Nieuwe World of Warcraft uitbreiding neemt spelers mee naar het hiernamaals

Blizzard heeft een zevende grote uitbreiding aangekondigd voor World of Warcraft. Die heet Shadowlands en verschijnt in 2020. In de uitbreiding laat Sylvanas Windrunner, ooit Horde Warchief maar intussen grote slechterik van dienst, de dood los over de wereld van Azeroth. Spelers komen zo terecht in het hiernamaals.

De Shadowlands vormen een oneindige realm waar het kwaad regeert, dus spelers zullen hun handen weer vol hebben. De uitbreiding introduceert ook Torghast, Tower of the Damned, een steeds veranderende en altijd herspeelbare dungeon.

• Explore the Realm of the Dead: For the first time ever in World of Warcraft, players will cross into the Shadowlands and experience the wonders and horrors of the afterlife across five new zones—the gleaming fields of Bastion, the scarred battlefields of Maldraxxus, the eternal twilight of Ardenweald, the opulent keeps of Revendreth, and the horrific Maw.
   
• Claim a Covenant’s Power: Players will be called upon to forge a bond with one of four Covenants that rule Shadowlands’ new zones, setting the tone for their journey through the expansion with a full Covenant Campaign. As they level up, they’ll get new abilities based on their choice, including class-specific abilities for each Covenant—as well as developing Soulbinds with specific Covenant members, which grant them access to that character’s specific traits and bonuses.
   
• Ascend the Tower of the Damned: At the heart of the Maw lies Torghast, Tower of the Damned, a cursed otherworldly prison where the wickedest souls in the universe are locked away. Highly replayable and inspired by roguelike games, heroes are invited to explore its ever-changing halls and chambers and do battle with the minions of the Jailer, Torghast’s vile ruler. Those who brave its trials can claim legendary treasures and help free the heroic spirits wrongfully trapped within.
   
• Every Level Is Meaningful: Shadowlands will introduce a new leveling system, meant to provide a meaningful sense of advancement with every level achieved. 
   
• Current max-level characters will begin Shadowlands at level 50 and work toward the new level cap of 60.
   
• A New Army of the Dead Rises: To combat Sylvanas’ assault on Icecrown, Bolvar Fordragon— the revered former paladin who took on the mantle of Lich King to keep the Scourge at bay—has raised heroes from among all the peoples of Azeroth to bolster the Death Knights of Acherus. With Shadowlands, pandaren and all allied races will now be able to become Death Knights.
   
• Improved Character Customization Options: A host of new appearance options for all races will be made available to players when they create new World of Warcraft characters (or alter existing ones at the in-game barber shop).