The Future of WoW: What Players Hope to See in the Next Expansion

 World of Warcraft has been running strong for nearly two decades, and anticipation for what comes next is always sky-high. Between WoW future expansion predictions and countless forum theories, the community is abuzz with WoW next expansion rumors. Players love to speculate – and wish – about new features long before Blizzard’s official announcements. In this article, we’ll dive into what fans are hoping for in the next chapters of WoW: from possible new classes and races to dream zones and features on the WoW player wishlist.

Blizzard’s Patterns: New Class, New Race… or Neither?

One thing veteran players have learned is that Blizzard doesn’t follow a strict formula for expansions. Sometimes we get a new class (Wrath gave us Death Knights; Mists gave Monks; Legion gave Demon Hunters; Dragonflight introduced Evokers) and other times a new playable race or two (The Burning Crusade added Blood Elves and Draenei; Cataclysm added Worgen and Goblins). And occasionally, we get neither – at least not in the traditional sense. When that happens, Blizzard often pours effort into overhauling what’s already there. For example, Warlords of Draenor didn’t introduce a new race or class, but it delivered a complete model revamp for all the classic races (so our beloved orcs, humans, etc. got a glow-up). Similarly, Shadowlands added no race or class, but it brought extensive character customization updates, allowing players to personalize existing races in ways never possible before. In other words, if an expansion doesn’t add a fresh race or class, it usually compensates by upgrading the game’s foundation.

Despite fans’ best efforts, there’s really no guaranteed pattern for when new races or classes come – Blizzard adds them when it makes sense for their design and story. We went two expansions with no new class before Evokers appeared, for instance. This unpredictability is part of the fun (and frustration!) of speculation. Players scour past release cycles for clues (“It’s been a couple expansions since a new class, so we’re due, right?”) and debate whether the devs will focus on refining existing content versus piling on something new. The consensus in the community is that Blizzard likes to surprise us. So while history can be a guide (new classes tend to pop up roughly every 2–3 expansions, nothing is certain until it’s announced.

Rumors and Theories: What Could the Next Expansion Hold?

The rumor mill for WoW’s future is always churning, but it went into overdrive recently. At BlizzCon 2023, Blizzard did something unprecedented: they announced not just the next expansion, but the next three expansions as part of a grand narrative arc called the “Worldsoul Saga. We now know the names – The War Within, Midnight, and The Last Titan – and that these will collectively wrap up a 20-year storyline and set the stage for WoW’s next era. Even with those broad strokes, Blizzard kept many details under wraps, which naturally has led to a flurry of fan theories about each expansion’s specifics.

The War Within is said to be the first in this saga, and fan theories suggest it will take us deep beneath Azeroth’s surface. There were early WoW next expansion rumors about a journey to a mysterious continent on the “far side” of Azeroth – a place called Avaloren – inhabited by Titan-forged “heretics” and unknown creatures. In fact, a supposed leak appeared in late 2023 showing images of lush jungles and snowy mountains allegedly from Avaloren, complete with races like Harpies and Earthen dwarves present. While many leaks turn out fake, this one had players excited at the prospect of exploring Azeroth’s hidden lands. As it happens, Blizzard’s BlizzCon reveal did mention new subterranean zones and an ancient Titan installation (Khaz Algar) in The War Within, lending some credibility to the idea of exploring Azeroth’s core and perhaps discovering Avaloren after all. Players are eager to delve into these “inner Azeroth” zones, meet the Earthen and other underground denizens, and finally address that giant sword sticking out of Silithus (a lingering plot thread since Legion!). The notion of adventuring beneath familiar continents – essentially a mix of archaeology and Journey to the Center of the Earth – hits a sweet spot for fans who love Warcraft’s lore about Titans and old gods.

