This year marks a significant milestone for the Warcraft universe. Whether you’re a Hearthstone enthusiast, an adventurer in the chaos of Warcraft Rumble, someone exploring Azeroth for the first time in Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, or a devoted World of Warcraft player, there’s something exciting for everyone in the Warcraft 30th Anniversary Direct stream. Let's celebrate as we dive into the nostalgic mana pool and catch a glimpse of what’s in store for the future of Warcraft.

Warcraft 30th Anniversary Direct News Recap

Here’s a complete rundown of the major announcements from the Warcraft 30th Anniversary Direct, covering everything from Warcraft RTS to Hearthstone, Warcraft Rumble, World of Warcraft, and even a look at the World of Warcraft: The War Within.

Reliving 30 Years of Warcraft RTS

It's been three decades since Warcraft: Orcs & Humans first opened the doors to Azeroth, sparking countless stories and adventures. To honor this legacy, Patch 2.0 is now live for Warcraft III: Reforged, offering players revamped environments, enhanced lighting, and an overhauled user interface. Classic Warcraft III assets are now available in HD, allowing players to customize their visuals as they prefer. New quality-of-life improvements include in-game hotkey customization, an updated ladder, and more.

Alongside the update for Warcraft III: Reforged, fully remastered versions of Warcraft I and II have been released. Players can toggle between original and remastered graphics in real-time, with added features like right-click movement, band box selection, and an increased game speed for Warcraft I. Both games also benefit from improved UI, mission selection, and increased unit options, while Warcraft II keeps its multiplayer functionality and legacy custom maps.

Introducing the Warcraft Battle Chest

The iconic Warcraft Battle Chest is back, allowing players to purchase all three classic games in one bundle. Players who already own Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, Warcraft II Battle.net Edition, or Warcraft III: Reforged will receive a discount on the bundle.

​Add the Battle Chest to your Collection Now​

Hearthstone Expands into StarCraft

In early 2025, Hearthstone will cross into the StarCraft universe with “Heroes of StarCraft – The Great Dark Beyond Mini-Set.” This Mini-Set features 49 new cards across three StarCraft factions, each with a unique hero: Sarah Kerrigan for Zerg, Artanis for Protoss, and Jim Raynor for Terran. Each faction’s card set is crafted to be compatible with multiple classes, offering strategic depth and nostalgia for StarCraft fans. The Mini-Set will be accompanied by new StarCraft-themed music and other content.

Arena Mode Revamp

Next year, Hearthstone’s Arena Mode is receiving its first major overhaul in a decade, introducing two distinct Arena experiences: the Normal Arena, designed for shorter runs, and the high-stakes Underground Arena, where players can re-draft their cards upon a loss. Both modes will now include a rating system, and matchmaking will vary between the two.

The Year of the Raptor Preview

The upcoming “Year of the Raptor” expansion will take players through beloved Warcraft locations, starting with an expansion into the Emerald Dream, a return to Un’Goro Crater, and a journey through alternate realities with Chromie. Each expansion promises exciting lore, powerful cards, and familiar characters.

Warcraft Rumble Celebrates Its First Year

Warcraft Rumble is celebrating one year with daily rewards, exclusive cosmetics, and the introduction of split Leaders. Season 10 will feature Sylvanas Windrunner as the first split Leader, representing both the Horde and Undead factions. Additional split Leaders, such as Malfurion Stormrage and Orgrim Doomhammer, will be introduced in future seasons. Also, Warcraft Rumble will launch its PC beta on December 10, 2024.

World of Warcraft Marks 20 Years in Azeroth

World of Warcraft commemorates its 20th anniversary with special in-game events, such as updated Tier 2 armor sets, Classic Timewalking, and legendary world boss battles. In collaboration with CureDuchenne, players can add the Reven Pack to their collection to support a good cause, inspired by the documentary “The Remarkable Life of Ibelin”.

World of Warcraft: The War Within

The first chapter of the Worldsoul Saga, "The War Within," debuted in August, bringing new raids, dungeons, and PvP options. Upcoming content updates, including the Siren Isle, promise more adventures, items, and storylines.

Season of Discovery

World of Warcraft Classic players are immersed in the Season of Discovery, where they can explore new class abilities, participate in level-up raids, and prepare for future events like the War Effort and Ahn’Qiraj.

Upcoming Expansions and Updates

Exciting updates include Cataclysm Classic, the arrival of Mists of Pandaria Classic in summer 2025, and the World of Warcraft Classic 20th Anniversary Edition, which brings new fresh-start realms, the first raid dungeon, Molten Core, and new PvP options.

Exploring New Horizons in World of Warcraft: The War Within

"The War Within" has introduced a host of new features, including the Siren Isle content update, which adds an outdoor environment with intriguing mysteries and rewards. Players can also look forward to the Turbulent Timeways and the return of the Plunderstorm event, with new options in the Plunderstore.

The upcoming novella, Heartlands, sheds light on the events following the Fall of Dalaran, featuring Jaina and Thrall on a quest for reinforcements. Following Siren Isle, adventurers will travel to the goblin city of Undermine in a future content update, encountering the four main goblin cartels, earning a customizable vehicle, and exploring a new dungeon, Operation: Floodgate, alongside the new 8-boss raid, Liberation of Undermine.

