WoW Classic SoD: A New Raid Has Been Revealed In Phase 5 - Crystal Vale

First of all, please allow me to congratulate all players on another year of enjoying the vast game world, especially those who have been exploring the various expansions of World of Warcraft Classic, including expansions such as Cataclysm, Season of Discovery, Mists of Pandaria Classic, and War Within.

According to the developer’s recently released 2025 Yearbook, this year’s boss encounters totaled 1.2 billion hours, 115 million Sha of Angers were killed on Pandaria in MoP Classic, and nearly 2 million people died in all Hardcore modes. Were you one of them?

But today we’re not here to discuss the series’ major updates and key moments of the past year; instead, we’re inviting you to look ahead to 2026. Based on information from public sources and leaks, the developers themselves are very confident about the new expansion and many new features to be released next year.

Is that really the case? If you have the same question, why not check out WoW 2026 roadmap provided by EZG.com to find out! Before we get started, the release dates of the following seasons and phases are all guesses based on the developer’s original schedule. Please refer to official announcements for the most accurate information.

World Of Warcraft: Midnight

First up is the highlight of next year’s WoW Classic series, Midnight expansion, which is expected to officially launch on March 2, 2026, at 3:00 pm PST, and will bring many new features, such as a housing system, available specializations, selectable races, and explorable zones.

Currently, the developers have opened pre-orders for this new expansion, with Base Edition priced at $49.99, Heroic Edition at $69.99, and Epic Edition at $89.99. Each version allows you to experience this expansion’s housing system and Enhanced Level 80 Character Boost three days early, as well as get World of Warcraft: The War Within for free.

Based on the alpha testing content that every expansion undergoes, we know that WoW Midnight should still contain five phases. The first four phases will progressively offer players new explorable zones, stories and quests, and dungeons. The final phase will add a new profession and a host of other game content. Specific details will likely be revealed on the official expansion roadmap released next spring.

If we consider the developers’ usual update schedule of two to three months, the update time for each phase is roughly as follows, perfectly aligning with World of Warcraft’s long-standing principle of releasing a new expansion annually.

• Phase 1 will launch alongside the expansion.
• Phase 2 will launch in 2-3 months, possibly no later than May 2026.
• Phase 3 will launch similarly, possibly no later than September 2026.
• Phase 4 will probably launch no later than December 2026.
• Phase 5 will probably launch no later than March 2027.

Doesn’t it sound exciting to be able to experience so much new game content within a year? But there’s some bad news to let you in advance: these are all the best-case scenarios. The developers initially set the deadline for released for this new Midnight expansion as June 30, 2026, which means there’s a possibility that the release and early access may be delayed.

Mists Of Pandaria Classic

After introducing the upcoming Midnight expansion, we turn our attention to the currently popular MoP Classic. After its release on July 21, 2025, many players who were passionate about exploring World of Warcraft Classic universe flocked to it to see what it was all about and expressed their love for the much-improved expansion.

In particular, the new stories, quests, and raids contained in the new phases that are released now and then have made many players willingly immerse themselves in the mysterious continent of Pandaria. Since the expansion’s roadmap only included five phases at the time of its release, some players in the community are focusing on when the remaining two phases will be released next year.

Given that Phase 3, which players are currently playing, was released on December 9, 2025, based on the update frequency of this expansion, Phase 4 is very likely to be released in March next year. Will it also launch on 2nd? It’s highly unlikely, because no developer would be foolish enough to release a completely new expansion and a completely new phase at the same time, thus diverting players’ attention.

This is estimated to be around mid-March, and it shouldn’t be too far off. In this new phase, MoP Classic will see the addition of some Heroic Scenarios and four New Scenarios; that’s ordinary, isn’t it? The main event is in Phase 5, which is expected to be released next July and will bring exclusive content such as Siege of Orgrimmar Raid, Timeless Isle Quest Hub, and new Factions.

