My Midnight Observations So Far

Community General Discussion
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I was honestly expecting some kind of revamp of the old world, specifically the Northern Eastern Kingdoms. What I had in mind was a new leveling experience there, with each new expansion remaking another part of the old continents. That didn’t happen, and for me it feels like a missed opportunity, with all the new art and models already prepared thanks to the housing feature. I doubt we’ll ever get a chance like that again.

A setting in the N.E.K. would’ve worked great. 2–3 zones each for Horde and Alliance (like in BfA). Capitals could be Gilneas or Stromgarde for the Alliance, Silvermoon or Lordaeron for the Horde. Leveling zones could include Plaguelands and Quel’thalas, or Gilneas, Hills and Highlands for the Alliance side. Later updates could take us into the Amani forests.

Instead, we got another Void map (and we already had two of those with Ahj’Kahet and K’aresh in the same expansion) and yet another underground map (we’ve already spent a lot of time in four of them). For me, that setup choice was disappointing considering how many other options were available.

That said, I’m 100% sure Quel’thalas and the Amani forests will end up being some of the best maps Blizzard has ever made. They have such strong lore and background already, and with the current WoW artstyle, they’ll look amazing.

Housing

I played housing a lot in ESO, and it was a really flexible way to play. Flaws aside, I spent a lot of time there and had great fun. Being able to build entire structures felt like playing with LEGO, and it was a blast.

From what we saw in the WoW housing showcase, it looks like it will not only include everything ESO housing had but also improve on it. That makes me genuinely optimistic and enthusiastic about the feature.

My main concern is that furniture may be too expensive or grindy to get, which would really hurt the experience. That was one of the biggest flaws of ESO housing too, most players couldn’t afford the fun parts.

Also, I really hope in the future we’ll be able to build our houses from scratch. You’d be surprised what kind of structures people can imagine and create. This may yet prove to be the best feature that is added to the game so far.

Cinematic

The cinematic honestly felt like it was made with some kind of AI tool (or at least heavily based on one). The inconsistencies were everywhere. Soldiers seemed to randomly generate in the balcony scene (check middle right of the first row of the left-secong regiment), and Xalatath’s face literally changes by the end. Not a single other Horde character or soldier is present, and overall the scenario came off very weak. I argued this in somewhere else in the forum so I skip.

Back in BfA, we had a siege cinematic in a non-Orcish setting, and even then the Horde blended into it perfectly (please note that major Horde aesthetics are also essentially Orcish aesthetics.). Here, that sense of scale and presence was completely missing.

We didn’t even get to see the Sunwell in its full glory. I can’t help but wonder if the lack of epic shotsi and even things like the Elves’ odd eyes, are down to the limitations of the tool they used.

Either way, this was the weakest cinematic Blizzard has ever put out (and their cinematics are awlays amazing). That’s why it’s so concerning. Blizzard’s cinematics have always been the flagship of gaming. They set the bar, everyone wanted to copy them, and everyone enjoyed them. Putting out something this rough, with such low engagement ratios apparently, feels like it damaged their legacy more than anything else so far.

Personal note: how incredible would it have been if Kael’thas had emerged from the Sunwell instead? We’ve been losing kings and queens of the factions for years now, and WoW no longer feels medieval or early-modern enough on the political landscape.

Playable Races

Haranir were expected for The War Within. Then suddenly they popped up here, in a setting they don’t really fit into. This raised concerns about whether Blizzard is truly investing in the expansion or just recycling unused War Within content. Many people tied this to real-life issues within the company. For me, the bigger problem is the neglect of player expectations.

We’ve been waiting for peoples like the Ogres, the Broken Draenei, or the High Elves of the Covenant to appear as playable ever since they first showed up in WoW. Instead, we keep getting entirely new races that we’ve never seen before suddenly joining the factions. I’m not happy with this latest choice, especially considering how long it’s been since we last saw the Broken Draenei (the original Draenei from Warcraft III) and how much we were teased about them through the Argus campaign and later the Draenei heritage armor questline. Unlike the Dracthyr, who were introduced during a fully Dragon-themed expansion that made sense for them, the Haranir feel completely disconnected. They’re just hanging in the air and they would not, this much, if they were introduced in the War Within.

Now, people seem to be keen on seeing the Amani as a playable option, which I completely agree with. Something I’m just not so sure is whether such new races should come in as entirely new allied races or simply as cosmetic options for existing races. We have the same issue with the Mag’har vs. Orcs, Dwarves vs. Dark Irons, and Gnomes vs. Mechagnomes.