The Journey Ahead

As Warcraft fans look forward to another thrilling year, the World of Warcraft team has even more exciting content planned, including a new chapter titled World of Warcraft: Midnight, where players will finally be able to claim a home of their own in Azeroth.

Thank you for being a part of this remarkable journey through Azeroth. Stay tuned for more adventures, and see you in the world of Warcraft!

Blizzard recently announced the much-anticipated Warcraft Direct stream on YouTube, and the details in the event’s description hint at major announcements for World of Warcraft (WoW), Hearthstone, Warcraft Rumble, and the classic Warcraft real-time strategy (RTS) games. Fans can expect “exciting new” and “game-changing updates” across these titles, along with a “special announcement” for World of Warcraft. This 45-minute Warcraft Direct stream is set for November 13, and it promises some truly thrilling reveals.

The Significance of Warcraft Direct

In place of the typical BlizzCon event for 2024, Blizzard has chosen a new format, opting for special appearances at in-game conventions and standalone events like Warcraft Direct. Scheduled for November 13 at 10 AM PST, this first-ever Warcraft Direct is set to celebrate the franchise's 30th anniversary and give fans a look at what’s coming next for various Warcraft titles.

According to the event’s description on YouTube, the stream will not only mark the 30th anniversary of Warcraft but also the 20th anniversary of WoW, the 10th anniversary of Hearthstone, and the 1st anniversary of Warcraft Rumble. Alongside these celebrations, players can expect “exciting new updates to Warcraft 3: Reforged and more,” a “special announcement” at the end of the WoW segment, a “sneak peek at game-changing updates” for Hearthstone, and “exciting additions on the horizon” for Warcraft Rumble.

Key Highlights from the Warcraft Direct Event Schedule

The 45-minute stream kicks off on November 13 at 10 AM PST, but fans can tune in early at 9:45 AM PST for a 15-minute pre-show featuring a nostalgic look back at Warcraft’s journey. Additionally, following the main event, a concert celebrating Warcraft's legacy will be broadcast. Here’s a breakdown of the updates expected across key games:

• Warcraft RTS Games: Blizzard teases “exciting new updates for Warcraft 3: Reforged and more,” with speculation pointing to potential news about a Warcraft 2 remaster. Data mined from the Battle.net client has revealed possible artwork for Warcraft 2: Remastered, suggesting it could be announced during Warcraft Direct. Additionally, significant updates seem likely for Warcraft 3: Reforged, with a 2.0 patch already tested on Blizzard’s internal PTR servers.
• World of Warcraft: For WoW, Blizzard promises an exciting roadmap for WoW Classic and modern WoW. It’s widely expected that the stream will tease the upcoming 11.1 patch, marking the first major content update for The War Within. Yet, the “special announcement at the end” of the WoW segment could be something unexpected. For modern WoW, fans speculate it might be a reveal of a new event like Midnight or Plunderstorm, or perhaps a new game mode. For WoW Classic, rumors hint at the possible arrival of World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria Classic or even a “Classic Plus” experience.
• Hearthstone: Hearthstone fans will be treated to a “sneak peek” at “game-changing updates.” Given Blizzard’s history of surprising announcements for this digital card game, something big could be on the way. The last major announcement of this kind introduced Battlegrounds Duos, so fans are eager to see if the game’s developers have another groundbreaking feature up their sleeve.
• Warcraft Rumble: With Warcraft Rumble’s new season just around the corner, the game’s segment in the presentation is likely to include a preview of the fresh content. Whether it’s new heroes, modes, or events, fans of Warcraft Rumble can expect exciting additions to elevate their gameplay experience.

Final Thoughts

Warcraft Direct is shaping up to be a must-watch event for any Warcraft fan. From potential new remasters of beloved RTS titles to game-changing updates across WoW, Hearthstone, and Warcraft Rumble, Blizzard is prepared to deliver an unforgettable experience. With each title set to receive significant announcements, Warcraft fans should mark their calendars for November 13 at 10 AM PST – this is a presentation you won’t want to miss.

Blizzard has announced a special Warcraft 30th Anniversary Direct presentation scheduled for November 13 at 10:00 am PST, celebrating three decades of the iconic franchise and offering a glimpse at what lies ahead.

This year marks a milestone for the Warcraft universe, and whether you’re a fan of Hearthstone, battling in Warcraft Rumble, or venturing through World of Warcraft, the stream promises something for everyone. The showcase is set to highlight new updates and surprises for fans across all Warcraft games, with Blizzard hinting at some major announcements.

Following the presentation, fans can tune into an exclusive broadcast of World of Warcraft: 20 Years of Music. This special concert celebrates the game's 20-year musical legacy, produced by Helvepic and recorded live in Switzerland. The performance features the renowned 21st Century Orchestra alongside three choirs—Tale of Fantasy, Ardito, and the Madrijazz Gospel—bringing together 190 musicians for an epic journey through the World of Warcraft’s iconic soundtrack.

This anniversary event promises to be a can’t-miss experience for Warcraft fans worldwide.