During yesterday’s Shadowlands Developer Update live stream, World of Warcraft executive producer, John Hight, reiterated Blizzard’s commitment to launching the World of Warcraft: Shadowlands expansion this autumn 2020 as planned. However, the publisher has yet to settle on a firm release date.
Alongside, Hight provided some wholly more exciting news for World of Warcraft player by announcing that Shadowlands will officially enter beta next week. As Hight explains, ”beta participants will be able to experience the max level challenges in The Maw – the most dangerous place in all the Shadowlands, and one of the most rewarding too.”
As game director Ion Hazzikostas explained in the live stream, Shadowlands is virtually feature-complete. Much of the remaining work will focus on polishing the expansion, fixing bugs, and balancing gameplay. The beta itself will boost the level cap up to 60 and allow players to sample Shadowlands’ end-game content. Hazzikostas explained that the expansion hones in on four Covenants, each with its own faction-specific content, max-level story campaigns, and unique features. There’s also a new dungeon area known as the Theater of Pain to accompany The Maw sandbox area. Those that missed out on previous invites are in with a chance of grabbing access to the beta. From next week, Blizzard will send out new invites in waves.
Blizzard took the opportunity to lift the curtain on the Shadowlands Collector’s Edition, which will set you back £109.99/€119.99/$119.99 and grant 30 days of game time.
It includes:
- Covenant Sigils – Four-Pin Collector’s Set: Add the symbols of all four Covenants to your pin collection and adorn your backpack, lanyard, or clothing with the sign of your chosen path.
- Art of the Shadowlands: Explore the visual development of Azeroth’s multifaceted afterlife through this hardcover book, and learn about an aspect of the Warcraft universe that has been little explored—until now.
- Shattered Sky Mousepad: Witness the moment Sylvanas shattered the veil between this life and what lies beyond, changing Azeroth’s fate forever.
- Collector’s Edition Digital Soundtrack Key: Download the stirring orchestral pieces from the Shadowlands soundtrack, the perfect mood music to explore the realms beyond the veil.
Owners will also get access to several digital in-game items:
- Ensorcelled Everwyrm mount: Set off on your next adventure on a supernatural being of pure anima.
- Anima Wyrmling pet: Explore the afterlife alongside your new companion.
- Vestments of the Eternal Traveler: Use your Everwyrm to begin a quest for the Vestments of the Eternal Traveler, an all-new transmog set.
- Wraithchill cosmetic weapon: Unlock a chilling new cosmetic effect for your weapon. As with other Illusions, Wraithchill can be applied only to certain weapon types.
- Eternal Traveler’s Hearthstone: Return to your Hearthstone bind location with a reality-bending cosmetic effect.
- Shadowlands-Level Character Boost: Instantly boost a single character to be ready for Shadowlands-level content.
Blizzard also provided details about how players can upgrade from other editions to the Collector’s Edition:
”If you’ve purchased a digital copy of Shadowlands from our in-game shop or Blizzard shop, and want to upgrade to the Collector’s Edition, we will automatically credit you the cost of the digital copy in Blizzard Balance—as long as you enter the Collector’s Edition key before 1 April 2021 at 08:59. When you enter the key from your Collector’s Edition, the credit will automatically kick in based on the original transaction on your account.”