Blizzard Considering Customization Updates for Classic World of Warcraft Races, But Not Coming Anytime Soon

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As World of Warcraft embarks on a new chapter with the launch of Midnight, the second act of the Worldsoul Saga, players are increasingly eager for more ways to personalize their characters. Following the introduction of housing, Blizzard is looking to enhance customization options across all races, although it’s not an immediate focus.

In a conversation with an outlet, Maria Hamilton, the design director for World of Warcraft, shared that while the team is discussing these ideas, there are no concrete plans yet. “We don’t have a roadmap just yet,” she stated. “We’ve explored this in the past, and we know players love it. But now we’re considering it as a larger project rather than piecemeal updates like we did with Heritage Armor.”

She emphasized that this isn’t something that will happen soon, with Jay Hwang, the principal artist on the MMORPG, pointing to the transmog system as a step in that direction. “That’s why we’ve been investing in features like housing, which aren’t tied to player power, and focusing more on avenues of expression,” he explained. “So, in the future, maybe goblins will get more ears and noses for customization. These are definitely areas we’re interested in exploring.”

However, it’s crucial to remember that World of Warcraft is now two decades old, and the complexities of Azeroth are deeply intertwined. Adding new features requires extensive testing and adjustments to ensure everything works seamlessly.

“We have abilities and items in the game that can alter appearances; we can add audio and visual effects,” Hamilton noted. “Over the years, there have been numerous overlapping elements, and none of it is part of a unified system.”

With a major expansion on the horizon and the third act, The Lost Titan, set to follow, prioritization is key, and customizable features aren’t on the immediate agenda. “Adding and improving animations has come up more than you might think,” she said. “Players want animations that fit their roles. How can we integrate that? It’s all part of a larger vision for the future.”

The executive producer and VP of World of Warcraft sometimes wishes Blizzard “hadn’t called it Warcraft” because “it sounds intimidating.”