Looking further, the second part of the saga, Midnight, has stirred its own speculation. Blizzard’s hints for Midnight pointed toward a conflict in Quel’Thalas (the Blood Elf homeland) involving the Void. This aligns with a long-standing fan theory that a Void vs. Light showdown is on the horizon. Players have theorized for years that after facing foes of nearly every cosmic force (we dealt with the Burning Legion’s fel, the Lich King’s death realm, etc.), the inevitable next big bad would be the Void Lords – with perhaps the Light (Naaru and their zealots) as a counterforce. In Midnight’s case, the Void attacking the Sunwell fits that narrative perfectly. Fans are hyped at the thought of defending Silvermoon and maybe unifying all the elf factions against a common enemy. (Imagine the Blood Elves, Void Elves, Night Elves, and Nightborne all teaming up – that’s a major lore moment many would love to see.) Before it was confirmed, players on forums were tossing around ideas like “What if Alleria Windrunner (who wields Void powers) has to fight to save the Sunwell?” or “Maybe the next expansion will finally update Silvermoon City and the Ghostlands zone, bringing them into the modern world.” Now it appears Midnight will indeed revisit those zones in a big way. If you’re an old-school player with fond memories of Burning Crusade, the prospect of a revamped Quel’Thalas is seriously exciting. It’s basically a chance to see beloved areas reborn with modern graphics and gameplay – something players have been requesting for a long time as part of a larger “world revamp.”

And beyond that, we have The Last Titan, which the name alone suggests huge implications. Theories here get truly wild: will we see the return of the Titans (Aman’Thul, Eonar and the gang) and finally learn the “true nature of Azeroth” (perhaps the awakening of Azeroth’s world-soul itself)? Blizzard’s teaser indicates this final chapter will involve Ulduar and revelations about the Titans’ intentions. Lore aficionados in the community have speculated about this for ages – some think Azeroth’s world-soul might be the “last titan” and that its awakening could reset the world or start a cataclysmic event. Others wonder if the Titans might turn out to be not so benevolent, setting up an epic conflict where we, the mortal champions, have to defy our creators. It’s the kind of big, mind-blowing narrative turn that could cap off 20+ years of storytelling. One way or another, expectations are sky-high for an expansion that sends us to cosmic locations (perhaps even other planets or planes) and brings Warcraft’s creation myth to a climax. It’s no exaggeration to say fans will be dissecting every clue until we get there.

Of course, not every theory is about grand cosmic lore – some are more grounded (pun intended). For instance, a persistent fan wish is a “world revamp” of old Azeroth zones. Cataclysm (2010) was the last time Blizzard radically updated Kalimdor and Eastern Kingdoms, and that’s now over a decade old. Many players hope the upcoming expansions might refresh the classic world again: imagine cities like Thunder Bluff or Stormwind with modern detail, or previously stagnant story zones (looking at you, Gilneas and Quel’Thalas) finally moving forward. There’s even talk that Blizzard might use the Worldsoul Saga to gradually do this – The War Within introducing some updated areas via underground content, Midnight updating the Blood Elf zones, etc., so that by the saga’s end much of Azeroth has gotten a facelift. If done right, this would be hugely celebrated. WoW’s veterans feel a lot of nostalgia for the “old world,” and giving it new life would both preserve that nostalgia and make the game feel up-to-date for new players. It’s a tricky balance (no one wants a repeat of Cataclysm where some content was removed or dramatically changed without option), but some kind of world update is definitely on the community’s wishlist.

New Classes: The Perennial Speculation

Talk of a new class gets WoW players as giddy as a level 1 newbie looting their first epic. It’s hard to overstate how much a fresh class can reinvigorate the game – it’s a completely new gameplay experience, after all. With each expansion, the question arises: will we get a new class? And if so, what will it be? This time is no different. Now that Dragonflight’s Evoker class (a draconic spellcaster) is out in the wild, players are already theorizing what the next expansion’s class could be, if one is coming at all.