The Burning Crusade Classic 20th Anniversary

Another important event in WoW universe next year will be the launch of TBC Classic 20th Anniversary expansion, which is a transition from the original WoW Classic 20th Anniversary expansion. As of now, the only known information about this extension is that a pre-patch is expected to go live on January 13, 2026, and will consist of five phases: Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, Phase 3.5, and Phase 4.

Since it is currently unclear how long the pre-patches in TBC Classic Anniversary will last, it is impossible to make conventional predictions about the release time of these phases. If we follow the usual pattern of pre-patches lasting 2-4 weeks, Phase 1 will be released no later than mid-February. Then, following the update cadence of TBC Classic released in 2021, Phase 2 will be released no later than May.

In fact, compared to the release time of each phase, all players should be more concerned about what more interesting game content this brand-new anniversary expansion can bring them. It is currently known that TBC 20th Classic Anniversary will include more selectable races, zones, and mounts. However, the most noteworthy change is that leveling will be much faster, primarily due to a reduced experience cap per level, and an increased chance of gaining farmable experience and WoW Gold.

Other Expansions & Event

It must be said that in 2025, besides the release of a lot of new content that attracted players, many expansions were also put on hold this year. For example, Season of Discovery expansion was proclaimed at the end of May this year to no longer develop any new content for the expansion, but only to maintain its daily operation.

As well as War Within will no longer release Season 4, but will instead be integrated with Midnight expansion to be released next year and the subsequent The Last Titan expansion to create a game world within Worldsoul Saga. This means that WoW War Within you get for free after pre-ordering Midnight will remain in S3 until the universe opens.

Finally, here’s some exciting news for fans of the developer’s many games: BlizzCon will be returning next year, tentatively scheduled for September 12-13, 2026, and tickets are already on sale. At this grand event, players from all over the world gather to exchange ideas and enjoy all the novel experiences brought by the developers, such as bringing the tavern in the game to real life and in-game role-playing competitions.

In summary, World of Warcraft universe in 2026 is incredibly vibrant and well worth exploring. New expansions, new phases, and new events will all surprise you. Believe me, this universe is endlessly fascinating. Wishing you the same enjoyable gaming experience next year as this year!

Recently, the developers officially announced a surprising crossover between Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Warzone, and Fallout franchise, instantly sparking heated discussions across FPS community. Inspired by Amazon’s hit Fallout TV series, this collaboration introduces iconic characters, themed cosmetics, and potentially new gameplay experiences into Call of Duty universe.

Although Call of Duty and Fallout have collaborated before, most notably during Modern Warfare III x Fallout event, connections between the two franchises have been minimal in recent years. This renewed partnership has led many players to speculate that the crossover represents more than just fan service. Some believe it is a strategic move aimed at revitalizing both brands and reigniting long-term player interest.

Judging from early reactions on official Call of Duty social media channels, initial sentiment is largely positive. Players are excited to see new themes and characters enter the game, even if some remain skeptical that the event will go beyond surface-level cosmetics.

If you’ve just learned about this, don’t rush to take sides. This guide will provide you with all the details of this Fallout x Warzone and Black Ops 7 Crossover, including release date, highlights, and player feedback, which will give you a more thorough and clear understanding of the secrets behind this collaboration.

Launch Time

According to the developers, Bo7 and Fallout collaboration will launch during Season 1 Reloaded, so ideally it will launch alongside the new season. So, it is currently predicted that this collaboration will be officially launched on January 8, 2026, and will bring a more interesting game mode that is completely different from the regular season update.

Of course, some players believe that the collaboration event will not be launched on the same day as the new season, but the difference will not be too great, because Black Ops 7 Season 2 will probably be released in early February, so the most likely release time for the collaboration event is between January 8th and 15th.

Highlights

After discussing the release date, let’s take a closer look at some of the known and expected highlights of this Call of Duty and Fallout crossover. The most obvious example is the three Operator skins that appeared in the trailer: Lucy in her classic Vault suit, The Ghoul in his iconic cowboy outfit, and Maximus in his Brotherhood of Steel armor.

