This past BlizzCon 2026 will be remembered by fans for massive announcements, including the long-awaited official announcement of World of Warcraft Forever – Blizzard’s vision for the Classic+ concept. The project will provide players with an alternate timeline, including new old zones, raids, and dungeons, aiming to recreate the spirit of the early community without the modern automated group search system.
However, this is not without controversy. The main reason for the heated discussion in the community is the announcement of a new race – Sky Elves, available to both Alliance and Horde. First of all, many players criticized the developer for its “heart-centered” plot. Secondly, it was revealed that the game was not released in the base game, but rather as part of a $29.99 bundle, raising concerns about pay-to-win precedent and the monetization of key gameplay elements.
Lead designers Tim Jones and Chris Zierhut explained that relying on popular “attractive” models helps balance factions (as is the case with the cross-faction Blood Elves) and allows for untold stories about Eld’Thalas’ past to be told.