Probably the #1 fan-favorite candidate is the Tinker. This idea has been around forever – a technology-based class inspired by the Tinker hero from Warcraft III (think Goblin and Gnome inventors with mechanical suits, turrets, and gadgets galore). Players have dreamed of rolling a Tinker who could, for example, summon turrets and robots or pilot a mech in combat. The appeal is that it’d be a truly different flavor of class fantasy (tech instead of magic or muscle). We’ve seen hints of that fantasy in WoW’s lore (Gelbin Mekkatorque’s mech in Battle for Azeroth, the island expedition NPC teams that had “tinker-ish” goblins and gnomes, etc.), but never an actual playable class. Will Blizzard finally do it? There’s a lot of community optimism that one of the upcoming expansions – if not the immediate next, then perhaps the one after – could introduce the Tinker class at long last. Some theories even tie it to expansion themes: e.g. The Last Titan (with its Titan machinery and futuristic vaults) might be a perfect time to add a class centered on tech and engineering, since Titan facilities would logically have the high-tech toys a Tinker craves.

Another highly-requested class is the Necromancer. Yes, we do already have Death Knights, but Necromancer would be more of a cloth-wearing spellcaster who summons undead minions – closer to the Diablo-style necro or the old Warcraft RTS Necromancer unit. Fans have pointed out that WoW’s only pet-summoning caster right now is the Warlock (demons, not undead), so there’s a niche for a “master of the undead” playstyle. Blizzard has toyed with necromancy in existing classes (Unholy DKs, the Warlock’s undead pet glyph, etc.), but people still ask for a full Necromancer class. If a future expansion theme went heavy on death or the Shadowlands again (or perhaps a Light vs. Undead angle, if the Scarlet Crusade ever resurfaces?), Necromancer could fit right in. It’s a longshot, but definitely on the wishlist.

On a lighter note, a section of the community really wants a Bard class. Yes, you read that right – a Bard, as in musical warriors who buff allies and attack with the power of rock ‘n’ roll. This idea mostly lives in meme territory (Blizzard even did an April Fools joke about a Bard class once), but there is genuine intrigue in a support-oriented class that uses music. It would be a big design departure for WoW (which has never had a true support class, only healers/tanks/DPS), yet players often say it would be refreshing. Imagine strumming a guitar to heal your party or playing a war drum for a haste buff. It sounds whimsical – and frankly, it is – but in a game that has covered almost every traditional fantasy archetype, Bards would certainly be something new. Even a Blizzard-run survey recently included Bards as an option, suggesting the devs have at least thought about it. (More on that survey in a moment.)

Beyond these, we see lots of other class ideas tossed around: Dark Rangers (ranged spec wielding shadowy magic and bows, based on Sylvanas and the Forsaken archers), Dragonsworn (though Evoker kind of took this spot), Spellbreaker (a magic-negating melee fighter inspired by the Blood Elf Spellbreakers in Warcraft III), Blade Masters (a kite-wielding Orcish warrior-monk hybrid from Warcraft III), Bards (as mentioned), Runemaster (an old concept from classic WoW that was never implemented, revolving around runic magic – kind of like a monk-mage mix). The list goes on – fans are nothing if not creative. One particularly interesting development was that leaked Blizzard survey sent to some players in 2024, which explicitly asked about a bunch of new class concepts. Among those listed were Tinker, Bard, “Gunner” (a dual-pistol ranged class), “Astrologian” (a cosmic mage/healer perhaps), Necromancer, Battlemage, and even a “Witch” class. This blew up discussion on forums – it’s not every day we see potential class names floated by Blizzard itself! While a survey is just hypothetical, it at least confirms Blizzard knows what the community is interested in. (Tinkers and Bards didn’t just come out of nowhere, after all – we’ve been pestering them about these for years.)

Now, realistically, not every expansion will have a new class. They are a massive undertaking for the dev team to design, balance, and integrate into the game’s 18-year legacy content. Dragonflight giving us a new class and race was a huge surprise, and it might be that Blizzard considers that “enough new classes” for a little while. If The War Within (the immediate next expansion) doesn’t introduce one, perhaps Midnight or The Last Titan will. Even the playerbase is divided: some say “WoW has plenty of classes, focus on improving those”, while others counter that nothing generates hype like a new class. One thing most agree on: over the course of this three-expansion Worldsoul Saga, at least one new class is highly likely. It’s essentially tradition by now, and skipping all three chapters without a new class would feel like a missed opportunity. The speculation then shifts to which expansion gets the honor and what class would best fit the theme. For example, a popular theory is that Midnight, with its focus on elven heritage in Quel’Thalas, could introduce a class like the Spellbreaker (a magic-wielding melee fighter donned in elven armor, known from Warcraft lore as Anti-Mage type warriors). Conversely, The Last Titan, dealing with Titan technology, could be the moment to finally unveil the Tinker class, given the high-tech, engineering vibe of Titan facilities. These thematic pairings are purely speculative but fun to imagine. Spellbreakers charging into Void rifts in Silvermoon? Tinkers reverse-engineering Titan gadgets in Ulduar? Yes please.

