Which expansion comes after WoW: Shadowlands? Is there anything coming at all? We have gathered all known information for you.
Even though Shadowlands is soon to be just a year old, many players are already eagerly looking to the future and wondering: What happens after Shadowlands? Is there going to be another expansion for World of Warcraft? Where could it take place and what might the next expansion be about?
Note: This article is constantly updated and expanded as new information becomes available. It is current as of January 4, 2022.
Is there an expansion after Shadowlands? Yes, this has already been confirmed. Game Director Ion Hazzikostas stated at the start of Shadowlands, that there will be an expansion after Shadowlands. Although it was only mentioned in passing, the continued existence of World of Warcraft is thus assured.
Is the next WoW addon coming in 2022? There is no specific date yet, so one can only speculate. Considering the current schedule of World of Warcraft and especially the delays in recent months, the next addon seems to be quite a ways off.
A realistic date would probably be spring or summer 2023, as Blizzard will likely first release patch 9.2 to wrap up Shadowlands – perhaps even patch 9.3 will come. This would further delay the next expansion.
A new WoW addon during the year 2022 seems very unlikely. At best, we can expect an announcement of the next expansion in late summer.
Theories and Speculations – What’s next after Shadowlands?
What is the next addon about? Even though we know that there will be a 9th expansion to World of Warcraft, the content is still uncertain. However, it can already be speculated based on the previous story,
One of the most common theories is that a major change is on the horizon at the end of Shadowlands, particularly concerning the Shadowlands. Many community members believe that the connection between Azeroth and the Shadowlands will be severed. This is considered necessary for death to remain an important threat in World of Warcraft. Otherwise, deceased characters could simply be “visited” any time, making death seem harmless as a consequence.
Regardless, the WoW cosmos offers many worlds where the story could continue. Besides the Shadowlands, there are a whole number of other dimensions, namely for other cosmic forces. The worlds of Light and Void could come into focus next.
That would also align well with the previous narratives. For several expansions, a conflict between Light and Void has been developing, making it very likely that this battle will come into sharper focus at some point.
So far, the future of World of Warcraft is still nebulous and uncertain. As soon as there are promising leaks or strong theories, we will update this article and inform you about the latest developments.
What expansion can you imagine after Shadowlands? Where do you wish the next journey in the Warcraft universe to go?
