Midnight OverviewMidnight Preorders
Make sure to check out the full video for additional context, but we've summarized the important points and information below.
The New & Returning Player Experience
How will the updated new player experience work in Midnight?
We've rebuilt Exile's Reach to be more of a prologue that points directly to Dragonflight with more recognizable faces like Wrathion, Khadgar, Alexstrasza, and more. In the finale, you'll even ride the dragons to the Waking Shore and continue with those same characters.
There's also been some changes to the Dragonflight expansion as well where players won't end the story at the end of Thaldrazsus but rather enter a Story Mode Vault of the Incarnates and face down Raszageth. You'll continue leveling into Zaralek Caverns culminating in a Story Mode encounter with Sarkareth in Aberrus and similarly continue into the Emerald Dream with Story Mode Fyrakk all with level-appropriate rewards in what feels like a truly full expansion experience.
What's being added for returning players?
It can often be overwhelming returning back to WoW after a few years away with unfamiliar quests and items in your bags. Returning players will have to option to journey with Jaina and Thrall in a new experience in the Arathi Highlands that focuses on the core WoW experience that should refresh player's memory on all the facets of the game. It's complete drop-in and drop-out, so you won't be required to finish the experience if you feel you're done with it.
For those coming into Midnight directly, there's a War Within catchup questline similar to Lorewalking. It'll take less time than the full War Within story campaign, and you'll see all the cinematics and experience all the major story beats. It's available for level 70s to quickly get their final 10 levels, but also for anyone who wants to play through it including max level players.
What happens with Chromie Time in Midnight?
No plans to change Chromie Time at this point. We still want that option to be available for players, but also offer a more cohesive experience for new players.
Addons
We just learned about the addition of a damage meter and boss mods for the base UI. Is the ultimate goal to replace those addons?
The current goal is to build the functionality that players have relied on addons for and build them into the base UI. With many of these tools being server-side there's a lot of additional benefits especially when it comes to accuracy, phasing, etc..
Certain encounters have been trivialized by WeakAuras and other Addons. How are you gonna prevent that if it's still a goal?
We don't believe it's the best experience to rely on a third-party addon in order to be competitive. Part of the problem can be solved on the encounter design side and we're taking that approach and philosophy going forward. But we also need to make that information more accessible for all players in the base UI.
Release Timeline
In the War Within, content felt a bit buggy or released to early. Are there any changes to that cadence to address that in Midnight?
We're not quite at the point where we can discuss the Midnight release or roadmap, but we are committed to getting content out quickly to players. HIstorically, players have been more discontent with WoW during long content droughts, so we've committed to ensuring there always feels like there's something new for players.
Housing
Will housing be available for all players with an active subscription or will it require Midnight?
Housing is a Midnight feature, so you'll be required to own the expansion in order to own a house. However, you will able to start collecting decor prior to purchasing Midnight.
Is it possible that Housing could be available as a standalone feature for a smaller subscription price to make it more accessible?
We don't know how the feature will continue to evolve, but for now it will require Midnight and an active WoW subscription. However, housing is not level-gated. You'll be able to create a level 1 character and immediately hop into the Housing feature and collect decor.
Silvermoon
With the zone update in Midnight, are the old zones being redone as well or are they still available?
The Midnight zones are completely new and will be seamless additions of the Eastern Kingdoms, but the old zones will still exist in a Zidormi toggle situation.
How does Silvermoon work as a faction hub for both Alliance and Horde?
To clear up any confusion, roughly 2/3 of the city is a shared zone with only the eastern third being Horde only. Horde players should recognize many of the iconic spaces in their faction only area, but the Western ruins have been repaired and act as the shared faction space.
Quickfire Questions
Will 10-man Mythic raid ever be available?
It's talked about constantly, but for now 20-man Mythic will be the standard.
Can we expect a Sylvanas return in Midnight?
Windrunner Spire is one of our dungeons in Midnight, so you'll be learning a lot more about Sylvanas as well as Vereesa, Alleria, and their lesser known brother Lirath.
