World of Warcraft: The War Within is going full Goblin mode for its next major update, taking players to the city of Undermine where they’ll partner with the various Goblin trade cartels and even get their own, fully-customizable hot rod to tear up the city streets in.
The news comes as part of Blizzard’s Warcraft 30th Anniversary Direct, where the developer announced what’s next for the MMORPG as it celebrates 20 years. Titled Undermined, the 11.1 update is slated to arrive early next year, and will introduce a new raid, dungeon, two new delves, and kick-off The War Within Season 2.
Vehicles in WoW aren’t exactly new, but its never had something like this. The new D.R.I.V.E. system sounds close to how the game’s skyriding (originally dragonriding) overhauled flying mounts, only this time it’s a similar idea for cars, allowing players go full Mario Kart on their personal ride. Instead of just passively going from point A to B, as is usual for ground mounts, players will actually drive the car like they would in a racing game. That means not only customizing the look and appearance of their Goblin-created gas-guzzler but also its stats. Those who want to build for all-out speed can do so, while others may want to invest in better drift capabilities, improved acceleration, more grip, or a combination of all four. And yes, you can boost.
“I don’t think people will be prepared for the speed the ground mount [car] moves when they get into it,” assistant lead quest designer Mark Kelada told GameSpot. “I think it moves three-to-five times faster than your regular ground mount by default, not counting when you boost, and I think boosting gets up to faster [speeds] than skyriding at normal [without car speed upgrades]. It flies, pun unintended, it flies across the zone. It is really, really fun to interface with a new landmass like Undermine with a car.”
The city streets of Undermine are tailor-made to take advantage of the new feature. There will be timed races to participate in throughout the zone, though Kelada said those looking for PvP races will have to organize their own circuits. For now, the feature is relegated to the Undermine zone specifically and only works for the new vehicle introduced as part of the update. However, that was also initially the case with skyriding, something that is now usable with nearly every flying mount. With that in mind, it’s hard not to see a future where the system gets adapted to other ground-based motor vehicle mounts that already exist in WoW’s ever-growing mount catalog.
A big part of Undermine is the four Goblin trade cartels that have thrown the city into chaos, and players will get to pick a side. The Steamwheedle, Bilgewater, Blackwater, and Venture Company cartels will be available to team up with, with certain rewards and activities tied to each cartel, including car parts. Signing up with one cartel isn’t an exclusive arrangement, and Blizzard said players will be able to work with each Goblin faction.
Kaleda said the cartels all play a role in the Undermine story campaign, as do some new characters introduced to show a new side of Goblin culture. The story is in some ways more personal, Kaleda said, and intended to help players understand more of how Goblins interact with the world and where they are coming from. But don’t worry, there will still be plenty of wacky gadgets and explosions.
“I do want to say too though, we made sure we keep the levity of Goblins,” Kelada said. “I think people connect to [how] they’re just zany and creative.”
Delves, the new form of endgame content built for solo or small group play introduced in The War Within, will continue to be a focus going into the Undermined update. Two new delves will be added, as will new variations for existing delves. There will also be a new delve pinnacle boss to take on, similar to Zekvir in Season 1. Brann Bronzebeard, the customizable AI companion that assists players while in delves, is getting some new changes, too. No longer just relegated to the damage or healer role, Brann will be able to tank in Season 2, giving players who main healer a more convenient way to engage with delves.
“We’re really happy with how delves are playing out, and I think they are on their way to being that other pillar of endgame alongside raids, dungeons, and PvP that we always hoped they would be,” game director Ion Hazzikostas said.
The Liberation of Undermine will be the game’s next eight-boss raid, one that will take players through the streets of the city and into a vast complex that hides dark secrets. Those secrets are owned by infamous ex-Goblin faction leader, Gallywix, whom it looks like players may be taking on in some form in the raid. In addition, a new dungeon taking place in The Ringing Deeps, one of the expansion’s launch zones, will task players with preventing a group of Goblins from destroying a dam. The dungeon, Operation: Floodgate, will immediately be available as part of the Season 2 Mythic dungeon pool alongside Battle for Azeroth’s Goblin-themed dungeon, The Motherlode.
Blizzard had plenty of other announcements during its Warcraft 30th Anniversary Direct, including what’s next for WoW Classic and remastered versions of Warcraft 1 and 2 that are available today.