I'm surprised it hasn't been posted here yet, if it has then I didn't know.

They are making all races playable with any account. Don't get the wrong idea though, it's only the 'race'.. you can not create a Monk or Death Knight without the appropriate expansion(s).

Just thought I'd bring to everyones attention:

http://us.battle.net/wow/en/blog/6994738/All_Races_Available_in_Patch_504-8_16_2012

*Edited with official link.

Nadia provided this info on page two of this thread:

From forums

http://us.battle.net/wow/en/forum/topic/6352435511

 

I've seen some confusion about when pandaren character creation will be accessible.

Just to be clear on the announcement, we're making it possible for people to create a character of any race, regardless of what expansions you've purchased. So if you only have the original game (which now has The Burning Crusade included), when patch 5.0.4 hits you'll be able to create goblin and worgen characters as well. And, once Mists of Pandaria is released, you'll be able to create pandaren characters, regardless of whether or not you own Mists of Pandaria.

So it says all races, what about though all classes? Just because Pandaren become available for play regardless if you have MoP or not, does this include the new monk class?

No, you'll need to upgrade your World of Warcraft license to Mists of Pandaria in order to unlock the monk class. The same is true for leveling from 85-90 and gaining access to the continent of Pandaria.

This is great but how will starting areas be handled?

The starting areas will be accessible as well. For example, you'll be able to adventure on the Wandering Isle as a pandaren when Mists of Pandaria is released, but you won't be able to visit Pandaria. They're separate locations.

its good news

http://us.battle.net/wow/en/blog/6994738/All_Races_Available_in_Patch_504-8_16_2012

hopefully Blizzard will offer some bundle packs too to help w expansion costs for new players

Another desperate attempt to retain subscribers in the face of blizzard's biggest competition yet in GW2.

I think fans of WoW should actually thank Anet.  Question to everyone, "Do you think Blizz would have done this if Anet was not coming out with GW2?"

Originally posted by Nadia

its good news

http://us.battle.net/wow/en/blog/6994738/All_Races_Available_in_Patch_504-8_16_2012

 

hopefully Blizzard will offer some bundle packs too to help w expansion costs for new players

 

Thanks for the official link, I'll edit the first post with it as well. No idea why I choose to link IGN lol.

Originally posted by Badaboom
Another desperate attempt to retain subscribers in the face of blizzard's biggest competition yet in GW2.

Riiiiight.

They're doing this because there will be a massive influx of new players when MoP launches. Many of which will probably be trials. Opening all races to those new players increases the odds they will get hooked and become a subscriber.

[mod edit]

It's a good move on their part. I never got to try out the Worgen because I didn't buy Cata (got a rez recently and fixed that), but this will, as pointed out earlier, allow trial players to experience all of the races.

And people who don't buy Mists becuase of Pandas, can still roll Pandas when no one is looking.

Originally posted by Badaboom

Another desperate attempt to retain subscribers in the face of blizzard's biggest competition yet in GW2.

I think fans of WoW should actually thank Anet.  Question to everyone, "Do you think Blizz would have done this if Anet was not coming out with GW2?"

Nine million plus and desperate, lol the irony.

Originally posted by Mephster

Originally posted by Badaboom

Another desperate attempt to retain subscribers in the face of blizzard's biggest competition yet in GW2.

I think fans of WoW should actually thank Anet.  Question to everyone, "Do you think Blizz would have done this if Anet was not coming out with GW2?"

Nine million plus and desperate, lol the irony.

I think it is Anet's financial model that has Blizz worried.  Not worried in the sense that they will die.  Just worried in the sense that it cuts into Vivendi's profit margin, which we all know is heavily done with WoW Sub numbers..

from forums

http://us.battle.net/wow/en/forum/topic/6352435511
                               
I've seen some confusion about when pandaren character creation will be accessible.

Just to be clear on the announcement, we're making it possible for people to create a character of any race, regardless of what expansions you've purchased. So if you only have the original game (which now has The Burning Crusade included), when patch 5.0.4 hits you'll be able to create goblin and worgen characters as well. And, once Mists of Pandaria is released, you'll be able to create pandaren characters, regardless of whether or not you own Mists of Pandaria.

So it says all races, what about though all classes? Just because Pandaren become available for play regardless if you have MoP or not, does this include the new monk class?

No, you'll need to upgrade your World of Warcraft license to Mists of Pandaria in order to unlock the monk class. The same is true for leveling from 85-90 and gaining access to the continent of Pandaria.

This is great but how will starting areas be handled?

The starting areas will be accessible as well. For example, you'll be able to adventure on the Wandering Isle as a pandaren when Mists of Pandaria is released, but you won't be able to visit Pandaria. They're separate locations.
                              

