Expansion

An expansion is additional software (usually made available for retail sale) that adds new content and features to a game.

The content of an expansion is usually not available to anyone who does not own the expansion. Most expansions will not install or run as stand-alone products.

For example, The Frozen Throne expansion for Warcraft III added new campaigns, units, maps, and other content to the game.

Timeframe

It was stated in an interview prior to the first expansion, that concepts for that expansion had been made, and that Blizzard already had enough ideas for 5-6 more. As of 2021, eight have been released.

Blizzard tend to plan expansions far in advance of the current content; in February 2014 (prior to the Warlords of Draenor alpha) the team had already begun planning the next two expansions.

Following the release of World of Warcraft's first expansion in 2007, Blizzard announced plans to release expansions once per year. However, this rate of production was never delivered, with subsequent expansions arriving roughly every 2 years.

Process

The process of brainstorming a new expansion generally happens 2 expansions ahead which allows for story plot point-making. Typically this happens with a large group and weekly sessions where the developers think of cool things, throw away others. It's a mix of things. They generally think about The World - the world is the main character that you explore and fill with your own story. The first question is "Where do we want to go next?" The story sometimes has to twist and turn to get there (such as Warlords of Draenor). Then they can add features that make sense alongside that world.

Expansions

Warcraft II

• Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal — expansion of Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness released April 30, 1996

Warcraft III

• Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne — expansion of Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos released July 1, 2003

World of Warcraft

• World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade — first expansion, released January 16, 2007
• World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King — second expansion, released November 13, 2008
• World of Warcraft: Cataclysm — third expansion, released December 7, 2010
• World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria — fourth expansion, released September 25, 2012
• World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor — fifth expansion, released November 13, 2014
• World of Warcraft: Legion — sixth expansion, released August 30, 2016
• World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth — seventh expansion, released August 13/14, 2018
• World of Warcraft: Shadowlands — eighth expansion, released November 23/24, 2020
• World of Warcraft: Dragonflight — ninth expansion, releasing on November 28/29, 2022

Expansion features

	Expansion	New locations	New races	New class	Other major features
	The Burning Crusade	Outland, Azuremyst Isles, Quel'thalas, Caverns of Time	Blood elf and draenei	None	Flying mounts, Arena, Jewelcrafting and sockets, paladin/shaman on both factions
	Wrath of the Lich King	Northrend, Scarlet Enclave	None	Death knight	Inscription and glyphs, Achievement system, Barbershop
	Cataclysm	Cataclysm era Azeroth with new zones, Elemental Plane	Goblin and worgen	None	New race/class combinations, Archeology, Transmogrification*
	Mists of Pandaria	Pandaria, Wandering Isle	Pandaren	Monk	Battle pet system, Talent system revamp
	Warlords of Draenor	Draenor (alternate universe)	None	None	Garrison, player character revamp
	Legion	Broken Isles, Mardum, Helheim, Emerald Nightmare, Argus*	None	Demon hunter	Artifact weapons and Class Halls, Mythic+, Zone scaling
	Battle for Azeroth	Kul Tiras, Zandalar, Nazjatar*, Ny'alotha*	10 allied races	None	Heart of Azeroth systems, Island Expeditions, Warfronts
	Shadowlands	Shadowlands, Exile's Reach	None	None	Covenants, Torghast, improved character customization, Timewalking Campaigns
	Dragonflight	Dragon Isles	Dracthyr	Evoker	Dragonriding mounts, Talent system revamp

* Content that wasn't available at the launch of an expansion but was added in a later patch

How long until the next expansion?

This article or section includes speculation, observations or opinions possibly supported by lore or by Blizzard officials. It should not be taken as representing official lore.

Blizzard develops everything on Blizzard Time, which is more specifically "Soon". As a player, we want to know now. That being said, you can always look at the past expansion timelines to get a very rough idea.

	Expansion	Previous Patch	Announced	Released	Announce to Release	Patch to Release
	Dragonflight	February 2022 (9.2.0)	April 2022	November 2022	7	9
	Shadowlands	January 2020 (8.3.0)	November 2019	November 2020	12	10
	Battle for Azeroth	October 2017 (7.3.0)	November 2017	August 2018	9	10
	Legion	June 2015 (6.2.0)	August 2015	August 2016	12	14
	Warlords of Draenor	September 2013 (5.4.0)	November 2013	November 2014	12	14
	Mists of Pandaria	November 2011 (4.3.0)	October 2011	September 2012	11	10
	Cataclysm	December 2009 (3.3.0)	August 2009	December 2010	16	12
	Wrath of the Lich King	March 2008 (2.4.0)	August 2007	November 2008	15	8
	The Burning Crusade	June 2006 (1.11.0)	October 2005	January 2007	15	7

Amount of time since previous expansion

Expansions have lasted roughly 2 years.