No matter what, you can be sure that when (or if) Blizzard announces a new class, the community will lose its collective mind. New class launches in WoW have historically been huge moments – expect everyone and their murloc to try it out, starting zones to be crowded with newbies, and yes, the inevitable balance woes and fixes to follow. It’s all part of the cycle, and WoW players embrace it with open arms because a new class means the game is evolving in a major way. Until then, the class wishlists will keep growing. (Dear Santa Ion Hazzikostas, I’ve been good this year – please drop a Tinker under the tree!)

New Races: Who’s Next to Join the Roster?

Ever since Allied Races became a thing in Battle for Azeroth, it feels like no playable race idea is truly off the table. The WoW community has a long list of races they’d love to see made playable. We’re talking both completely new species and variations of existing ones. With each expansion, players wonder: will we get a cool new race to roll, or maybe a couple of Allied Races to unlock along the way?

One of the oldest and loudest requests: Ogres for the Horde. This dates back to WoW’s launch, honestly – Ogres were part of the Horde in Warcraft II, and many expected them to eventually be playable. There’s a running joke in the community about “Ogre promises” being broken, but hope never truly dies. Horde players can easily envision lumbering two-headed ogre mages or burly ogre warriors charging into battle. Blizzard has held off (rumor says it’s partly because of ogres’ size and the challenge of fitting them in armor and doorways), but fans keep asking. In fact, a recent forum thread literally had someone shout, “OGRES, MY LORD!” as their top wish. It’s a meme and a serious request rolled into one. If not full-sized Ogres, some have suggested the half-ogre Mok’Nathal (like Rexxar) as a compromise – basically big orc-like beings that might be easier to implement. Either way, big brutish Horde races have an audience.

On the Alliance side, a comparable longtime wish is Vrykul – the giant Viking-like humans from Wrath of the Lich King. The Alliance got regular humans, sure, but why not giant ones? Vrykul culture is rich in Norse inspiration, and players fell in love with it in WotLK. Playing one would be awesome (who wouldn’t want to be a 9-foot-tall warrior with a long beard and horned helmet?). There are technical hurdles (giants again), but players don’t mind dreaming. In fact, many wishlist lineups pair Ogres for Horde with Vrykul for Alliance as logical counterparts. One fan on the forums put it succinctly: “Ogres and Taunka for Horde, Vrykul and Broken for Alliance!”. Taunka and Broken, by the way, are another two interesting picks – Taunka being the yak-like northern Tauren offshoot from Northrend, and Broken being the “broken” Draenei (Lost Ones) from Outland. Both of those are variants of existing races that a lot of folks would like to see playable, perhaps as Allied Race additions.

Speaking of Allied Races, that system opened the floodgates for playable race possibilities. Blizzard showed they could add slightly-modified versions of existing races relatively quickly (e.g. Void Elves, Lightforged Draenei, Nightborne, Highmountain Tauren, etc.). Since then, every minor race or creature in WoW becomes a candidate in players’ minds. We’ve seen calls for Forest Trolls (basically the Amani tribe as an Allied Race for Horde), Wildhammer Dwarves (now partly fulfilled via customization), Sethrak (the snake people from Vol’dun), Arakkoa (the bird people of Outland/Draenor), Ethereals, Naga, Murlocs (for the meme value), Furbolgs, Yaungol (yak-men from Pandaria), Hozen (the monkey folk from Pandaria), Drogbar (the cave-dwelling brutes from Legion), Broken Draenei, Fel Orcs, San’layn (vampiric Blood Elves), and the list goes on and on. It sometimes feels like every interesting NPC race in the game has a “please make this playable” post on the forums. Just to illustrate the variety: one Reddit user rattled off “Naga, Taunka, San’layn, Mok’nathal, Hozen, Drogbar… the list goes on and on. There are so many amazing races I'm shocked Blizzard hasn't given us yet.”. That pretty much sums it up – players would love as many options as possible.

