Will players meet Arthas Menethil in WoW: Shadowlands? The Game Director provides insight.
Only a few days left until the new WoW expansion Shadowlands launches. The Shadowlands have already created a lot of buzz, as the cool cinematics were well received by fans. In particular, “Afterlife: Bastion” caused a stir. It not only showcased the hero Uther Lightbringer in his new role but also revealed the fate of Arthas Menethil, the former Lich King.
Many players are now wondering: Will we encounter Arthas in the Shadowlands? Does the story of the former Lich King possibly continue?
Is Arthas a character in Shadowlands?
Our colleague Marylin Marx from GameStar had the opportunity to interview Game Director Ion Hazzikostas and pepper him with questions. As Game Director, Hazzikostas is responsible for all major decisions in the game and sets the course. The conversation also touched on Arthas and whether we will meet the Lich King. After all, there was still no trace of him in the beta.
When asked when we would see Arthas again, Hazzikostas replied:
That’s a difficult [question]. We want to be very careful with Arthas. We know that he is probably the most iconic character in the entire Warcraft story. His story and the power he wielded and that affected him are definitely strongly connected to the story of the Shadowlands and what we will learn about the Jailor.
I wouldn’t necessarily plan on meeting Arthas directly and having conversations with him. (…)
But there’s no question that we will learn more about the nature of the Lich King and what it meant to be the Lich King. Or where this power came from and where it went.
Ion Hazzikostas, Game Director of World of Warcraft
Mary naturally grilled Hazzikostas with more questions. On GameStar, you can read what the WoW head says about the reputation grind for unlocking flying abilities.
No Arthas to touch: Even if the answer is somewhat vague, players should not expect to personally meet the soul of Arthas and be able to interact with him extensively. While Arthas and his story are closely tied to the Shadowlands and the Jailor, a personal intervention from the former Lich King seems rather unlikely.
So, if you were looking forward to a little evening chat with the former prince of Lordaeron, you might be disappointed in the Shadowlands. It’s a pity, considering that his sister Calia is slowly beginning to play a larger role.
Would you have liked to meet Arthas? Or do you think it’s good that Arthas remains more of a side character who doesn’t personally appear as a conversational partner?
Regardless of Arthas, we also want to know: Are you actually looking forward to Shadowlands?
