MMORPG.com World of Warcraft Correspondent Daniel Growns writes this look at the possible future of World of Warcraft expansions and offers up a few of his own theories on what aspects of Azeroth lore new expansions might explore.

In the last four years there have been three large content packages in World of Warcraft. These are: the original World of Warcraft that brought us the world of Azeroth on a scale not seen in Blizzard’s games before, the Burning Crusade where we explored Illidan and the world he adopted as his own, and now we are currently fighting against the might of the Scourge and the Lich King. With such a steady stream of expansions out over the time the game has been available it makes you wonder what could be on its way next?

Some believe that Arthas is the death of World of Warcraft as there are no more interesting characters after this expansion has ended. However, I have delved into the story of World of Warcraft, reading the lore and finding out that there is far more available to Blizzard than some believe.

Read Possible Future Expansions

I suppose that any person with some exposure to the lore could populate that list.

Nice summing it up though.

Edit 1: It most likely going to be Maelstorm (due to the cataclysm site registration). Personally I would prefer the emerald dream (and the possibilities it offers combined with the phasing technology.

Edit 2: www.mmo-champion.com/index.php on Cataclysm.

Like what Blizz have said before, they will come out with about 5 x-pac in total.

But 2 problems i hope to see they address in the next coming x-pac.

1) Leveling

2) End-game content

Hopefully Blizz can come out with a good solution to these...

Yea  I agree its definately maelstrom next. When the Lich King dies Azshara will probably attack azeroth. Blizzard lore I think suggest Azshara and the Lich King were working together. Also Blizzard let the cat out of the bag early and Goblins and Worgen will both be the new races in the next expansions both connected to a sea expansion.

So look out for that one next

If Goblins have been confirmed then it will probably include the undermine on the island of kezan. I stopped playing because Wrath was too easy and all the models were the same. But if they released this expansion and made it harder like it used to be then i'd be tempted back

My money is on the Maelstorm.   Then would come Emerald Dream.   Can someone provide a link where Blizzard confirmed the Worgen and Goblin as the next races?

I'm going to take a wild guess and say that the next WoW expansion will have 10 more levels, another reset of the gear treadmill, easier content, and one or two new features for people to claim it is "revolutionary".

Probably going to be announced at blizzcon.... and I really can't see goblins being a race to be honest. I am not expecting anything new though, will probably be the same 10+ levels questing and raiding with a new raid with somewhat better gear ever few months, and of course arena will be the 'must do' in pvp progression even though hardly anyone likes it still.

Getting old =/

It'd have to the Worgen and Goblins it's two areas that were outlined in the ORIGINAL conceptualized map of Azeroth that have never been truly realized.

My WC lore is a tad rusty but the Worgen are actually Half&Half they're truly experiments of the guy up in the tower in Silverpine Forest. They've been cursed to be Worgenlike but still retain their humanity so they have the strength and agility of the Worgen but they have the spirit and will of Humans.

As for the Goblins, What more evidence do you need than the 80 Dozen goblins already wandering around Azeroth Plus there's always ONE goblin in each goblin place that mentions the Princes which indicates there's a whole Trade empire elsewhere.

And for a Neutral Race like the Tuskarr to appease and quest with you'd have the Pandaren on the Isle of Pandaria which according to some Obscure lore is SUPPOSEDLY around to the NW of the Goblins home of Undermine.

WoW hasn't run its course yet but knowing that the Original Lore Masters of WC are pretty much gone it's likely to be contradictory to some of the lore that came before it.

Originally posted by Teala

My money is on the Maelstorm.   Then would come Emerald Dream.   Can someone provide a link where Blizzard confirmed the Worgen and Goblin as the next races?

It's actually spelled 'The Maelstrom'. And no, Blizzard never confirmed those two races. Mere speculation.
 

Originally posted by SuperHans

Originally posted by Teala

My money is on the Maelstorm.   Then would come Emerald Dream.   Can someone provide a link where Blizzard confirmed the Worgen and Goblin as the next races?

It's actually spelled 'The Maelstrom'. And no, Blizzard never confirmed those two races. Mere speculation.
 

OMG...::shoots self::   what is it with the grammar Nazis and typos Nazis lately.    I am constantly making typos...anyone who reads my post knows this.   I sometimes type faster than my fingers and brain communicate - so sue me.

how many old gods do we have to kill...... in order to gain armour that looks amazingly like the last set of armour i had but a different colour, or a tier before that....

now we're all champions of SW (crusaders etc), what's going to be left.. will it come to the stage we can solo thrall and have him lick our balls daily.

i really hope not....

Maelstrom and Emerald Dream are the obvious front runners in the rumor mill for the next expac.  I  don't really have a preference here, tbh.  I can see a lot of promise for either. 

Other thoughts on what could/should be....

Races: Worgen/Goblins  (I still wish Panderen were an option.  Apparently they aren't due to some sort of religious issue with Asian culture.  What about cows and Tauren being in the game with Hindu/Indian culture?) If Maelstrom is the choice for the next expansion, then perhaps Naga will see a go as a playable race? 

If we're discussing new races... what about new classes?  Or... what about simply advancing the classes we have with heroic quest-lines?  Druids and Mages could somehow become Arch-Druids and Arch-Mages.  Maybe rogues would finally become a Pirate or a Ninja?  Paladins could become Blood Knights or Death... doh, nvmd.  Anyway, new classes would be nice to see and I thought those were promised already?  Essentially all of the 'hero classes' from Warcraft III were to be intro'd into the game, from what I remember. 

The treadmill effect that everyone refers to will kick in.  I don't know how Blizzard would avoid it, especially if we are advancing 10-20 more levels.  It's obvious, however, that the players who worked hard to get the best gear in WotLK will have a huge advantage through the first several levels in the expansion... it's a big edge, imho.  No, it doesn't excuse some of the big complaints with 'treadmilling', but it at least helps.

