Blizzard is set to bring back the Cataclysm expansion, the very expansion that led to the creation of World of Warcraft Classic. The original Cataclysm expansion, which was released in 2010, brought about a significant transformation to the MMO, altering the entire landscape of Azeroth and changing the gameplay of WoW. The arrival of the dragon Deathwing resulted in drastic changes to the game, such as the splitting of the Barrens and the submerging of areas like Thousand Needles and part of Darkshore’s coast.

Now, on May 20, Blizzard will be reintroducing Cataclysm to the WoW Classic servers. The pre-patch for the expansion is set to be released on April 30, which will include the introduction of the Goblin and Worgen, along with a modified landscape for Azeroth. The full expansion, launching on May 20, will bring seven new zones, nine dungeons, three raid dungeons, Darkmoon Island, and more. Additionally, Blizzard has outlined the post-expansion roadmap, with Rise of the Zandalari set for release in July 2024, followed by Rage of the Firelands in October 2024, and Hour of Twilight in January 2025.

With the return of Cataclysm, the main Classic servers will transition from Wrath of the Lich King, the previous expansion. While the availability of Wrath of the Lich King for play on Classic servers has not been officially confirmed, it is likely that it will become unavailable, similar to The Burning Crusade when Classic servers moved to Wrath of the Lich King. However, players who wish to experience the pre-Cataclysm version of the game can still do so on the original Classic servers, albeit with the base version of the game.

The reintroduction of Cataclysm to World of Warcraft Classic offers players the opportunity to revisit Azeroth as it was before the significant expansion. This move by Blizzard is set to bring back nostalgia for long-time players and provide an exciting new experience for those who missed out on the original Cataclysm release.