Realistically, Blizzard will pick only a few to introduce (if any) in a given expansion, so what are the frontrunners? Ethereals are a big one that often comes up, especially if a Void or space-themed expansion is on the menu. Ethereals are those cool, bandage-wrapped energy beings from The Burning Crusade – ever since we first met them, players thought, “wouldn’t it be cool to play as one?” They’re neutral in lore, so they could conceivably join either faction. Design-wise they’re tricky (no visible face or body, just a swirl of energy in wrappings), but perhaps with today’s tech Blizzard could make armor magically “float” on an Ethereal form. If the story takes us into cosmic Void territory, Ethereals would fit perfectly (some fan theories even suggest K’aresh – the Ethereals’ destroyed homeworld – could appear in a Void-centric expansion).

Naga are another perennial request. These serpentine former night elves have been fan favorites (despite usually being villains) and many players have a fantasy of slithering around as a Naga character. The challenges are obvious: Nagas have no legs (so how do they wear pants? How do mounts work?). But creative solutions exist – for instance, maybe Naga characters could get a constant “levitate” animation when on mounts, or have unique Naga-themed mount models. WildStar (another MMO) had a race without legs that coiled around hoverboards, so hey, it’s possible. If Blizzard ever revisits a sea or Azshara theme, Naga would surge to the top of the wishlist again. A related wish is Jinyu/Ankoan (fish-like people allied with the Alliance in Pandaria/BFA) or their sea-hozen counterparts the Hozen/Ankoan – basically more aquatic races – but Naga overshadow those in popularity.

Ogres, as mentioned, probably remain the most-wanted Horde race that’s never been realized. On Alliance, beyond Vrykul, a surprising number of players still yearn for High Elves – yes, standard, blue-eyed High Elves. This was arguably fulfilled by Void Elves (with fair skin options now, they’re essentially High Elves), but some purists want the name and full status of High Elves in the Alliance. That debate is its own rabbit hole, but suffice to say, anything elf-related tends to get attention. In Midnight, Blizzard is apparently adding an allied race called the Haranir (a new subgroup of elves or humanoids from underground), which shows they’re continuing the trend of adding niche races. Players love these additions, even if they’re small in scope, because they add flavor and choice.

Let’s not forget “more customization for existing races” as part of the wishlist. Some fans would prefer Blizzard put resources into giving us, say, Wildhammer tattoos for Dwarves, or Taunka horns as an option for regular Tauren, or additional skin tones, hairstyles, body types, etc., rather than entirely new races. Blizzard made great strides in Shadowlands with customization, but there’s always room for more. For example, one forum poster suggested an idea where sub-races could simply be customization sets under the main race – e.g. you create a Draenei and then choose “Broken” appearance, or create a Troll and choose “Forest Troll” look, effectively achieving allied races through customization rather than separate slots. It’s an intriguing idea that could grant many fan wishes without the overhead of fully distinct racial abilities and starting zones for each. Whether implemented or not, it shows that players ultimately want representation for the many peoples of Azeroth they’ve come to know. We adventured with Tuskar in Northrend and now again in Dragonflight – why not let us be one? We helped the Sethrak in Vol’dun – could we see one become an ally in our factions? These thoughts keep emerging whenever new creatures are introduced.