Blizzard has done a lot to help make levelling 'less painful'. But they haven't done much to reward player loyalty... in short Blizz hasn't done much to offer 'vet rewards', imho.  So, to address this, they could find a way to let people who have reached 'cap level' to grant levels/xp to their alts.  I would also like to see reputation be transferred down, too... almost as if your account represents a 'family'.  If you have 1 character on your account (on a realm by realm basis) that is exalted with a rep, maybe the other characters start off as at least honored with those same factions/reputation groups?  On a side note for 'vet reward-esque' itmes/benefits, I will say that one of my favorite things in the game has been heirloom items.  Love the hell out of them, tbh. 

Attention to detail and the 'little things' would be nice.  I'm talking about the ability to make your character standout from the millions of other WoW players.  Character customization... tattoo's, armor dying, scars, height/weight adjustments, more hair options, and maybe 'appearance' items (that don't offer stats, but you wear them over your armor for looks).  Player housing?  Guild halls?  What about last names for characters? 

 I would like to see the option of leveling sets of gear. I shut off XP gain, get the Bloodfang set I alway wanted for my rogue and continue leveling wearing my favourite set in game. When I reach the cap, it wouldn't be the strongest set available, but it would be stronger than the strongest blue set.

It's all about vanity anyways.

Originally posted by GamerAeon

As for the Goblins, What more evidence do you need than the 80 Dozen goblins already wandering around Azeroth Plus there's always ONE goblin in each goblin place that mentions the Princes which indicates there's a whole Trade empire elsewhere.

And for a Neutral Race like the Tuskarr to appease and quest with you'd have the Pandaren on the Isle of Pandaria which according to some Obscure lore is SUPPOSEDLY around to the NW of the Goblins home of Undermine.

 

Yeah there are also tons of cats/frogs/fish wandering around in the game so your argument fails. You think races like taurens looks down right horrible just take a look at what goblins would look like in gear...please... thats like the old argument that people will be playing as nagas... it would be hideous design

if you don't have a source to your speculation then it holds no water. Goblins have always been the neutral race and 'neutral' npcs. Just because there is a model of somthing that has arms and legs in the game doesn't mean they are going to be playable

Originally posted by BlackWatch

 

Attention to detail and the 'little things' would be nice.  I'm talking about the ability to make your character standout from the millions of other WoW players.  Character customization... tattoo's, armor dying, scars, height/weight adjustments, more hair options, and maybe 'appearance' items (that don't offer stats, but you wear them over your armor for looks).  Player housing?  Guild halls?  What about last names for characters? 

 

 

 

Oh yeah, this I can agree.  We do need this.   One thing that really bothers me is that if Blizzard is going to follow the lore of Warcraft then they should allow Blood Elves to put tattoos on their bodies and faces.    Blood Elves in the lore do this.   They need to give us dyes for armor as well because again Blood Elves prefer red and black as to show respect for the Blood Elves that gave their lives during the scourge.     We're not given that option - the armor color is predefined and cannot be changed and that just really sucks.

Read my blog Black Watch I talk about lots of stuff like this.  ^_^  >>>  Open Letter To Blizzard - just a few suggestions to make World of Warcraft better. :)

Nice article but poorly researched. You could have spent 5 minutes on WoW Wiki and done better.

Azshara was manipulated by Sargeras to create a portal to Azeroth so he could send his demon army.

In the Arthas book it was somewhat mentioned that Azshara has risen her city to the surface. A bit of foreshadowing.

Sargeras is a Titan so his homeworld would be the Titan world. Its more likely that we would go to Argus, homeworld of the Eredar, and Xoroth, homeworld of the Nathrezim(Dreadlords). There we would have final confrontations with Kil'Jaeden and Mal'Ganis, possibly Sargeras as well.

The Old Gods would only be expansion worthy if Blizzard is desperate for material(hey, how an entire underground expansion, everyone loves those). Old Gods are currently the go-to when you want an in-between update. Something to hold people over.

Also, there are 2 types of Worgen. The original Worgen come from a different dimension and are nearly mindless killing machines. The Silverpine Worgen's were humans that were experimented on by Arugal in an attempt to learn more about the original Worgen.

Lastly, Im not sure what you are trying to say about Medivh. Aegwynn was already pregnant when she fought Sargeras. Sargeras allowed himself to be defeated by Aegwynn so he could secretly possess her unborn child.

Mal'Ganis is dead, 'the fuck you talking about? Also, Sargeras is mostly dead. Can't remember where his "remains" are. 

EDIT: Oh, come on. Don't give me this shit. "However, recent reports indicate that he is still alive and has joined the ranks of the Scarlet Onslaught. Only a few know that he actually did die and that his corpse is being used as a disguise for the dreadlord Mal'Ganis, who was also previously thought dead but in fact survived his encounter with a vengeful Arthas Menethil."

COME THE FUCK ON!

EDIT2: " Brann Bronzebeard is pretty confident that the real Sargeras never actually set foot on Azeroth, implying the real Sargeras is still around in the Twisting Nether."

It gets better and better. Next thing you'll tell me Kael'thas is still alive. Jesus fuck. To think I loved Warcraft's lore.

Originally posted by arctarus

Like what Blizz have said before, they will come out with about 5 x-pac in total.

But 2 problems i hope to see they address in the next coming x-pac.

1) Leveling

2) End-game content

Hopefully Blizz can come out with a good solution to these...

 

 

so does this mean the game is done once the 5th expansion comes out ? I know nothing about warcraft lore so its strange to me that theyre following some already written story from I assume those 3 warcraft games.

I'm more interested in Blizzards next project really.  I lost interest in WoW after 60.