Following a massively successful three-year run of Blizzard Entertainment’s most recent World of Warcraft expansion, Warlords of Draenor; today on November 14, the first day of Blizzcon 2017, the company has announced their newest expansion to the popular saga, Journey to Earth. When questioned why they chose to take the game to Earth, rather than someplace like The Emerald Dream or The Dark Below, a Blizzard spokesperson elaborated on the decision.

“By now, you have all traveled back and forth through Azeroth more times than you can count. You have gone to Outlands twice and do not forget exploring Northrend and Pandaria either. We felt it was time to bring in a completely new twist that nobody was expecting.”

And expecting it, nobody was. The announcement for new World of Warcraft expansion, Journey to Earth turned many audience member’s heads so far that it was like they were undead members of the Forsaken. Of course, Blizzard did not just leave the announcement of the new expansion to linger without going into more detail. Blizzcon attendees got an inside scoop into what they can expect to see in the near future.

After Garrosh Hellscream, former Warchief of the Horde escaped to Draenor and finished causing ruckus, he once again fled back to Azeroth where he unleashed the full fury of Sargeras and eradicated the planet once and for all. Fortunately, members of both the Horde, Alliance and various other factions rallied together and opened a portal to a parallel dimension. Not knowing what to expect once they arrive, the former citizens of Azeroth now find themselves on modern-day Earth.

Horde players will begin their epic journey in the United States where they have claimed New York City as the new Horde capital and send all humans who do not swear allegiance to them, away. Here, players will be able to climb into the Statue of Liberty to receive new American style quests from Vol’jin and enjoy pet battles in Central Park. Players will be able to rally and build their own customized garrisons in whatever U.S. state they prefer where they can stockpile themselves with Orcs, Trolls, Tauren and the NSA for espionage into other Horde players and the Alliance alike.

Alliance players will start their new adventure in the United Kingdom, where Anduin Wrynn has taken over leadership of the Alliance from his father and rules alongside with Queen Elizabeth II. Here, the two royals promise to work together to keep the land free from their enemies like the Horde. Players here will be able to enjoy questing in many scenic European location starting zones as they go from level 100 to 110. Although flying mounts will not work until level 110 (a flying license can be purchased for 50,000 gold or Euros), players will be able to purchase a Europass that will allow them instantaneous transportation between various countries.

Although the new expansion will have many neutral and contested zones, there will be several areas that have been either designated as exclusive for either player versus environment (PvE) or player versus player (PvP) content. For instance, Australia will be a level 110 zone, similar to the Timeless Isle as seen in Pandaria, where players have opportunities to earn high level PvE gear from defeating elite and highly dangerous spider bosses. On the other hand, North Korea will become a unique PvP zone where players are flagged so that anyone who is not grouped is seen as being hostile, regardless of their faction. Finally, Canada will become a designated sanctuary and neutral country where players can go to relax by drinking beer and playing hockey.

Raid content will take players deep within the mystical depths of Area 51 where they will fight bosses such as a general from the alien Greys and Elvis, who has been kept alive using cryogenic containment and has been brainwashed to serve government forces. The Bermuda Triangle will also become a new “Caverns of Time” type of gateway that will let players experience historic raid content and dungeons such as both World War I and II.

While most of the world will be open for exploration upon release date, several areas such as Greenland, Iceland and Antarctica will likely be released in patches 7.2 and 7.3. “This is a huge undertaking as we are literally revolutionizing World of Warcraft. We need something to work with!” said Mike Morhaime, CEO and co-founder of Blizzard Entertainment. “We are all certain that players will find themselves on their most epic journey yet. We are excited and proud to release World of Warcraft: Journey to Earth as soon as the expansion is complete.”

With the announcement made public, will the new World of Warcraft expansion, Journey to Earth live up to Morhaime’s expectations? Only time will tell as the expansion will most likely be released sometime within 2018. One thing is for certain, there has never been a better time to sit in front of the computer and explore the great outdoors without having to get up from a chair.

Satire by Jonathan Holowka

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