Furthermore, it’s easy to see that each character wields a brand-new weapon with a distinctive appearance, providing a fresher gameplay experience. Following the developers’ past practices, these skins and the blueprints needed to craft these weapons will probably appear in the in-game store of Black Ops 7 & Warzone Season 1 Reloaded.

Moreover, although the background of the entire trailer is the landscape from Nuketown map in Call of Duty series, it also contains many Fallout elements, such as dilapidated ruins and flying tiles everywhere. Given this, it’s reasonable to speculate that the new map players can explore in this collaboration event will be a variant of Nuketown map with a Fallout theme.

Some Speculations

In fact, this concludes the summary of all the collaboration details leaked by the developers. In addition to cosmetic skins, decorations, and blueprints, CoD Black Ops 7 will also feature some very cool Finishing Moves, Emblems, and Calling Cards as part of this collaboration, which will appear in the game as bundles.

Furthermore, Call of Duty Black Ops 7 & Warzone x Fallout collaboration may also feature a special game mode, similar to Modern Warfare III collaboration, where players can accumulate experience points or special currency by defeating enemies to unlock free rewards. This could potentially further entice players to explore the game.

If the exclusive event goes live, then its dedicated paid battle pass might also appear in this collaboration, which is highly anticipated because it would contain many exclusive benefits, such as one of the three operator skins mentioned earlier or a weapon blueprint. Regarding the cost, many players speculate it will be 1,100 CoD CP, the same as the regular seasonal premium battle pass.

What’s interesting here is that players have complained many times about the lack of realism in the character skins in CoD Black Ops series. Now, with actors in Fallout TV show, the developers may listen to player feedback and make these operator skins more realistic and lifelike. Meanwhile, more outlandish skins, such as Beavis & Butthead or Seth Rogen, may become less common.

Overall, if this Black Ops 7 x Fallout collaboration is a success, this event could become the most attractive game content for players at the start of next year. Following the conventional logic of the gaming market, collaborations between games and films, novels, or comics always benefit the game developers the most, but players also enjoy the best gaming experience - a win-win situation.

Whether this crossover delivers meaningful gameplay depth or remains primarily cosmetic will ultimately determine its long-term success. For now, anticipation remains high, and fans will be watching closely as Season 1 Reloaded approaches. Have fun playing the game and stay tuned for more updates.

Since the release of ARC Raiders' Cold Snap, the game's environment, content, and mechanics have undergone significant changes. While the winter mode adds some difficulty, the several missions and events introduced in patch 1.7.0 have provided substantial rewards, both in-game currency and rare items.

Besides these rewards, the acquisition of blueprints is the most pressing issue for all players.

The scarcity of blueprints in ARC Raiders was previously an open secret among players, with discussions primarily focusing on methods and locations for obtaining them. However, in recent days, discussions about blueprint drops have suddenly become exceptionally intense.

Drop Rate Changes

Before Cold Snap update, ARC Raiders Blueprints were known for their extremely low drop rates, except during certain high-risk events such as Night Raid and Electromagnetic Storm.

Most players might need to perform dozens of raids to obtain a single high-value blueprint, making acquiring a sufficient variety of blueprints one of the most challenging goals in the game.

However, after the recent ARC Raiders 1.7.0 patch, many players noticed a sudden and significant increase in blueprint drop rates. In some cases, optimized routes yielded two to three blueprints per raid, including several high-value, rare blueprints, greatly accelerating the blueprint acquisition process.

This phenomenon led many players to believe that the blueprint drop rate had been disrupted. Previously, blueprints were incredibly scarce, but now they were as easily obtainable as ordinary ARC Raiders items. Was patch 1.7.0 an overreaction?

The developers seemed to recognize the problem and promptly released patch 1.7.2, reducing the blueprint drop rate. If you missed the pre-nerf blueprint boom, don't worry, the developers have compensated players with Raider Tokens.

Blueprint Drop Status

The official statement indicates that the latest update primarily aims to adjust Blueprint drop rate to a more reasonable level. While the drop rate is significantly lower than in patch 1.7.0, overall, the overall drop rate is still higher than before Cold Snap version.

