World of Warcraft Midnight details revealed at Gamescom

A look at the opening cinematic and early details of World of Warcraft Midnight focusing on QuelThalas and the new housing feature.

Midnight Expands World of Warcraft with Reworked QuelThalas and Housing

At Gamescom Opening Night Live Blizzard unveiled the opening cinematic for World of Warcraft Midnight and outlined the early focus on QuelThalas and the Blood Elf city Silvermoon. Midnight starts in four zones: a reworked Eversong Woods likely including Ghostlands, a reworked ZulAman now a full zone, and two new areas Harandar and Voidstorm. Players begin in Eversong Woods and move to Voidstorm, with ZulAman and Harandar playable in any order.

Three raids launch with Midnight at the start: The Voidspire, The Dreamrift, and March on QuelDan as the big endgame push, along with eight dungeons including a reworked Magisters Terrace, seven delves, and a new PvP battleground. A new feature called Prey lets players hunt powerful targets across zones, with the possibility of ambushes while on the hunt. Allied race Haranir joins, Demon Hunter options expand for Void Elves, and the overall new player experience gets upgrades. Skyriding is simplified and the vigor bar is removed.

The headline feature remains housing: fully customizable player homes with 3D placement, recolorable furniture, and neighborhood options for private and public spaces. Blizzard emphasizes no plot disputes over plots, a nod to player wish lists. Midnight is planned for a 2026 launch.

Midnight leans into nostalgia while promising modern touchpoints. Rebuilding QuelThalas and expanding ZulAman signal Blizzard wants long-term players to feel the world reenergized. The decision to launch with three raids at once increases endgame depth, but it risks overwhelming new players and straining servers. The housing feature could redefine social play, turning Azeroth into a living space rather than just a battleground. If Blizzard balances this scale with clear progression, Midnight could renew enthusiasm for a stale cycle.

Highlights

Blizzard has set a bold table for 2026 and players will decide how Midnight fits their quests.