The Alpha phase of World of Warcraft: The War Within has recently begun, allowing a select few players to experience the game’s world for the first time. A major aspect of this phase is the introduction of Warbands, a potentially game-changing system that will be fully implemented when the expansion launches.
Warbands, for those who may not know, is a highly anticipated feature that will greatly enhance the player experience in WoW for those who have multiple characters. This addition will improve cross-progression and provide better understanding of account-wide rewards and achievements.
During a recent interview with Wowhead, Production Director Michael Bybee from The War Within confirmed a new and interesting change to the game’s itemization with the introduction of Warbands. When The War Within is launched, players can expect a new type of loot to be added, expanding beyond the usual bind on pickup or bind on equip items.
“We have implemented a new label known as Warbound, along with the Warbound Until Equipped label. This means that once an item is equipped, it will become Soulbound and cannot be traded. However, our intention is for players to have access to a variety of gear at endgame, possibly not the highest level or item level gear, but still valuable for sharing with alternate characters.”
“Although the specifics such as location, timing, and quantity are still being determined, we are committed to incorporating feedback from the Alpha and continuously improving the Warbands experience. Our ultimate goal is for Warbands to have a significant impact and be highly valued by our players.”
The developer further verified that players can add characters to their Warband, even if they are on different servers.
Although the exact release date for The War Within has not been officially announced, it is expected to launch in the final quarter of 2024. While players await its arrival, they can look forward to the release of Cataclysm Classic on May 20, which will provide them with ample content to keep them occupied.
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