In other words, ARC Raiders Blueprint drop rate is now relatively balanced, and drops are no longer limited to specific routes but are more evenly distributed across various events.

While it's not guaranteed that every raid will yield multiple Blueprints, players who regularly log in and invest sufficient time can steadily accumulate Blueprints, which to some extent avoids repetitive farming by some players.

How To Farm Blueprints After Patch 1.7.2?

While there's no definitive answer regarding Blueprint drop rate, as most ARC Raiders Blueprints drop randomly in raids, sometimes relying on luck, obtaining the high-level Blueprints you desire in the game is something most players strive for.

Therefore, we've summarized the various ways to maximize your blueprint acquisition in the game:

• Completing Trials offers a chance to obtain blueprints as a reward; note that Trials unlock at level 15;
• Night Raids and Electromagnetic Storms continue to increase your blueprint drop rate;
• The Blue Gate contains many large containers, increasing the blueprint spawn rate;
• Uncovered Caches event increases the number of Raider Caches spawning on the map, which drop blueprints;
• Security Lockers remain a good place to refresh blueprints;
• ARC Surveyors have a decent chance of dropping blueprints upon death.

Finally, some blueprints seem to only spawn under certain map conditions or by completing specific quests:

• Tempest Blueprint only spawns during Night Raid;
• Vulcano Blueprint only spawns during Hidden Bunker;
• Jupiter and Equaliser Blueprints only spawn during Harvester;
• Completing Sparks Fly quest rewards Trigger Nade Blueprint;
• Completing Greasing Her Palms quest rewards Lure Grenade Blueprint;
• Completing Industrial Espionage quest rewards Burletta Blueprint;
• Completing Major's Footlocker quest rewards Hullcracker Blueprint and Launcher Ammo Blueprint.

The random drop of blueprints may result in duplicate blueprints in the game. You can choose to trade with other players or give them to your friends.

The brief Cold Snap event allowed many players to easily collect blueprints, but the current patch might be a better choice, offering sustainable and generous rewards while respecting the time and effort invested and maintaining the game's challenge.

Other Updates In Patch 1.7.2

We don't know if ARC Raiders official team will adjust the blueprint mechanics again in the future, but we believe the ultimate goal is to optimize the player experience, so we should focus on the current update.

In addition to adjusting the blueprint drop rate, Patch 1.7.2 also includes the following fixes:

• Hidden Bunker has reopened;
• Fixed an issue where repeatedly clicking the interaction button would prevent players from performing interactions when the network connection was poor;
• Added missing volumes to ensure players don't take cold damage when entering indoor areas during Cold Snap;
• Updated AMD GPU driver warnings;
• Fixed an issue where Unexpected Initiative quest failed to generate items, preventing quest completion.

These are some of the most important updates in the last two ARC Raiders patch updates. While it remains to be seen whether the studio will further optimize the blueprint system in future updates, all you need to do is pick up your weapons and work hard to complete your blueprint collection!

NVIDIA released a new driver, GeForce Game Ready Driver 591.44, on December 4th. This changes the minimum supported version of NVIDIA Apps; users must now install NVIDIA App version 11.5.420 or higher.

This new driver not only fixes many bugs, including the long-standing issues of stretched resolution text blurring in CS2 and screen flickering in Like a Dragon, but also improves the performance of various new games and fixes compatibility issues with the latest Windows updates.

The driver also adds custom support for PhysX-accelerated games most frequently played by GeForce users, enabling GeForce RTX 50 series GPUs to achieve full performance, consistent with PhysX support already available on previous generation GPUs.

However, the biggest highlight of this update is the addition of DLSS 4 support for Battlefield 6 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, providing players with a better gaming experience.

Battlefield 6

Battlefield 6, a multiplayer online role-playing game (FPS) centered on large-scale multiplayer battles and team-based gameplay, offers players a comprehensive and immersive war experience with its near-modern setting and stunning graphics.