Given the Worldsoul Saga’s known themes, some educated guesses can be made. The War Within features Earthen dwarves as an allied race (Blizzard has confirmed that), which scratches the itch for a new dwarf variant. Midnight might logically bring in something like High Elves or Forest Trolls given its focus on elven lands – in fact, there’s speculation that maybe high elf customization or an allied race could be unlocked to symbolize the “unification” of elf kind. And if The Last Titan involves a return to Northrend and perhaps Yogg-Saron’s old stomping grounds, who knows – maybe Nerubians or some Titan-forged race could join us (though turning spidery Nerubians into a playable race would be… ambitious!). Some fans tongue-in-cheek suggest “just give us all the races.” While that’s not possible, the roster of playable races has steadily expanded over the years, and players are optimistic it will continue.

Whether it’s a hulking Ogre, a sneaky Naga, a cosmic Ethereal, or even a cute little Wolvar, there’s no doubt that new playable races spark joy in the community. It allows people to connect with the game in a fresh way – suddenly you can experience the world through very different eyes. Each race also brings its own starting experience or lore which enriches the overall narrative. So as we look to future expansions, many are hoping Blizzard isn’t done adding to our character creation screen. The only question is which of Azeroth’s many peoples will get the nod next.

Player Wishlists: Features and Improvements Fans Crave

Beyond the big-ticket content like classes and races, players have a laundry list of features they dream about seeing in WoW’s future. At the top of that list – so high it’s basically written in neon lights – is player housing. The desire for player housing in WoW is legendary. For literally over a decade, the community has begged Blizzard for some form of housing – a place you can call your own in-game, decorate, show off trophies, and invite friends to visit. Many other MMOs (FFXIV, ESO, WildStar (RIP), even Runescape) have popular housing systems, and WoW players have long felt the absence of this feature. It became almost a running joke that “player housing is the most requested feature that never happens.” In fact, by 2025 developers themselves acknowledged it’s the single most-requested feature in the game’s history.

For years Blizzard’s stance was lukewarm – we got the Garrison in Warlords of Draenor, which was a sort-of housing experiment, but it was very guided and isolated, not the open creative sandbox players wanted. After that, housing requests only intensified (especially as those other games demonstrated how fun and social it could be). Every Q&A, every BlizzCon, inevitably someone would ask “What about housing?” and the devs would give a cautious answer about how it’s tricky to do right. Well, times have changed: housing is finally on the horizon in WoW. Blizzard has confirmed on their roadmap that player housing will be introduced as a major feature of the upcoming expansion (the second in the saga, Midnight). They even hinted at an early-access system where players who pre-order Midnight might get to start building their homes a bit before the expansion fully launches. This news blew everyone’s mind. The community reaction was essentially, “It’s happening! It’s REALLY happening!”

If Blizzard delivers a robust housing system, it could be a game-changer for player engagement. Fans are already chattering about what form it might take: Will it be instanced plots in existing cities or a new housing district (imagine a neighborhood in Stormwind or Orgrimmar)? Will we have total free-form decorating like WildStar’s (which was amazing), or a more structured system? Will there be guild housing too? How will they integrate it into gameplay – via professions, achievements, etc.? There’s a lot of excitement and a lot of questions. One thing’s for sure: player housing fulfills a long-held dream for many and is expected to be hugely popular. As one player wryly noted, “housing has been the #1 most requested feature basically forever” – so finally getting it feels like a victory for the community. Even those who aren’t personally into decorating know that for the roleplayers, collectors, and creative folks, this is a big deal. Plus, it adds a whole new avenue of content (items to collect for your house, etc.) that can keep players busy in between raids and dungeons.

Aside from housing, players have other items on their wishlists for the next expansion (and beyond). Guild improvements often come up – things like guild housing or guild halls, more guild achievements and events, better tools for guild recruitment and community building. WoW’s social features have lagged behind modern standards a bit, so an expansion focusing on “the world and its communities” (perhaps in a world revamp scenario) could also revamp the guild system. Imagine an actual guild base you and your guildmates could build together – players would love that sense of collective achievement.

