Blizzard trademarks Cataclysm

By Oli Welsh Published 2 July, 2009

Next WOW expansion? New game?

Blizzard has filed three trademark registrations for the name Cataclysm, covering computer game software, online gaming services, and various related merchandising. The eagle-eyed superannuation made the spot.

Blizzard is known to have two unannounced games in the works, including its next MMO. But the title might also belong to the next World of Warcraft expansion, which some believe will be revealed at the BlizzCon fan convention in August.

BlizzPlanet notes that the word Cataclysm is thematically close to the Maelstrom, which in Warcraft lore is a huge, permanent storm in the seas of Azeroth created by a disastrous event in history known as the Sundering. Blizzard has said before that the Maelstrom is part of its future plans for World of Warcraft content, and WOW-watchers tip it as the most likely subject of the next expansion.

Eurogamer will be heading out to California for BlizzCon next month, so watch this space for more developments.

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About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (14) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Eraysor #1 3 years ago

    I was hoping for something to do with the Emerald Dream, but that title seems ambiguous enough to be pretty much anything.

  • anomagnus #2 3 years ago

    Since the trademark seems to cover a huge media spectrum, i'm wondering if it isn't a game, or expansion, but a new media wing, similar to the black library of games workshop.

    On the other hand, it could be the next expansion, the one i think will reset the whole WoW world, in preparation for WoW 2

  • ukdm #3 3 years ago

    superannuation also updated its post with this:

    Edit: Commenters on the post dug up the registration and say the registrant is some dude in Australia.

  • MaxiSleep #4 3 years ago

    Random prediction

    Is a post climatic change soft sci fi MMO

  • Oli Verified Reviews Editor, Eurogamer.net #5 3 years ago

    ukdm, that refers to a website domain name (wowcataclysm) registration, not the trademarks which are clearly registered by Blizzard itself.

  • curtlikesmeat #6 3 years ago

    Finally, my dream of rowing round a little boat has arrived! (and guilds sailing on massive ships) - think Wind Waker.

    Or not.

  • davisorle #7 3 years ago

    I loved WoW badly.. but pls. NO MORE WOW.

    Im sure that we would all be more excited to be seeing already and hearing the slightest info about their next MMO than another expansion of WoW.

  • sneetch #8 3 years ago

    @Eraysor
    I was hoping for something to do with the Emerald Dream, but that title seems ambiguous enough to be pretty much anything.

    I was too, the Emerald Dream hasn't been used enough. I'd love to see some use from those portals throughout.

    @davisorle
    I loved WoW badly.. but pls. NO MORE WOW.

    Im sure that we would all be more excited to be seeing already and hearing the slightest info about their next MMO than another expansion of WoW.

    No we wouldn't. :) I want more WoW. Their other MMO (whatever it is) will probably be great but people have poured a lot of time and effort into WoW and got a lot of fun out of it, I'd like to keep going and won't be switching to their new one just because it's their new one.

    @anomagnus

    I don't see a "reset" being viable or people switching to WoW 2. I remember that Sony assumed that all the EQ players would switch to EQ II, they didn't because they'd played their characters for years and didn't see the graphical upgrades as being worth what they were losing.

  • UncleLou #9 3 years ago

    Since the trademark seems to cover a huge media spectrum, i'm wondering if it isn't a game, or expansion, but a new media wing, similar to the black library of games workshop.

    Doubt it - it's typical to to file trademarks a little broader, or with generic terms rather than very specific ones.

  • djcool3005 #10 3 years ago

    Nice. Level 90 or maybe even 100. I hope they make it level 100 .

  • FWB #11 3 years ago

    Will have goblins, apparently.

  • dudefella #12 3 years ago

    Keep in mind this covers merchandise, so it could be a WoW novel or something. I read those. Yes.

  • Sunyavadin #13 3 years ago

    Suddenly I have an urge to reinstall Homeworld: Cataclysm.....

  • ukdm #14 3 years ago

    Oli: Thanks for verifying that, it wasn't clear on superannuation