BF6 supports DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation, DLSS Frame Generation, DLSS Super Resolution, DLAA, and NVIDIA Reflex, providing GeForce RTX players with a native visual experience.

The game also allows for 4K resolution and ultra-high graphics settings. DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation and DLSS Super Resolution can boost the frame rate of BF6 GeForce RTX 50 series graphics cards by an average of 3.8 times, creating an immersive experience where in-game buildings and objects appear realistically rendered.

Just in time, Battlefield 6: Winter Offensive launched on December 9th, and this update includes a new winter map, game modes, and weapons. If you want to enjoy the ultimate visual experience in the new maps and modes of BF6, GeForce Game Ready Driver 591.44 might be a good choice.

Call Of Duty: Black Ops 7

Also a shooter, Black Ops 7 offers different game modes than BF6. BO7 provides multiple main modes, including solo, multiplayer, and Zombies modes, suitable for different types of players.

CoD BO7 players can also update to use this new driver, as it improves the fidelity of DLSS Ray Reconstruction, thereby enhancing the quality of ray-traced graphics and making the ray-traced effects in the game clearer, more stable, and more realistic.

This allows players to enjoy a stable frame rate and a realistic gaming experience, whether fighting enemies or battling zombies in Zombies mode.

In addition to providing visual technology support for these two games, NVIDIA's latest driver also fixes some game bugs and general software bugs that players have complained about.

GPU-Accelerated PhysX Functionality

Meanwhile, this new Game Ready Driver also adds support for 32-bit GPU-accelerated PhysX effects in some classic games on GeForce RTX 50 series GPUs.

GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs were released earlier this year, and CUDA support for 32-bit is gradually being discontinued. This means that PhysX effects in many classic older games could not be GPU-accelerated on GeForce RTX 50 series GPUs.

NVIDIA listened to user feedback and addressed these shortcomings in this new driver release. After installing GeForce Game Ready Driver 591.44, you can experience full GPU-accelerated PhysX functionality in the following games:

• Alice: Madness Returns
• Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
• Batman: Arkham City
• Batman: Arkham Origins
• Borderlands 2
• Mafia II
• Metro 2033
• Metro: Last Light
• Mirror's Edge

NVIDIA also plans to add Batman: Arkham Asylum in the first half of 2026.

What Is The User Experience Like?

Many gamers have noticed this driver update and downloaded it to try it out.

Many BF6 players have reported that after using GeForce Game Ready Driver 591.44 to provide the game with ultra-high resolution and image quality, the game's visual quality has been greatly improved, and the details are more realistic.

However, some players reported that after installing the driver, the expected results were not achieved; instead, severe stuttering and lag occurred, with performance actually decreasing instead of improving. This may indicate a new problem, and it is hoped that NVIDIA can address it properly.

For CoD BO7 players, most reported that DLSS Ray Reconstruction made the game's lighting and shadows look realistic after using GeForce Game Ready Driver 591.44, especially in areas with reflections and indirect lighting.

This new driver provides stable performance and visuals for both games. Whether you're engaged in intense battles in BO7’s Zombies mode or accumulating experience in Battlefield 6 bot lobbies, the game maintains stable visuals without frame drops, resulting in a very smooth experience.

However, since everyone's devices and hardware are different, not everyone will experience the desired results after using the new driver. Overall, however, this driver update has brought many benefits and a better user experience, and has also fixed various minor bugs that existed in previous games.

Especially for gamers, if you want a rich and realistic gaming experience and smooth gameplay, don't hesitate, install GeForce Game Ready Driver 591.44 and give it a try!

Since its release nearly a month ago, the extraction shooter ARC Raiders has received considerable attention. While not all the praise has been positive, the development team has consistently focused on releasing updates to optimize existing content.

Based on this, the game released Update 1.4.0 on November 27th. This update is small in scale, but it addresses two bugs that players have been complaining about since the game's launch.

Below, we'll introduce the full content of this update and the changes to ARC Raiders experience after its implementation.