• – : 26 months (2004-11-23 — 2007-01-16)
• – : 22 months (2007-01-16 — 2008-11-13)
• – : 25 months (2008-11-13 — 2010-12-07)
• – : 22 months (2010-12-07 — 2012-09-25)
• – : 25 months (2012-09-25 — 2014-11-13)
• – : 21 months (2014-11-13 — 2016-08-30)
• – : 23 months (2016-08-30 — 2018-08-14)
• - : 27 months (2018-08-14 — 2020-11-23)
• - : 24 months (2020-11-23 — 2022-11-28)

Announcement

Blizzard usually announces new expansions at BlizzCon, which occurs in the fall. In 2015, they broke from tradition and announced the expansion at Gamescom. The expansion has typically been released a year or so later.

• : 15 months (2005-10-28 — 2007-01-16)
• : 15 months (2007-08-03 — 2008-11-13)
• : 16 months (2009-08-21 — 2010-12-07)
• : 11 months (2011-10-21 — 2012-09-25)
• : 12 months (2013-11-08 — 2014-11-13)
• : 12 months (2015-08-06 — 2016-08-30)
• : 9 months (2017-11-03 — 2018-08-14)
• : 12 months (2019-11-01 — 2020-11-23)
• : 7 months (2022-04-19 — 2022-11-28)

Alpha/Beta testing

Beta testing happens several months before release, where some lucky players get to taste the expansion for free.

• : 3 months (2006-10-12 — 2007-01-16)
• : 4 months (2008-07-17 — 2008-11-13)
• : 5 months (2010-06-30 — 2010-12-07)
• : 6 months (2012-03-21 — 2012-09-25)
• : 7 months (2014-04-03 — 2014-11-13)
• : 9 months (2015-11-23 — 2016-08-30)
• : 6 months (2018-02-07 — 2018-08-14)
• : 7 months (2020-04-09 — 2020-11-23)
• : 4 months (2022-07-14 — 2022-11-28)

Release date announced

The release date is announced a few months before release:

• : 2 months (2006-11-09 — 2007-01-16)
• : 2 months (2008-09-15 — 2008-11-13)
• : 2 months (2010-10-04 — 2010-12-07)
• : 2 months (2012-07-25 — 2012-09-25)
• : 3 months (2014-08-14 — 2014-11-13)
• : 4 months (2016-04-18 — 2016-08-30)
• : 4 months (2018-04-05 — 2018-08-14)
• : 0 months (2020-10-29 — 2020-11-23), originally 2020-08-27 — 2020-10-26 prior to being pushed back, which is about 2 months; it would have been 3 months from the original release date announcement to the push back release date
• : 2 months (2022-09-29 — 2022-11-28)

Amount of time between last raid patch and release

A substantial part of a year has taken place between the last raid patch release from the previous expansion and the launch of the next expansion:

• Patch 1.11 – : 7 months (2006-06-20 — 2007-01-16)
• Patch 2.4 – : 7.5 months (2008-03-25 — 2008-11-13)
• Patch 3.3 – : 12 months (2009-12-08 — 2010-12-07)
• Patch 4.3 – : 10 months (2011-11-29 — 2012-09-25)
• Patch 5.4 – : 14 months (2013-09-10 — 2014-11-13)
• Patch 6.2 - : 14 months (2015-06-23 — 2016-08-30)
• Patch 7.3 - : 11 months (2017-08-29 — 2018-08-14)
• Patch 8.3 - : 10 months (2020-01-14 — 2020-11-23)
• Patch 9.2 - : 9 months (2022-02-22 — 2022-11-28)

Release

Almost all releases have been between September and December, two reckoning of autumn.

• : January 2007
• : November 2008
• : December 2010
• : September 2012
• : November 2014
• : August 2016
• : August 2018
• : November 2020
• : November 2022

Conclusion

According to the past releases we know, we will typically learn about new expansions at BlizzCon, and have an 11-16 month wait for their releases. Previously, it was possible to learn about new expansions at the Blizzard Worldwide Invitational until being merged with BlizzCon.

There have been some occasions where an expansion was announced elsewhere:

• Legion at gamescom 2015
• Dragonflight on a pre-recorded live stream reveal on 19 April 2022.

At release time

• The rush of players into brand new, highly-anticipated content can be huge, if you try to play at the moment it is opened up expect some server burps and issues. Blizzard tries to make sure capacity is up before launch, but understand they have no control over how many of the playerbase take off work/school and dive in immediately.
• You may want to log onto any characters at the former level cap and make sure they are in inns to make sure they start to accrue rested bonus.
• While not a part of the expansion, the release of an expansion is usually a gold rush for the savvy player. Many wealthy (in-game) players and guilds try to level up their characters as quickly as possibly and will pay any price for profession materials in the auction house. If you can part with the raw materials for your profession for a week or so, you can make a tidy profit until the prices come down.

See also

• Expansion ideas for player ideas about future expansions