Today, I conducted a survey to see what players would like from the next expansion. We received a whopping 292 responses!

First, here’s a link to the album so you can see the graphics of each of the results:

https://imgur.com/gallery/Xj6Nx9b

Now, here’s the written data. Gosh, this took a while to write up earlier (I pre-wrote it and added in percentages later).

TOTAL RESPONDENTS: 292

TIME FRAME: APPROX. 10 HRS

Part I: Player Statistics

Are you currently subscribed to World of Warcraft?

The most frequent response here was that 53.7% of players were subscribed to play both retail and classic

of players were subscribed to play both retail and classic 27.2% of respondents said they were subscribed only to play retail.

of respondents said they were subscribed only to play retail. Only 11% of players said they were specifically subscribed for classic, which was to be expected since this is on the retail general forums.

of players said they were specifically subscribed for classic, which was to be expected since this is on the retail general forums. 8.2% of respondents aren’t subscribed to the game right now.

When did you start playing World of Warcraft?

40.1% of players, the largest percentage, said they began playing the game in vanilla, with Burning Crusade and Wrath of the Lich King following with 21.2% and 13.7% respectively.

of players, the largest percentage, said they began playing the game in vanilla, with Burning Crusade and Wrath of the Lich King following with and respectively. Only 1.4% of respondents began playing in Battle for Azeroth.

Part II: Expansion Themes and Content

What kind of landmass would you like to go to in the next expansion?

49.7% of players want to see us return to a larger, actual continent, with 46.2% of players trailing close behind, saying they’d like to return to a revamped Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor.

of players want to see us return to a larger, actual continent, with of players trailing close behind, saying they’d like to return to a revamped Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor. Only 4.1% of players want more island-themed continents like Kul Tiras and Zandalar.

What would you like the theme of the next expansion to be, out of the likely themes discussed amongst players?

More players than any others want to go back to the days of Wrath of the Lich King, as 36.1% of players said they’d like to see the next expansion be another Scourge expansion.

of players said they’d like to see the next expansion be another Scourge expansion. The most frequently referred-to expansion idea for the next expansion, Old Gods, came in second place, with only 26.8% of players wanted that to be the next expansion.

of players wanted that to be the next expansion. 24.1% of players want a Dragon Aspect expansion, while 13.1% of players would be interested in an expansion based on Elune.

of players want a Dragon Aspect expansion, while of players would be interested in an expansion based on Elune. It’s worth noting that several players voiced their concern that there was not an option for them to choose something akin to MoP, in that they’d want a new experience. Take this into account.

Do you think that Blizzard should make things more alt-friendly (i.e. Azerite Essences, Artifacts, Reputation, etc.)?

An overwhelming 82% of players believe that Blizzard should be making some more alt-friendly systems in the game.

What would you want Blizzard to do with the Alliance and the Horde in the next expansion?

41.1% of players want to see the faction war brought to an end, and for faction barriers for races to be dropped while still keeping the factions. 27.7% of players still want to see the faction war continue. This is a very polarized statistic, as it seems there’s two differing major opinions here.

of players want to see the faction war brought to an end, and for faction barriers for races to be dropped while still keeping the factions. of players still want to see the faction war continue. This is a very polarized statistic, as it seems there’s two differing major opinions here. It’s worth noting that 15.8% of players think that the Horde and Alliance should just be completely abolished.

How do you feel about allied races in the next expansion?

A majority of players, 53.1% to be exact, would like to see more allied races into the game, while 31.2% would like to see them turned into customization options.

to be exact, would like to see more allied races into the game, while would like to see them turned into customization options. 15.8% of players just don’t want any other allied races added.

Would you prefer an invasion-based pre-patch (Legion pre-patch invasions) or a more episodic approach (War of Thorns) in the next expansion?

66.4% of players would prefer a Legion-style pre-patch event, while only 33.6% of respondents preferred the War of Thorns approach in terms of content.

Do you think the story needs to be written better in the next expansion?

It seems that 56.5% of players agree that the story isn’t doing so well right now, with 35.6% of them saying that it’s due to the fact that it’s so fragmented.

of players agree that the story isn’t doing so well right now, with of them saying that it’s due to the fact that it’s so fragmented. Only 7.9% of players actually seem to be enjoying the story right now.

Part III: General Mechanics of the Expansion

Do you think class design needs a major overhaul in the next expansion?

48.6% of players think that some, but not all classes need major overhauls, while a smaller 42.1% believes that all classes need this.

of players think that some, but not all classes need major overhauls, while a smaller believes that all classes need this. Only 9.2% of players think that classes are fine as they are right now.

Would you like Blizzard to make use of class halls while leveling in the next expansion?

66.7% of players would like to return to their class halls while leveling, but 33.3% of respondents would rather stay away in the future.

Should they re-do the talent system in the next expansion?

Whether or not players would like the old talent trees or a new type of talent tree is beyond me, because 38.4% of players want the old one, and 35.6% of players want the new one!

of players want the old one, and of players want the new one! 26% of players want to keep the current talent system.

Do you think the leveling squish (presumably coming in the next expansion) will be good for the game?