Door Lock Bug Fixed

No matter which map you're adventuring on, wherever there are buildings, you might encounter locked rooms. These rooms often hide a large amount of loot or containers containing loot, making them very valuable for farming.

Normally, to enter these rooms, you must obtain the corresponding key beforehand, but prior to Update 1.4.0, ARC Raiders had a bug that allowed you to enter locked rooms "for free."

The bug's mechanics involved another player bumping into you from behind as you rushed towards a door, allowing him or her to enter the room directly. Then this player could then open the door from the inside, allowing you and other teammates to loot the room.

While this seemed like a great opportunity to plunder, it actually disrupted game balance, as item farming is a core part of ARC Raiders.

Furthermore, if you were a solo player who had obtained a key through the rules, encountering other players taking advantage of your solo "illegally entering" would undoubtedly dampen your enthusiasm for the game.

Fortunately, this bug has now been fixed, and even if it reappears, it will be extremely rare. However, to avoid other players competing with you for the rooms you've discovered, it's best to get powerful gear beforehand to improve your strength.

How To Obtain Keys?

Whether you've ever used the door lock bug or not, you should now learn how to farm keys properly to unlock more rooms and loot them. Currently, the following methods are relatively reliable:

• Looting Containers: In addition to regular crafting materials, containers can also provide keys.
• Complete Quests: Completing specific in-game quests rewards you with keys to unlock specific buildings.
• Crafting: You can consume materials in your base workshop to craft keys.
• Currency Trading: You can consume coins to trade keys with merchants or other players, but after reaching level 12, you can only trade once per day.

To improve key farming efficiency, focus on exploring specific areas, such as Blue Gate Village area, or participate in special events with higher loot spawn rates.

Weapon Bug Fixed

In shooting games, accuracy and speed are key factors in gaining an advantage, but everything must be fair.

Previously, ARC Raiders had a bug that allowed you to switch to quick-use items and then switch back, resulting in faster-than-expected shooting. For example, quickly loading a charger for your Il Toro shotgun in PvP combat to boost its performance.

If everyone could do this every time, it wouldn't be so bad, but if you didn't trigger the bug while your opponent did, it was terrible! Fortunately, Update 1.4.0 changed this.

How To Improve Your Shooting Speed Effectively?

Generally, lighter weapons offer better agility and mobility during shooting. Therefore, if you find that an upcoming mission or adventure requires rapid shooting, you can obtain such weapons by crafting or looting easier maps.

Besides weapon performance, your own movement speed is also important. For this, you need to unlock skill points that increase stamina or speed, allowing you to roll or slide freely in combat to quickly complete shots.

Other Bug Fixed

In addition to the two core optimizations mentioned above, other content released in Update 1.4.0 is also worth checking out, including one related to the door lock fix: the external passage leading to Spaceport's Control Tower locked room was blocked.

The development team has installed iron bars on the outside of this area to prevent players from exploiting loopholes to enter the room without a key.

Further fixes include:

• Fixed an occasional resolution drop issue in the main menu.
• Fixed an issue where players could push other players by jumping on their backs.
• Fixed an occasional lighting issue when entering a map.
• Fixed an issue where Raider Voice would sometimes fail to follow selected voice options after restarting the game.

Uncomplemented Rope Bug

While Update 1.4.0 is certainly something to celebrate, it's a shame that some seemingly easily fixed bugs weren't included, such as the hidden rope in Stella Montis map.

This bug allowed you to grab the rope and climb upwards, forcibly pushing yourself off the map. Frankly, this bug shouldn't be difficult to fix; simply removing the rope or at least moving it upwards a bit would suffice, but for some reason, it wasn't resolved.

Hidden Secret Night Raid Event

This event is actually a dynamic map condition that allows you to obtain more rare loot by killing enemies that spawn more frequently in the current map.

Stella Montis map didn't have this condition before Update 1.4.0, but now you can play it! It's just unclear why this wasn't included in the update announcements.

