World of Warcraft celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, and in that time, the game has undergone massive transformations. The most significant changes typically arrive in the "pre-patch" updates preceding new expansions. These pre-patches have reshaped the game's core mechanics, from revamping the original continents to streamlining character levels and talent trees.
The pre-patch for the 10th expansion, *The War Within*, recently launched, ushering in version 11.0. This update brought the first ever complete redesign of the character select screen, a seemingly minor change that sparked a wave of nostalgia for longtime players.
The update introduces Warbands, a new system that groups all the characters on a player's account, regardless of faction or server. This shift reflects the growing trend of players maintaining multiple characters, often referred to as "alts," and aims to streamline progression by making certain elements, like faction reputation, account-wide.
The character select screen now visualizes this Warband, displaying up to four characters gathered around a cozy campfire. This departure from the previous individual hero shots against race-specific backgrounds is a welcome change for many players, allowing them to see their diverse roster of characters together for the first time.
Blizzard plans to introduce additional Warband scenes in the future, potentially allowing for more than four characters to be displayed.
While the visual change may seem minor, it holds significant emotional weight for veteran players. These characters, each representing different eras of the game and different chapters in their lives, have never been able to interact in-game due to their individual server and faction limitations. Now, seeing them gathered around a campfire, imagining them sharing stories of their adventures, evokes a powerful sense of connection and nostalgia.
For example, one player described seeing their first troll warrior, their night elf druid, their troll hunter main, and their tauren monk together, each character embodying specific periods of their gameplay journey and personal experiences. These characters represent memories of early guild adventures, shared playtime with friends, and even the joy of exploring the world with their spouse.
After 20 years, World of Warcraft has become more than just a game. It's a repository of memories, forged in virtual worlds, but deeply intertwined with the real lives of its players. The new character select screen acts as a treasured photo album, bringing these moments together for the first time and reminding players of the enduring impact the game has had on their lives.