Another frequent request is improved character customization – yes, Blizzard gave us a ton in Shadowlands, but players will always welcome more options: hairstyles, tattoos, posture choices (e.g. let those Undead stand up straight if they want!), body size sliders, you name it. The tech is gradually allowing more of this (they recently added new hair colors and even the ability for male Blood Elves to have beards – something fans memed about for years). Every expansion typically tosses in a few new customization bits; players are hoping for perhaps another big wave of them as part of the supposed world revamp or anniversary. For example, sub-race integration (as mentioned earlier) is a popular idea: let us use one character slot to toggle between say a Mag’har orc and a green orc, or a sand troll and a jungle troll, rather than separate allied race slots. It would simplify things and give players freedom to pick the visuals they like best.

Players also hope for ongoing quality-of-life improvements. Dragonflight did a great job with things like a new talent system, UI overhaul, cross-faction play, and making alts (secondary characters) easier to play. Future expansions can continue that trend: perhaps an account-wide reputation system (so you don’t have to re-grind rep on alts) – interestingly, The War Within is introducing a feature called Warbands that will allow sharing of bank and reputations across your characters on a server, which is exactly what players have wanted. More of those “make life easier” changes are always welcome. The devs have shown a willingness lately to listen to feedback on things like this, so optimism is high that annoying grinds or barriers will be further reduced.

There’s also chatter about new gameplay modes. Dragonflight brought us Dragonriding and open-world events; The War Within promises a new 1-5 player instanced content called Delves (like mini-dungeons), and Midnight is set to add a feature called “Prey” which sounds like a opt-in hunting PvP/PvE mode. These are the kind of innovations players get curious about: could we see something like a roguelike endless dungeon again (Torghast 2.0 but better)? How about expansion-long meta-progression systems that are more alt-friendly and less grindy than, say, Artifact Power was? The community, having learned from past systems, hopes for features that are fun but don’t become chores. Blizzard’s recent direction seems to align with that – they’ve been moving away from mandatory borrowed-power grinds and focusing more on evergreen features (like the talent revamp, UI updates, and now housing). So the “wishlist” here is basically “no new grindy gimmick, please”. Instead, players want systems that add depth but respect our time, and features that stick around beyond one expansion.

Finally, a lighter but endearing wish: some players simply hope for more whimsy and flavor in the next expansion. Things like cosmetic class skins (imagine if your warlock could look like a Necromancer with undead-themed spells, as a purely visual variant – a concept the community often brings up), fun vanity items, secret puzzles (a la the Hivemind or Lucid Nightmare secrets), and events that make the world feel alive. WoW’s charm has always been in its little details and humor. A neutral-toned, engaging expansion that balances epic stakes with the occasional goofiness (like remember when we had a quest to punch Deathwing in the face during Cataclysm’s 10th anniversary? More fun stuff like that, please!) would hit the spot.

At the end of the day, the WoW player wishlist is long and varied – we’re a passionate bunch with lots of ideas. Not everything can or will be met, but it’s heartening to see Blizzard starting to check off some of the big ones (again, HOUSING!). The next expansion and the ones beyond it have a lot to live up to, given all these hopes. But if even a few major wishes come true – say, a new class and meaningful world updates and player housing – the community will be over the moon.

Looking Ahead: Anticipation for Azeroth’s Next Chapter

As we speculate about WoW’s future, there’s a palpable excitement in the air. The game is at an interesting crossroads, mixing nostalgic callbacks (legacy characters and zones coming back into focus) with bold new directions (cross-faction play, modernized systems, and the promise of that shiny new housing system). Blizzard’s reveal of a multi-expansion saga means we kind of know the roadmap, but the details are ours to guess at – and that’s half the fun. Will we be tinkering with Titan gadgets or leading Void-tainted elves into battle? Will Azeroth’s surface get a facelift while we’re busy fighting underground? Will we finally recruit those Ogre allies (and maybe learn how to duck through a doorway gracefully)?

One thing is certain: the World of Warcraft isn’t running out of possibilities anytime soon. The players have made their wishes known, loud and clear. Now it’s up to the developers to surprise and delight us. Historically, when Blizzard listens to player feedback and combines it with their own creative vision, magic happens. So here’s hoping the next expansion (and the ones after) strike that perfect balance. We’ve got our fingers crossed for news in the coming months – every bit of concept art or teaser trailer will no doubt send the community into theorycrafting overdrive once again.