Since there are no Raider Hatches during this event and extraction points are reduced, to survive to the end and obtain as much loot as possible, it's best to follow these tips:

• Play in a team
• Carry heavy weapons and ammunition, as well as enough shield chargers
• Loot dead ARC enemies for usable parts

That's all for ARC Raiders Update 1.4.0. Hope this helps you continue enjoying the game! Have fun!

In recent years, the development of World of Warcraft Classic series has been remarkable. The continuous release of new expansions and the constantly refined gameplay have brought a steady stream of new players to this game world that has been around for more than 20 years.

Recently, developers have announced a plethora of new patches, events, and content for various expansions, all of which will arrive in the last month of 2025. If you’re a dedicated player who enjoys trying out all the expansions in the series, you’re sure to be very busy next month.

If you’re looking to focus on the most interesting and engaging expansion or event, then you definitely shouldn’t miss this comprehensive WoW December information guide. EZG.com will explain every new piece of content and how to play it, so you can be fully prepared.

The War Within: Patch 11.2.7 The Warning

First, let’s look at the latest patch 11.2.7, The Warning, which has been the subject of much discussion in player community recently. Most of the new content and gameplay in this patch are expected to go live on December 2nd, except for Brawler’s Guild, which is planned to be added to The War Within on December 9th.

Brawler’s Guild

Given the special nature of this Brawler’s Guild, it will be introduced first here. In the original expansion, Brawler’s Guild required you to team up with other players and defeat bosses in regular raids.

However, at the request of the in-game Brokers, the combat difficulty in this patch has been significantly increased, and completing each new challenge will earn you an achievement.

It’s worth noting that after completing all the challenges, in addition to receiving the special title of Brawl Star, you’ll also have two brand-new mounts to claim: a crocodile mount at Rank 4 and a rocket mount at Rank 8.

Housing Early Access

Next up is the new content that will be released on December 2nd along with Patch 11.2.7. For example, pre-ordering any edition of Midnight expansion will grant early access to the in-game housing system, another customizable decoration system in World of Warcraft Classic world.

According to the developers, the housing system available in The War Within offers the following features in early access. Please note that much of the system is still under development, so the early access content you experience now will differ from the final release.

• Decor Collection / Room Decorating
• Room Layouts
• Neighborhoods
• Guild/Charter Neighborhood Creation
• Legacy Content Rewards
• Profession Rewards
• Flying in Neighborhoods
• New Housing Tutorial

By the way, all the above assumes you’ve pre-ordered the new expansion, which is expected to launch in 2026. If you haven’t pre-ordered, you won’t be able to join a Neighborhood or acquire a Home using WoW Gold when accessing the housing system; however, you can still visit other neighbors and collect Housing items.

Pandaren Heritage Armor

With the surge in popularity of Mists of Pandaria Classic, players in The War Within will also benefit: after the patch goes live, if you are a member of Pandaria Allied Race, you will receive a Heritage Armor set, but you will need to complete a questline.

Horde Pandaren need to go to Orgrimmar to find Firepaw; while Alliance Pandaren need to go to Stormwind to find Aysa Cloudsinger. Both NPCs will give you a questline called Invitation to the Spirit Festival. This quest can generally be completed in about an hour.

Once you complete the quest, you will be awarded this Pandaren Heritage armor set and a Festival Hot Air Balloon toy, both of which will give you the ultimate gaming experience during Spirit Festival event. Like the regular armor set, this armor set also has three variants: one for Alliance, one for Horde, and a neutral one.

Shadowlands Timewalking

A must-have feature of every patch update is the addition of a Timewalking rotation option. This patch, 11.2.7, adds Shadowlands, which will run for ten weeks. It includes six dungeon options, each with varying boss encounter difficulties.

• Necrotic Wake
• Spires of Ascension
• Plaguefall
• De Other Side
• Halls of Atonement
• Sanguine Depths

In this event, the merchant Collector Ta’steld, who can trade with you, is located in the center of Ring of Fates in Oribos. You can spend some in-game currency, such as Timewarped Badges, to obtain the 3 mounts, 1 battle pet, and 2 toys that it provides. In addition, you will receive a Ta’readon’s Mount Voucher, which allows you to choose one of four Shadowlands mounts.

