Key information
Executive producer Holly Longdale and associate director Clayton Stone recently discussed the development of World of Warcraft: Eternity, a new MMORPG experience capped at level 60. The team confirmed that the previously announced ban on GDKP (gold-based loot runs) applies exclusively to North American and European regions, while other territories will continue to permit these transactions.
The developers are focusing on a 'horizontal expansion' strategy, introducing new zones and content while maintaining the game's original 2004-inspired atmosphere. In response to player feedback regarding the new Ethereal race, the team is currently developing an SD resolution model to better match the visual style of the standard game environment, which will be available at launch.
The game utilizes a 'serverless' architecture designed to foster social interaction by grouping players based on rulesets rather than individual servers. While the team acknowledged interest in cross-region play, they confirmed it will not be available at launch due to technical challenges like latency. Instead, they are prioritizing regional stability to ensure a consistent social experience.
Regarding game balance, the developers are adjusting dungeon experience rewards to encourage players to engage with the open world rather than solely grinding dungeons. They emphasized that the 'journey' is central to the experience, and they intend to provide ongoing support through new dungeons, raids, and quests to keep the game world evolving for all player types.