Hunt/Prey System

I think this feature will be mostly ignored unless players are given strong incentives to go after it. Many of us have been asking for something like a new Mage Tower, with unique rewards of that same style. This could be the chance for that. Otherwise, I suspect it will just feel like another Nemesis system, do it once per season, get it over with, and forget about it.

My big ups are the remake of our old maps and expansion of the Amani zone. Also Housing.
My big down is getting another unexpected allied race instead of the long avaited ones and the poor quality of the cinematic which took away the mantle of flagship of cinematics from Blizzard. They are yet to realize how serious this was I think.

Feel free to mention other features of the expansion. I was fixated at these, that is why I did not mention other stuff (i forgor)

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With the power of AI, I bring you the compacted version into 3 paragraphs!

You express significant disappointment with the expansion’s setting, viewing the focus on another Void and underground map as a missed opportunity to revamp the Northern Eastern Kingdoms. You had envisioned a compelling narrative split between Horde and Alliance, with iconic capitals like Gilneas and Silvermoon serving as hubs and zones like the Plaguelands and Amani forests providing a rich, lore-deep leveling experience. This choice feels particularly frustrating given that the art assets from the new housing feature could have facilitated this classic world renewal, a chance you fear may not come again.

Conversely, you are genuinely enthusiastic about the new housing system, believing it has the potential to surpass similar features in other games by offering incredible creative freedom, akin to “playing with LEGO.” Your primary concerns are that furniture could become too expensive or grindy to acquire, mirroring a flaw in ESO, and you hope for the future ability to build structures from scratch. This feature, alongside the positive reimagining of Quel’thalas, represents your biggest excitement for the expansion.

However, this optimism is tempered by other criticisms. You found the cinematic surprisingly weak, with inconsistent animation and a lack of epic scale that damaged Blizzard’s legendary reputation. Furthermore, you are unhappy with the introduction of the Haranir as an allied race, feeling it neglects long-requested options like Ogres or Broken Draenei and seems disconnected from the expansion’s theme. Finally, you suspect the new Hunt system will be ignored without compelling, Mage Tower-level rewards, ultimately leaving you with mixed feelings about the expansion’s overall direction.

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I will say it feels more like a big patch rather than a fully fledge expansion. But I kinda expected that the moment they announced 3 “expansions” at Blizzcon. As soon as I saw the announcement I tempered my expectations.

There’s no way they could make it happen without cutting corners and watering down things. As for Haranir, they look very good and I can’t wait to get my hands on them along with player housing. Finally after 20 years.

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I agree with big patch interpretation and I am fine with that as well. But note that we get charged for a full expansion.

Other than that, I think housing is a big enough feature to make up for many things. People will understand it better once they get into it I think. It will open up a whole new game.

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This is a terrible take and exactly what they’d like people to think.

Housing should be on top of quality content - housing should have been in the game years ago.

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Euuuhhh…

The best opportunity for that is likely after this saga is over. Depending on how it ends, of course.

I still think a big world overhaul will happen post Worldsoul Saga. Or at least hope it will.

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I wonder how they are going to rework northrend in the last titan. Only 4 zones would be a let down.

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Its not like midnight is a one patch expansion.
we don’t know for sure where we will stand assuming this is going to be as disjointed as TWW was. we could very well have the next patch feature a full on naga invasion with a raid and 2 new dungeons in a new zone.

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I TLDR’d it with Chatgpt:

I was really hoping for a revamp of the Northern Eastern Kingdoms with new leveling zones, capitals, and eventual Amani content, which feels like a missed opportunity compared to Blizzard giving us yet another Void and underground map. Still, I’m sure Quel’thalas and the Amani forests will be stunning. Housing looks promising and might even surpass ESO’s system, though I worry about grindy furniture costs; I’d love to see full freedom to build from scratch. The cinematic, however, was shockingly weak for Blizzard—full of inconsistencies, lacking scale, and even damaging their reputation as the gold standard for gaming cinematics. As for playable races, the Haranir feel out of place and disconnected, while long-requested options like Ogres, Broken Draenei, or High Elves are still ignored. Finally, the new Hunt system risks being forgettable unless Blizzard gives it strong, Mage-Tower-like rewards. Overall, my highs are the potential Amani/Quel’thalas zones and housing, while my lows are the surprise allied race choice and Blizzard’s poorest cinematic yet.

You have many good points, and I agree.
The hunt worries me however, I hope it won’t be too hard - just a fun extra thing.

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You are also right. I am just very exited for housing.

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