Originally posted by Badaboom

Another desperate attempt to retain subscribers in the face of blizzard's biggest competition yet in GW2.

I think fans of WoW should actually thank Anet.  Question to everyone, "Do you think Blizz would have done this if Anet was not coming out with GW2?"

I love GW2, even bought the CE. I stopped playing WOW one month after Cata and will not return for MOP.

But I have to say this: today I was at Gamescom and the Blizzrd booth for MOP was huge and absolutely PACKED with people. We tried to get to the booths behind it and it was almost impossible to get thru the crowds.....I cannot say the same for the smallish Guild Wars 2 booth.....

Originally posted by Badaboom

Another desperate attempt to retain subscribers in the face of blizzard's biggest competition yet in GW2.

I think fans of WoW should actually thank Anet.  Question to everyone, "Do you think Blizz would have done this if Anet was not coming out with GW2?"

dude . wait for the right time to say it .the battle is still undecided . it can go either way .

Originally posted by Badaboom

Originally posted by Mephster

Originally posted by Badaboom

Another desperate attempt to retain subscribers in the face of blizzard's biggest competition yet in GW2.

I think fans of WoW should actually thank Anet.  Question to everyone, "Do you think Blizz would have done this if Anet was not coming out with GW2?"

Nine million plus and desperate, lol the irony.

I think it is Anet's financial model that has Blizz worried.  Not worried in the sense that they will die.  Just worried in the sense that it cuts into Vivendi's profit margin, which we all know is heavily done with WoW Sub numbers..

The majority of WoW players could care less about GW2. They barely know Starcraft and Diablo exist.

im a GW2 fan and i agree

MOP sales will be at least 4 million the first week

but I'll be happy if GW2 sells 1 million the first week :)

Originally posted by Nadia

from forums

http://us.battle.net/wow/en/forum/topic/6352435511
                               
I've seen some confusion about when pandaren character creation will be accessible.

Just to be clear on the announcement, we're making it possible for people to create a character of any race, regardless of what expansions you've purchased. So if you only have the original game (which now has The Burning Crusade included), when patch 5.0.4 hits you'll be able to create goblin and worgen characters as well. And, once Mists of Pandaria is released, you'll be able to create pandaren characters, regardless of whether or not you own Mists of Pandaria.

So it says all races, what about though all classes? Just because Pandaren become available for play regardless if you have MoP or not, does this include the new monk class?

No, you'll need to upgrade your World of Warcraft license to Mists of Pandaria in order to unlock the monk class. The same is true for leveling from 85-90 and gaining access to the continent of Pandaria.

 

This is great but how will starting areas be handled?

The starting areas will be accessible as well. For example, you'll be able to adventure on the Wandering Isle as a pandaren when Mists of Pandaria is released, but you won't be able to visit Pandaria. They're separate locations.
                              

I like that, it gives new players a chance to lvl up before paying for x-expansion for chars. When bc was released it took me a little while to get it because i was saving for 2 nvidia 9500gt at the time. 

I personally don't think it has anything to do with any other mmo, it just makes more sence to charge people for post game content only. Makes it easier to access tutorial zones w/ new races and a couple sprites to have fun with. It was probally decided on fan feedback.

If this has nothing to do with Guild Wars 2, why is Blizzard doing somethings, that it had never done before, right before the Guild Wars 2 release ?! 

I, fully, understand that WoW is still mighty and great, however, the game '' isn´t '' on the same quality level as Guild Wars 2 and if Blizzard bores the player-base, something that may cause them to check, just check, Guild Wars 2 .. they may never return to Blizzard anymore. Blizzard´s goal isn´t anylonger to gain new players, but to not lose the ones who they already have. WoW isn´t as mighty as before and it´s getting as much attention as before either. Many players who used to return, everytime, a new WoW expansion is out, aren´t returning this time because thery aren´t glad anylonger with the quality and the concepts WoW is offering.

Guild Wars 2 is bringing new rules to the genre and World of Warcraft is holding the old rules with all its strengh. This is the battle we are having right now. Personally, I am someone, like all the other millions in the mmo-community, who have tried WoW. I played there, lived in Azeroth, had fun with friends, did hundreds of raids and spent thousends of hours in game´s immersive world. However, everything has an end and the quality of WoW vanilla has kinda disappeared forever. Hopefully Blizzard can bring us back that amazing feeling that we had with WoW through Titan, though I don´t want to get my hopes too high :)

Originally posted by eGumball

If this has nothing to do with Guild Wars 2, why is Blizzard doing somethings, that it had never done before, right before the Guild Wars 2 release ?!

when Blizzard offered Starter edition, last summer, they included Dranei and Blood Elf

without needing to own BC -- but you could only access the starting areas

patch 5.0.4 racial access is a natural progression