It feels like just yesterday we were exploring the new Dragonflight patch in World of Warcraft, flying over the Forbidden Reach and delving into forbidden vaults. However, we’re already heading into the depths of the earth, uncovering new secrets under the Dragon Isles in WoW 10.1 Embers of Neltharion, as Dragonflight’s patch cadence provides a refreshing change of pace. This contributes to WoW feeling the best it has in years. But how is Blizzard keeping up with all these updates, and is it sustainable? Our WoW Dragonflight review provides a full rundown of the game’s latest expansion. With 10.1, players can expect sweeping changes to Mythic+ and gearing. Additionally, cross-faction guilds are being introduced for the first time ever, providing a unique experience.
PCGamesN spoke to WoW associate game director Morgan Day and lead UX designer Laura Sardinha about all the WoW 10.1 changes in Embers of Neltharion to find out more about the exciting new features. Season 2 of Mythic+ is bringing in some big changes. The seasonal affixes are removed, and the dungeon experience is fine-tuned. Morgan Day explains, “A big piece of feedback we got from Dragonflight Season 1 was not only were these dungeons, with the exception of Shadowmoon Burial Grounds, really challenging, but you could feel the difference between a Dragonflight dungeon and something like Court of Stars. The new dungeons just have so much stuff going on.” Therefore, for Season 2, the team has taken a huge step back and focused on the dungeons themselves. Additionally, with the new expansion, the visuals of creature abilities are updated to keep up with the modern visual language of spell effects.
The patch has introduced cross-faction guilds, allowing Alliance and Horde players to collaborate in in-game activities, a feature that was previously exclusive to each faction. Players can only join cross-faction guilds through Battle.net invitations, but Laura Sardinha says that more features may be added in the future. She explains, “We’ll keep updating cross-faction features wherever we can and whenever the tech allows us to…We know there are some very specific things regarding factions that can break, so we want to be safe.”
Gearing is remarkably different in Embers of Neltharion, with a new upgrade system that brings all upgrade systems together. Flightstones and Shadowflame Crests are the two currencies in the new system. Flightstones are more abundant and can be earned through dungeons or outdoor activities. Shadowflame Crests come in various versions that indicate levels of difficulty. With this new system, players can upgrade potential with confidence because they will have more currency available. The upgrade potential is predominantly slot-based, meaning the crests increase the player’s slot potential, not just a particular item’s potential.
Dragonflight’s increased frequency of updates and content has been well received by players. The goal, as Day explains, is “to get content into players’ hands at a responsible and satisfying pace”. The team is looking at ways they can build in more content or additional boats, as Day explains, “If a feature can’t get out in time for this patch, then the next update is right around the corner. It’s a big philosophy shift, but we feel it’s had awesome benefits for the player.”
Finally, the UI interface is receiving tweaks in 10.1. Players can see changes in Edit Mode’s UI, revamping some of the classic looks. The team at Blizzard continues to tweak the interface while keeping the signature WoW look. This allows players to have a more customised experience without relying on various add-ons.
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Eugen Boglaru is an AI aficionado covering the fascinating and rapidly advancing field of Artificial Intelligence. From machine learning breakthroughs to ethical considerations, Eugen provides readers with a deep dive into the world of AI, demystifying complex concepts and exploring the transformative impact of intelligent technologies.