How Delves Are Shaping the Future of WoW's Player Progression

World of Warcraft has been a pillar of the MMORPG genre for a long time, but in the past few years it has changed its approach regarding endgame and progression. One impactful addition for players is Delves — a new category of instances that offers an alternative method of gearing for those who'd rather not take part in group activities (such as dungeons or raids). In a recent interview with Ion Hazzikostas, game director for WoW, and Maria Hamilton, associate design director, the developers discussed how Delves has disrupted the endgame ecosystem and what that means for WoW’s future.

A shift away from mandatory grinds  

WoW has been criticized for its mandatory grinds and borrowed power systems for years, particularly in Shadowlands. These systems (such as Renown or Azerite) typically had players being forced to engage in the same activity over and over to keep up, driving to burnout and frustration. However, the developers took a different path this time around with Delves.

Hazzikostas explained, "We made a very conscious choice to say, you know what? It just gives you gear." This statement sums up the guiding principle behind Delves: allowing players to earn gear without forcing them into something they may not be inclined to. This change represents a broader departure from the mandatory power systems that defined previous expansions, aiming to offer both flexibility and accessibility to a wide segment of the playerbase.

Delves

Delves are a shorter chunk of content you can run alone or with small groups, and they are a more casual-focused endgame content alternative (or complement) to raids and dungeons. The intent, according to Hazzikostas, was to provide a fresh progression avenue to players whose choices had previously felt narrowed after completing outdoor quests and campaigns.

"Actually, before you sat down, Maria and I were chatting about how much fun we've had as players, exploring and really jumping into that playstyle—the flexibility that it adds," Hazzikostas said. "I think our hope—my honest ambition—when we first started planning delves was that it would be able to take its place as a mainstay of our endgame ecosystem, a true new progression path alongside dungeons and raids and so forth ... we were penciling in plans for [the next expansion, Midnight]'s delves and beyond."  

This vision for Delves as a permanent part of WoW’s endgame is quite a contrast with past systems, which usually felt somewhat temporary or tied to specific expansions. With its integration in the core progression of WoW, Delves represent a commitment from the developers to provide a range of options for players of all playstyles.

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Catering to the midcore crowd  

Among the first key demographics to benefit from Delves is the midcore audience—players who enjoy difficult activities but likely have either no time or no desire to get involved in traditional group content. For these players, Delves provide a means of progression without the hassle associated with fitting into a group according to a strict schedule.

Hazzikostas highlighted this point, stating, "They've just been completely embraced in recent months, and there are tons of players who previously felt like their personal progression journey came to an end once they finished the outdoor world quest lines and campaigns, because [they] weren't looking to do organized group content, and so there wasn't anything else for them to strive for. And delves are great bite-sized adventures that I think are going to be a lynchpin of how we do world building, storytelling and endgame progression for years to come."  

This focus on midcore players is an attempt to fill a gap in WoW’s endgame offerings. This guarantees that a larger portion of the playerbase can keep engaging with the MMORPG in meaningful ways.  

A new philosophy for endgame design  

The success of Delves has also strengthened the developers’ faith in their new approach to endgame design. Instead of motivating players to take part by forcing them to collect mandatory rewards, the team emphasized creating content that they'd want to play.

"I think, in the past, at times, when we added new modes of gameplay, we felt obligated to incentivize players to do it to the point of it being required ... with delves we made a very conscious choice to say, 'you know what? It just gives you gear'" Hazzikostas explained. "If you don't want to do delves, if you don't enjoy it, no one's forcing you to do it. And I think organically, seeing so many players embrace it is, I think, a testament to the overall success of the content, and a good reminder about how we should approach such things in the future."  

That philosophy is a massive change to how WoW treats player progression toward endgame content. This approach not only makes the MMORPG more enjoyable for players, but also encourages a sense of community among players who choose to participate.

WoW’s future  

Delves have generally been well received, though are not without trouble (as with any new system in an MMO). Still, these issues have not detracted from the overall positive perception of the content. The developers already intend to build off the Delves system in future expansions, including the upcoming Midnight one. Hazzikostas’ comments hint that Delves will be a centerpiece of WoW’s endgame for a long time to come.

For players who have felt alienated by the MMORPG’s previous mandatory systems, Delves are an interesting alternative. For the developers, the positive reception has reaffirmed their faith in a more player-centric philosophy when it comes to gamedesign. Ultimately, Delves are more than just a new form of content, they signal a new way of thinking about WoW, one where flexibility come first.