovery Phase 2
Release Date: February 8, 2024
Season of Discovery introduced actual new content to vanilla World of Warcraft, an approach many players were hoping Blizzard would eventually take.
Phase 2 is slated to arrive at some point during winter 2024, raising the level cap to 40. It also introduces new gameplay-altering runes, alongside a new PvP event.
Those fresh class playstyles we’ve been tinkering with will also be put to the test in the update’s Gnomeregan raid.
At some point after its launch, the Cataclysm Classic beta will kick off, offering those interested an opportunity to test its content prior to the official launch.
WoW Classic Hardcore Self-Found Mode
Release Date: Late Winter 2024/Early Spring 2024
If the constant risk of permanently losing our characters wasn’t enough, self-found mode further ups the challenge by having us rely solely on the items we ourselves find during our adventures.
The term is more often used these days in hack and slash RPGs, including Diablo 3, but the experience slots well into WoW Classic’s Hardocre, promising an even tougher time braving Azeroth’s many dangers.
WoW Classic Season of Discovery Phase 3
Release Date: Spring 2024
The third Phase for World of Warcraft Classic’s Season of Discovery increases the level cap by an additional 10 levels, bringing it up to 50.
This update also adds even more runes to the mix alongside a new, mysterious raid.
WoW: Cataclysm Classic Pre-Patch
Release Date: Late Spring 2024
As we leave the shores of Northrend behind us, WoW: Cataclysm Classic’s pre-patch lays the groundwork for the expansion’s proper launch with a dedicated event that could see Azeroth getting a drastic makeover, courtesy of our old pal Deathwing.
As this new threat emerges, the Goblin race joins the Horde while the Worgen bolster the ranks of the Alliance.
Guilds receive a set of improved features, while account-wide collections and transmog will also make their way into the game.
WoW: Cataclysm Classic Launch
Release Date: Early Summer 2024
Early summer marks the most important stop on World of Warcraft Classic’s 2024 roadmap, thanks to the launch of its Cataclysm expansion.
Aside from thrusting us into a fiery new chapter of Azeroth’s history, it also launches with no less than four raids, seven dungeons, and two heroic dungeons.
To that, we add a PvP battleground as well as the opening of Darkmoon Island, which we’ll visit regularly.
WoW Classic Season of Discovery Phase 4
Release Date: Summer 2024
Season of Discovery’s fourth Phase follows a similar pattern as those before it did, raising the maximum level our characters can reach by 10, bringing it to 60, which was vanilla World of Warcraft’s original level cap.
New runes will spice up gameplay with additional options for each class this patch, while “end game activities” are also expected.
WoW: Cataclysm Classic Rise of the Zandalari Update
Release Date: Late Summer 2024/Early Autumn 2024
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Classic’s phases will release quicker than the original patches did. The Rise of the Zandalari update is troll-themed and, although things can change in the lead-up to launch, is expected to add the Zul’Aman and Zul’Gurub heroic dungeons, suitable for level 85 characters, alongside many other changes and additions.
WoW: Cataclysm Classic Rage of the Firelands Update
Release Date: Autumn 2024
The next stop on WoW Classic’s 2024 roadmap sees us taking the fight to Ragnaros himself in the Firelands raids. The Regrowth and Molten Front daily quests should also become available, alongside a variety of other tweaks that will be unveiled closer to launch.
WoW Classic Season of Discovery Phase 5
Release Date: Autumn 2024
Season of Discovery’s fifth Phase won’t raise the level cap any further, promising to focus instead on “endgame content updates”. What they are remains a mystery at this point, but we should learn more about them in the near future.
That covers what we know so far about World of Warcraft Classic’s 2024 roadmap. Blizzard’s ambitious plans for Cataclysm Classic, Hardcore, and Season of Discovery clearly show that the developer has faith in the alternative versions it has cooked up for its MMORPG.
Wondering what the year has in store for the modern version of the game? Check out its planned updates.
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