Since its debut in 2019, players have been loving the nostalgia trip of World of Warcraft Classic. The game has brought players back to the earliest days of Azeroth and let them experience some of the best years of the 19-year-old MMO. Almost nothing has been altered, and Blizzard has further expanded its offerings with the introduction of Burning Crusade Classic and Wrath of the Lich King Classic. All three of these titles have been a treat for fans, but the logical next step may not be received well.
World of Warcraft Classic gave players a way to experience the game's launch state while Burning Crusade Classic let them explore the game's first expansion. Wrath of the Lich King Classic then replaced Burning Crusade Classic and let players experience the game's second expansion again. As of now, it seems like the World of Warcraft Classic train has come to a stop, but that could all change at Blizzcon 2023. There is a chance that Cataclysm Classic looms on the horizon, and that may not be the direction many players want this experience to go.
Cataclysm Classic Seems Like the Logical Next Step
World of Warcraft Classic players have been able to replay vanilla and the game's first two expansions. These are often considered the golden years of the MMO, and many players never want to leave this version of Azeroth. However, if Blizzard wants to keep releasing World of Warcraft Classic expansions then it will need to re-release the game's third expansion. World of Warcraft: Cataclysm marked a major shift in the game, and is partially why Classic had to exist in the first place, but it is also next in line for the Classic treatment.
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm saw the game's first major world revamp as Deathwing rained destruction down on the people of Azeroth. The old world was torn asunder and replaced with a brand-new damaged world, the talent system was completely overhauled, the classes were all changed, new races were introduced, and almost everything about the game was revamped. Many of these changes can still be seen today, and much of Dragonflight hinges on events that happened during Cataclysm. Its release significantly changed the future of World of Warcraft, and Blizzard has not looked back since.
Cataclysm May Be Too Controversial to Redo
While World of Warcraft: Cataclysm is next in line, that expansion is also the main reason that Classic had to exist in the first place. The world was completely changed and many of the game's systems were overhauled. Since its release, players have been clamoring for a return to the old world and mechanics of the first two expansions. World of Warcraft Classic gives them that, and adding Cataclysm to that brand feels wrong. It would be missing the point of it completely, and some players would have little interest in revisiting it.
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm was very controversial during its time. It was not as interesting as the first two expansions, it lacked exciting new zones, the story was all over the place, and it limited players' control over their characters. It was one of the first times the game saw a major drop in subscribers as many players were just not having fun anymore. Many World of Warcraft players still trace modern WoW's problems back to this expansion, and not many players seem to remember it fondly.
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm may get the Classic treatment soon, but players may not care enough to check it out. It does not have the same appeal as the previous Classic releases, and it goes against the concept. While Blizzard may be able to get fans excited about its potential, it may be a losing battle against much of the fanbase.
World of Warcraft Classic is available now on PC.