BlizzCon 2010: Outland and Northrend revamps eventually planned
by Gregg Reece 
Oct 22nd 2010 at 7:30PM
Chris Metzen discussed the fact that this really doesn't mesh well and the internal Blizzard lore folks aren't really happy with it. They plan to eventually go back and make Outland and Northrend fit with the revised storyline. The problem they ran into is purely a lack of time. As an example, Wrath of the Lich King had around 1000 quests in Northrend. Cataclysm has 3500 quests without touching either Outland or Northrend.
So, these changes to make the lore line up are planned, but there is absolutely no schedule as to when they will be implemented.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Deathmetalzf Oct 22nd 2010 7:37PM
This is great to hear, especially from Metzen. It's great to hear that they are not going ignore it and have acknowledge it as a problem. One of the many reason's why I love this company because they actually try and look at everything and make it work, unlike other's that I have seen.
Moghar Oct 23rd 2010 4:57AM
Well, yeah, unlike others they earn millions. Which is great, of course.
Hurbster Oct 23rd 2010 7:51AM
They earn millions for a very good reason.
Gen Man Oct 22nd 2010 7:38PM
I was wondering about this myself. I'm glad Blizzard has an interest in keeping the lore and such up to date unlike other MMO's.
Rude Hero Oct 22nd 2010 7:40PM
Fingers crossed that the next expansion will NOT be "Outlands & Northrend Cataclysm"!
Gen Man Oct 22nd 2010 7:48PM
Blizzard hasn't cheaped out on us like that yet, and I don't expect them to. However, I can see them doing something during an expansion that reflects on those areas. I mean, on PTR Thrall was in Nagrand doing his shammy training; so we're already seeing Cataclysm related additions to older expansions.
JORGE.ANAYA81 Oct 22nd 2010 8:01PM
considering outland is in chunks, i would call that a cataclysm
kaminari Oct 22nd 2010 10:04PM
i belive they will follow the cata model, redo the outland and add new zones (may be legion worlds) for the next expansion and northrend and new zones (may be emmerald dream) for the following one.
Hob Oct 22nd 2010 11:01PM
Well, I'm hoping the next expac will be focused on Outland, and will feature these awesome options:
1. Outland races (ethereal, two-legged naga, sporelings, and arakkoa).
2. Total world building, so that Outland is the size of Azeroth, leading to:
3. The ability to go from level 1 to endgame in Outland alone.
In your heart, you know it's right.
carebear Oct 23rd 2010 12:05AM
@Hob
outland sucks
Drahken Oct 23rd 2010 3:51AM
This is actually what I've been speculating on since they announced Cataclysm. The game so far has gone:
Old World 60
Outland 70
Northrend 80
Revamp Old World 85
Since it's been stated that Outland is just the largest shard of the broken Draenor, I figured they'd do another Outland expansion. And I think it's been said that the final expansion will deal with finally fighting Sargeras. (no proof to back that up, but it makes sense, right?) So that just leaves one more. So my thought is the rest of the expansions will look like this:
Revamp Outland 90
Revamp Northrend 95
Argus (or whatevs) 100
Now that they've said that they want to do it, this is beginning to look like a pretty decent prediction.
raposo02790 Oct 23rd 2010 11:53AM
While I'm hoping they don't cheese out and make Outland cataclysm I am hoping 1 of 2 things 1) to reach the new expansion zone they place the portal in outland. since it would be an interstellar hub as well a good way to boost Outland traffic . 2) make northrend the source of the legion invasion as well as the access point to the legion homeworld for the same reasons
Aubrey Oct 23rd 2010 12:01AM
Revamp Outland idea:
Introduce Demon Hunter hero class, trained by illidan 10,000 years ago. After instanced training, cut to level 70 Demon Hunter.
Shiro_Shishi Oct 22nd 2010 7:59PM
There's a Back to the Future joke here somewhere...
MusedMoose Oct 22nd 2010 8:06PM
Well, there's definitely something wrong with Outland's gravitational pull. I mean, look how many rocks just float around. ^_^
But seriously, this is awesome news. As long as Blizzard doesn't take out faction grinds for talbuk mounts, I'll be happy.
Racson Oct 22nd 2010 8:07PM
This post left me wondering about something.
After the death knight starter zone that is phased in the past mograine sends us to our faction leader.
Are the goblin dks sended to see garrosh?
Gregg Reece Oct 22nd 2010 8:14PM
Actually, right now Garrosh and Thrall react to the same quest starters and turnins. So, they're actually "interchangeable" right now.
Blunderwear Oct 22nd 2010 8:11PM
i could see it being a major patch, maybe 4.4 or the like. My bet, however, is that this ends up in the same realm as the dance studio or player housing.
MusedMoose Oct 22nd 2010 8:57PM
I highly doubt that will happen. Blizzard has stated that they don't want to offer player housing, and the dance studio is a "back burner" thing for the animators. This issue with Outland and Northrend, however, is something they see as a problem that needs to be fixed, not just something they'd like to do. I'm sure it will happen eventually.
Eternauta Oct 22nd 2010 9:05PM
I'm kinda tired of these dance studio complains by now...
I don't see why people are so deperate to have a tool to add more custom trendy dances in a high fantasy game about wizards and dragons and killing stuff.