BlizzConline is happening this weekend, with a full schedule of announcements for Diablo, Overwatch, and Hearthstone. There will also be a few “deep dives” into World of Warcraft with a developer Q&A and also some big announcements.
Normally, those announcements wouldn’t arrive before Friday at the earliest, but it looks like Blizzard accidentally sent out their BlizzConline press kits a bit early. Leaked copies have started turning up online, and one of those press kits just so happens to have a lot of info about an upcoming World of Warcraft: Shadowlands content drop (courtesy of Wowhead).
It’s called Chains of Domination, and it’s apparently going to be all about taking on the Jailer. “The traitorous Sire Denathrius has been defeated… but the power of the Maw still grows,” reads the press kit. “In Chains of Domination, the upcoming first major content update for World of Warcraft: Shadowlands, players will delve into new depths of the Jailer’s hopeless domain, seeking to understand the true nature of his malignant plans.”
Yes, this means there will be new quests to take on that progress the Shadowlands saga, but more important, there’s a new area to explore, a new raid to defeat, and a new mega-dungeon to dive into for new loot. Korthia, the City of Secrets is the new area which just so happens to be a “long lost domain” that holds a key to the Jailer’s twisted designs. Meanwhile, the Sanctum of Domination raid will put players against the Eye of the Jailer, the terrifying Tarragrue, and eight other bosses that may or may not include a certain Banshee Queen.
Tazavesh, the Veiled Market is the new eight-boss mega-dungeon that takes place in the Brokers’ bazaar. You’ll also be able to find new Covenant-themed cosmetic armors, new mounts and pets, and also unlock flight to easily traverse the Shadowlands.
If you’re more into WoW Classic, then the big reveal at BlizzCon will be the arrival of the Burning Crusade, World of Warcraft’s first major expansion.
Expect everything that came to WoW the first time around in The Burning Crusade, including the Arena PvP system and Jewelcrafting professions, but expect it to “roll out in phases.” Also, if you prefer to stick with WoW Classic vanilla, there’s no requirement to upgrade to The Burning Crusade–you’ll be asked whether or not to add the expansion when it arrives.
BlizzConline runs this Friday and Saturday as an all-digital event with free admission. Stay tuned to Blizzard channels on various social media platforms to tune in.