40.8% of players want the level squish indefinitely, but a rivaling 37% want more proof that this thing is gonna work.

of players want the level squish indefinitely, but a rivaling want more proof that this thing is gonna work. 22.3% of respondents are positive that the level squish won’t work.

Do you think leveling needs a major overhaul in the next expansion?

42.5% of players say leveling needs to be completely changed, while 38.7% of players say that, while it could see some change, it doesn’t need that much.

of players say leveling needs to be completely changed, while of players say that, while it could see some change, it doesn’t need that much. Only 18.8% of players are fine with the current leveling situation.

Should artifacts be a part of the game in the next expansion?

A majority of 53.6% of players says that artifacts are a big no-no, while 32% of them would be fine if they were kept in the game without the endless grind.

of players says that artifacts are a big no-no, while of them would be fine if they were kept in the game without the endless grind. 14.4% of players would like to see artifacts stay in the game as they are right now.

Should legendary items be in the next expansion?

A ridiculously large 57.9% would love to start questing for their legendaries again, while 25.3% of players just want nothing to do with legendaries.

would love to start questing for their legendaries again, while of players just want nothing to do with legendaries. 16.8% of players want to see the return of Legion legendaries in some shape or form.

Should Pathfinder be a thing to obtain flying in the next expansion?

Most players, 39.7% specifically, would be fine with Pathfinder, so long as flying would be attainable in 9.0. 33.2% of players just don’t want it.

specifically, would be fine with Pathfinder, so long as flying would be attainable in 9.0. of players just don’t want it. 27.1% of players think that the current Pathfinder system is working well.

Should reputation and factions be re-done completely in the next expansion?

70.5% of players want to see the reputation system re-done, while 29.5% of players are fine with how it is right now.

Do you think professions are in need of an overhaul in the next expansion?

An overwhelming 81.1% of players think that Blizzard needs to re-think the profession systems, while only 18.9% of players are fine with how it at the moment.

Should guilds be overhauled in the next expansion for community purposes?

56% of players think that guilds need to be revamped, compared to a surprisingly close 44% of players who think that the guild system is good as it is right now.

Part IV: Raiding, Dungeons and Instances

Do you think the next expansion’s content should be more instance-based (i.e. Warfronts, Island Expeditions), or should they make more open-world mechanics again?

78.4% of players want most of the game to take place in the overworld, while 21.6% of players prefer instanced content over overworld content.

Would you prefer that Blizzard released a few smaller raids at the beginning of the next expansion like they used to, or keep on with the current model?

66.1% of players want Blizzard to go back to the days of Blackwing Descent and Heart of Fear, while 33.9% of players prefer raids like Battle of Dazar’alor and Azshara’s Eternal Palace.

Should "Looking for Raid" be removed from the game in the next expansion?

Shockingly enough, a majority of 54.5% would like “Looking for Raid” to stay in the game, despite the constant complaints seen in the community.

would like “Looking for Raid” to stay in the game, despite the constant complaints seen in the community. 24% of players want to see LFR removed, and an even smaller 21.6% say that, while it should stay, the higher item levels shouldn’t.

Should Titanforging and Warforging be removed from the game in the next expansion?

52.4% of players say that yes, both Titanforging and Warforging need to go bye-bye.

of players say that yes, both Titanforging and Warforging need to go bye-bye. 29.8% of players are fine with Titanforging and Warforging, while 17.8% of players would like to keep only the Warforging system.

Would you like tier sets to be added back into the next expansion?

Wow! 87.3% of players want tier sets back! 12.7% are fine with the current raid sets that we have, though!

Should raid and dungeon currencies (i.e. Valor) make a return in the next expansion?

74% of players would like to see the return of instance currencies, while26% of players are just fine without it.

Do you think Mythic+ should be a continued system in the next expansion?

71.2% of players want to see Mythic+ continued, and a slightly larger-than-expected 28.8% say that it shouldn’t be a thing.

Part V: Player vs. Player

Do you think PvP vendors should make a return in the next expansion?

The loud majority of 89% of players want PvP vendors back. 11% of players don’t want to see them return, however. This hasn’t really ever been a two-sided argument.

Would you like to see a new open-world PvP zone in the next expansion (i.e. Ashran, Tol Barad, Wintergrasp)?

67.7% of players want to return to the good old days of PvP zones, while 32.3% of players would do just fine without one being added into the mix again.

Do you want several new battlegrounds added in the next expansion?

50% of players believe that we need more battlegrounds, while 37% of players think we just need to re-do some more older battlegrounds like they did with Arathi Basin and Warsong Gulch.

13% think that Blizzard’s time would be spent better elsewhere.

Should PvP and PvE gear be separated?

54.5% of players want to keep PvP and PvE gear separated, while 45.5% of players prefer the older, more “play with what you have” system.

You’re done! Mind sharing with your friends and guildies?

35.3% shared with their friends. 33.9% of players promised to share with their friends.

shared with their friends. of players promised to share with their friends. 30.8% of players either thought ‘Nope!’ meant they didn’t mind or they just didn’t share with their friends.

Thank you so much for reading. This took a LONG time to get all of the data, compile it, and write up this report. So worth it, though!