Mists Of Pandaria Classic: Phase 3

Similar to Brawler’s Guild in The War Within, Phase 3 of WoW Mists of Pandaria Classic officially launches on December 9th, introducing two new zones, a raid, two world bosses, a new faction, and the continuation of the legendary questline, among other things. These will be detailed below.

New Zones & New Raid

Every time a new zone is born on the continent of Pandaria, it’s something players eagerly anticipate. In the next phase, Isle of Thunder and Isle of Giants will join the ranks of explorable content, bringing you an even more unique combat experience.

Isle of Thunder is the newest quest center in the game, containing a story camp and Throne of Thunder raid; while Isle of Giants is a very profitable zone where you can collect Dinosaur bones to exchange for mounts and pets.

It’s worth noting that Throne of Thunder raid won’t officially launch until 3:00 PM PST on December 11th. It features 13 bosses for you to challenge, and Thunderforged version gear that drops from them will increase the item’s level by 6.

New Factions

In the game’s story, Thunder King is a very powerful enemy, so Shado-Pan specially assembled a team to fight against him, Shado-Pan Assault. They will join forces with magic experts from Alliance and Horde, Kirin Tor and Sunreavers, to protect Isle of Thunder.

These are the three new factions added in Phase 3. Kirin Tor Offensive and Sunreaver Onslaught are the faction bases for their members on Isle of Thunder. You can earn Kirin Tor and Sunreavers’ reputation through campaign missions and daily quests to redeem Epic gear and a new mount: Reins of the Golden Primal Direhorn for Alliance and Reins of the Crimson Primal Direhorn for Horde.

To gain reputation with Shado-Pan Assault faction, you need to participate in Throne of Thunder raids by killing trash mobs or bosses and completing quests. In addition, the faction offers Shado-Pan Assault Insignia, which can be exchanged for a large amount of Epic gear.

New Bosses

Along with the new zones and raids come new bosses in MoP Classic: Nalak, the Storm Lord, located in Isle of Thunder; and Zandalari, located in Isle of Giants, who offer very rich loot: Nalak drops Tier 15 Legs and Gloves, as well as some PvP gear; while Oondasta drops Epic 522 item-level gear.

Furthermore, two Rare bosses will enter Pandaria continent in Phase 3: Zandalari Warscouts and Zandalari Warbringers. They will drop Reputation tokens and one of the three new Direhorn mounts.

New Legendary Chapter

Here comes the most important part: Legendary Chapter will continue to develop, but you need to unlock Isle of Thunder first to start this important storyline by accepting Meet Me Upstairs quest issued to you by Wrathion in Tavern in the Mists in Veiled Stair.

After raising your reputation with The Black Prince to Exalted in this chapter and collecting Secrets of the Empire in Throne of Thunder raid, Wrathion will reward you with a Legendary meta gem, which can be used on the helmet awarded to you in this new raid.

Other Updates

In addition to the major patches and updates in these two popular expansions, the annual Feast of Winter Veil will also be released in December. Although the specific release date of this festival has not yet been officially announced, based on previous traditions, it is expected to launch around December 19th and continue until early January 2026.

Since the game’s in-game festivals are themed around real-world winter celebrations and Christmas, the quests, rewards, achievements, and collectibles will all feature elements of these two holidays. Stay tuned!

Don’t forget World of Decorcraft Competition, an in-game house design contest held from December 2nd to 10th, where all players can feast their eyes on amazing designs.

For WoW players who are keen on collecting, this year’s December Trading Post is a must-see. It’s themed around Frozen Hearts and offers a Sapphire Resonating Crystal mount as a reward. Now, take out Trader’s Tender you’ve accumulated from the monthly Traveler’s Log activities and redeem various icy-themed items!

Overall, December is a festive month for World of Warcraft universe, offering the best gaming experience regardless of which expansion you’re exploring. Be sure to plan your time and effort accordingly! Happy gaming!