Azeroth map "outdated" on official site
by Eliah Hecht 
Aug 21st 2009 at 12:35PM
A friendly tipster has let us know that currently on the official WoW site, the map of Azeroth is listed as "really outdated" (see screenshot above). This is the clickable map that gives information about each zone. The Outland and Northrend maps are still up, but the Azeroth map is down.
Hm...a portent of Cataclysmic events, anyone? This is an entertaining little leak from the Blizzard web team. I'm sure we'll get the full story in a few hours from our Anaheim ground team, but for now, this is a subtle hint at what might go down in the next chapter of WoW history, and where.
BlizzCon 2009 is here! WoW.com has continuing coverage, bringing you the latest in Cataclysm news, live blogs, galleries, and reports right from the convention floor. Check out WoW.com's Guide to BlizzCon for the latest!Filed under: Expansions, Cataclysm
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Neocene Aug 21st 2009 12:39PM
oooooh! I'm so excited!
Ailian Aug 21st 2009 12:50PM
Glad I'm not the only one. :3
Komorado Aug 21st 2009 12:39PM
The plot thickens....
Sanc Aug 21st 2009 12:38PM
Very, very interesting. All clues point to the leaked information being true.
Good find.
Caladrill Aug 21st 2009 12:44PM
I am pretty sure this is a trick, they obviously want us to believe what MMO-Champion said, its definetly a trick they wouldn't leak it we'll find out in 1 hour
Everybody Aug 21st 2009 12:52PM
Yeah, I agree. Blizzard is definitely faking it to fool us. You know why? Because they reeeeaalllly want to disappoint their fans
^_^
Gilgamesh Aug 21st 2009 1:55PM
Paying them to fix what they should have done right in the first place is a disappointment. I'm hoping the MMO-Champ guy has to eat his words and run through the streets of Paris in the buff!
Erin Aug 21st 2009 2:03PM
I don't know why everyone is rooting for MMO-Champions to be wrong. I for one think what they "leaked" would be a really interesting twist to the game. I've always hoped that WoW would open up some of the areas in Azeroth that were never fully made... Uldam anyone?
I for one hope that the "leak" was right on the money... though I'd be a bit disappointed if the Maelstorm wasn't at least a few decent sized zones.
Gilgamesh Aug 21st 2009 2:10PM
Erin - I could see where they wanted to cut costs and just re-release Naxxramas for this expansion since almost no one went there and they poured a lot of resources into it. The mmo "leaks" just read like one long cost saving measure. When I read that blackrock was erupting again I could only think: Molten Core with level 85 mobs. /been there done that
Erin Aug 21st 2009 3:26PM
@Gilgamesh
I'd always been in the the Warcraft games. WC, WCII, and especially WCIII, but I'd always avoided WoW because I'd never really wanted to play an MMO. I started playing last year though when they announced Wrath though because I was incredibly excited about all of the lore involved with that.
BC was already out and was practically over by the time I started, and I reached lvl 79 the night wrath was released. I never got to experience a lot of the old world raids (besides going back and wiping the floor with them at lvl 80). For that reason I'm pretty excited to be able to experience a lot of that lore that just isn't really available now. I'm sure I'm not the only person in that boat though.
As far as cost-cutting measures... I highly doubt that revamping all of the old zones is going to cut any costs. Have you seen any of the videos online about how hard it would be to add flying mounts to the lvl 1-60 areas? The game just wasn't made for that and the sheer amount of effort to go in and revamp those areas is just as big if not much bigger than making a continent like Northrend.
It would be amazing to go through the old world now, coming back from Northrend as the conquering hero of the land, and be able to have some influence on the zones themselves via phasing. Imaging an epic quest to retake Gnomeragon and rid it of the radiation. This could be a throw back to some of the lvl 60 epic quests like getting attuned to Onyxia. Once you've completed the quest you've retaken the city and now anyone that's done that is "phased-in" and can visit the city like they would with any other major city. Being able to have that kind of influence on the old gaming world would feel epic, and I am really excited to see what they come up with.
On a side note, looks like the leak was right on the money. Can't wait to see where this goes!
Soryne Aug 21st 2009 12:40PM
I've been playing WoW for a year or so now, and for all that time the Azeroth map has been down. So either they've been planning for a VERY long time and are just now allowing a leak, or it doesn't mean a bloody thing.
widowmakrtwo Aug 21st 2009 1:07PM
Yup...this map has been down for months. Lot's of stuff going on but this doesn't mean anything.
James Aug 21st 2009 1:27PM
Agreed. Also, the flash map that used to be on the site was removed back when like 3.0.2 dropped, if I recall.
I think in this case they've either been sitting on an old world map update for an upcoming expansion, or they really just do have better things to work on that updating a map on the website at the moment.
verolynne Aug 21st 2009 1:45PM
Exactly.
That is old news, it's been down for ages. Last year is when I really noticed it because I was at work and wanted to plan out what I was going to do on WoW when I got off but couldn't Blizz's version of the Azeroth map wasn't up, making me one sad pandaren.
Magdalen Aug 21st 2009 2:21PM
Agreed. It has been like this for quite a while. Now get a napkin and clean yourselves up.
Tarragon Aug 21st 2009 12:40PM
Or maybe it was actually outdated. It probably hasn't been updated since '04 or something.
Barinthos Aug 21st 2009 12:40PM
Or it's just a coincidence and the conspiracy theorists are just thinking too much into it. Not everything regarding WoW from now on is a foreshadowing of the Cataclysm to come.
But nonetheless, it is interesting to see Blizzard thinking that the Azeroth map is outdated. A bit odd to say the least.
Stravo Aug 21st 2009 1:22PM
When all you've got is a hammer every problem starts to look like a nail.
aw232 Aug 21st 2009 12:41PM
Actually the map was really outdated. IIRC, It didn't include the new fligh points or the correct boat lines, or the Ebon Hold.
Of course the timing is a bit on the questionable side...
Alizabeth Aug 21st 2009 12:41PM
This has been up for a while, actually. I believe that it was taken down after they revamped the instances' levels and added the new content in Dustwallow Marsh.