Blizzard has been taking fans on incredible journeys through a fantasy world for over two decades with theWarcraftfranchise, but it feels like the series has gotten a bit stagnant recently. There was a time when the studio was churning out games within this world, but the series has been solely focused onWorld of Warcraftsince 2004. While the game has evolved greatly and been a fantastic time for fans, it may be time forWarcraftto branch out a bit. FollowingBaldur’s Gate 3may just be the best way to do that.
Baldur’s Gate 3has reinvented what a modern CRPG can be, and other fantasy IPs should consider following its lead. While it will likely lead to even moreDungeons and Dragonstitles, Blizzard should consider bringing players on a similar journey through Azeroth. There are so many stories that could thrive within the CRPG genre, and now may be the best time to explore that potential.
RELATED:World of Warcraft Cosmetic Bundle May Hint at Next Expansion
Now is the Perfect Time for a Warcraft CRPG
Baldur’s Gate 3is one of the few games where players have virtually limitless control over how it plays out. The characters are fascinating, the story is a wild ride from beginning to end, and the entire game takes the CRPG genre to new heights.Baldur’s Gate 3’s many mechanicswill likely influence the genre for years to come. That success will hopefully convince other studios to take some chances with their fantasy IPs, withWarcrafthopefully being among the first to do so.
While the variousWoWexpansions help revitalize the MMORPG every couple of years, some fans want new types of experiences within the world.HearthstoneandWarcraft Rumblehave shown that the characters and world do work in other genres, but they have only taken the concept so far. It may take a lot of work, as all fruitful endeavors do, but making the world of Azeroth an actual RPG seems like a recipe for success.World of Warcrafthas dabbled in RPG elementssince it is an MMORPG, though the distinctions between CRPGs and MMORPGs are pretty clear. The game has let players express themselves however they want, but it has not really let them be who they want to be in its fantastical world. That is something thatBaldur’s Gate 3excelled at, andWarcraftcould learn a lot from what Larian Studios was able to accomplish.
AWarcraftCRPG could simply put players in the shoes oficonic characters like Thrallor Jaina, letting players experience their backstories in a new way. These stories have been touched on a lot throughout the series, even playing a major role in theWarcraftRTS trilogy, but an RPG could give players a whole new look at these events. Alternatively, aWarcraftCRPG could also followBaldur’s Gate 3’s template and let players design whoever they want for a brand-new story on Azeroth.
This brand-new story could take place during the events of one ofWorld of Warcraft’s expansions, it could happen in-between these major events, or it could be a completely original tale. It would not even have to be canon to the mainline series, and making it non-canon would let Blizzard run wild with ideas. It could let players have control of the narrative, let them experience Azeroth in a new way, and give fans the game they have been craving. While it seems unlikely that Blizzard will ever make something like this, it would be a missed opportunity if players could only experience Azeroth throughWorld of Warcraft.
World of Warcraftis available now on PC.
MORE:The Little Scales Daycare is World of Warcraft: Dragonflight’s Most Wholesome Attraction
