As had been teased, Blizzard announced on Thursday whatWorld of Warcraft’s next patch would be for theShadowlandsexpansion. Titled Eternity’s End, patch 9.2 will open up the secret realm of Zereth Mortis, where the First Ones' automatons toil in the creation of all afterlife. In Blizzard’s introduction for Eternity’s End, something seemingly very significant was mentioned offhandedly thatWorld of Warcraftplayers both new and old will want to hear. Blizzard characterized Eternity’s End as the “final chapter” of a saga going back to Warcraft 3.
This is a characterization ofShadowlandsthat has raised many an eyebrow within theWorld of Warcraftcommunity, followingEternity’s End’s reveal. The preview of patch 9.2 starts with an introduction fromWorld of Warcraftnarrative lead Steve Danuser. This introduction begins by sayingShadowlandsis a story that “pulls together threads that started inWarcraft 3” and were woven into manyWorld of Warcraftexpansions since. Danuser describes approaching this nearly two-decade-old story as a “drama in three acts.” 9.2, Danuser says, is the third and final act of this saga. Further, Eternity’s End will be “the final chapter of one book of the Warcraft saga.”
RELATED:World of Warcraft Might Add Cross-Faction Raiding
Suffice to say, describing the end of theShadowlandsstory as the end of aWarcraftsaga going back toWarcraft 3is dramatic in and of itself, if not controversial.World of Warcraftplayers argue that it’s easy to see how theWrath of the Lich KingofLegionexpansions could be described as the end of theWarcraft 3saga, but don’t see the same thing inShadowlands.
Regardless, there’s a gravity to what Danuser is saying that goes beyond discourse surroundingShadowlands' quality and nature. What Danuser appears to be implying is this is an ending, the closing of a “book.” Danuser doesn’t say what that means forWorld of Warcraft, though he does hint at more stories to come, but it’s possible that 9.2 could be the last patch before a larger change happens. It’s much too early to guess at a reboot or sequel for the MMO, but that’s a conversation the community seems ready to broach.
Of course, a simpler answer could also make sense; Danuser could simply be exaggerating. SomeWorld of Warcraftplayers note thatFinal Fantasy 14’s upcomingEndwalkerexpansionmarks the end of its own decade-long story. PerhapsWorld of Warcrafthopes to steal some ofFinal Fantasy 14’s thunder through this language.
The preview forWorld of Warcraft’s 9.2 patch doesn’t detail the content’s story with enough detail to say one way or another. What was shown appears similar to any otherWorld of Warcraftpatch in form and content.Blizzardteased a new raid, a tier of gear, a zone to explore, mounts, pets, minigames, and systems of progression. If this is a crescendo forWorld of Warcraft’s 20-year story, a “final chapter” and a transition to something new, Blizzard must be hiding it very well.