In the meantime, all we can do is enjoy the speculation ride. Whether you’re a lore buff plotting out the Void Lord hierarchy, a PvPer dreaming of new battlegrounds in far-off lands, or a casual player simply hoping you can finally decorate a cozy house in Elwynn Forest – the future of WoW holds something for you. The best part is that, even after all these years, the game can still ignite that childlike excitement in us whenever a new adventure is on the horizon. WoW’s next expansion rumors will eventually become reality, and when they do, we’ll be ready to dive in headfirst. See you in Azeroth – perhaps in a brand new form, wielding brand new powers, exploring brand new places – when the future becomes the present!

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Sources:

• Blizzard Watch – “Would you prefer new classes, new races, or something else in the forthcoming World of Warcraft expansion?” (April 5, 2022) – Discussion of player hopes for new classes/races vs. improving existing onesblizzardwatch.comblizzardwatch.com.

• Blizzard Watch – “Could Tinkers be the next class in World of Warcraft?” (Jan 9, 2019) – Early fan speculation on a Tinker class and how it might work, referencing Warcraft 3 and BFA content hintsblizzardwatch.comblizzardwatch.com.

• Blizzard Forums (Wyrmrest Accord) – “Blizz Survey of New Classes” (Dec 13, 2024) – Player discussion of a leaked Blizzard survey listing class concepts: Tinker, Bard, Gunner, Astrologian, Necromancer, Battlemage, Witch, etc., indicating classes players show interest inus.forums.blizzard.comus.forums.blizzard.com.

• MMO-Champion Forums – “We will probably see a new Class during the Worldsoul Saga” (Nov 2023) – Fan analysis noting Blizzard’s pattern of adding a new class every 2–3 expansions and predicting at least one new class in the next three expansions, with speculation on what fits the themesmmo-champion.commmo-champion.com.

• Reddit (/r/wow) – Fan comment listing desired playable races: “Naga, Taunka, San’layn, Mok’nathal, Hozen, Drogbar… so many amazing races I’m shocked Blizzard hasn’t given us yet.” – illustrating the community’s extensive race wishlistreddit.com.

• WoW Europe Forums (Argent Dawn) – “WoW’s Next Race, or Allied Race – What is your heart’s desire?” (Mar 2025) – Thread collecting players’ most-wanted races. Multiple posts mention Ogres, High Elves, Forest Trolls, Broken (Krokul), Taunka, Sethrak, Ethereals, Arakkoa, etc., as well as calls for more customization for existing raceseu.forums.blizzard.comeu.forums.blizzard.com.

• Esports Illustrated – “Blizzard Reveals Worldsoul Saga: Three-Expansion WoW Arc” (Nov 3, 2023) – News summary of BlizzCon 2023 announcements. Confirms the next three expansions (The War Within, Midnight, The Last Titan) and their general story arcssi.comsi.comsi.comsi.com. Helpful for matching fan theories to official info.

• WowVendor News – “WoW 11.0 New Expansion Leak: Avaloren” (Oct 27, 2023) – Report on an alleged leak of images from “Avaloren,” featuring new landscapes and races (e.g. Harpies, Earthen). Shows community excitement and skepticism around leakswowvendor.com.

• Icy Veins – “Will Pre-Ordering Midnight Unlock Player Housing Early in WoW?” (Aug 2025) – Article discussing the player housing feature. States that player housing has been the most-requested feature in WoW’s history and notes Blizzard’s confirmation of housing coming with the Midnight expansionicy-veins.comicy-veins.com.

• Reddit (/r/wow) – “Do you think the next expansion will be a new race, a new class, allied races, or nothing at all?” (Sep 2023) – Community discussion about patterns. Notably points out that Warlords of Draenor and Shadowlands, which added no new race/class, instead gave model updates and customization (i.e. “not really nothing”)reddit.com, and general sentiment that there’s no strict pattern and any addition depends on Blizzard’s visionreddit.com.