WoW: Burning Crusade cinematic

By Robert Purchese Published 15 December, 2006

Smouldering on EGTV.

Blizzard's released a corking cinematic introduction movie for World of Warcraft expansion The Burning Crusade, ahead of the add-on's January 16 launch.

The CGI footage shows the two new races to be introduced by the hugely anticipated release, the Blood Elves and Draenei, as well as an ominous message from super-villain Illidan Stormrage.

As well as the additional character types, the first full expansion pack to the multi-million selling MMORPG will also include a new area, The Outlands. This continent will increase the game's size by a third, obviously hosting new cities, dungeons, and quests.

In addition, players will see the level cap increased from 60 to 70 by The Burning Crusade, and can look forward to a new profession in jewel-crafting and - finally - getting their hands on flying mounts. Check out Eurogamer's preview for more details.

Recently released 'Before the Storm: Patch 2.0' included many changes to the game in preparation for the update. New talents were introduced, the honour system revamped, and arena combat added: full patch-notes can be found on the World of Warcraft community site.

Earlier this year Blizzard boss Paul Sams told our sister-site GamesIndustry.biz that the company plans to release a new expansion annually, saying, "Starting with The Burning Crusade, every year thereafter we plan on bringing out a new expansion set - so every 12 months."

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds. @Clert on Twitter.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (14) Latest comment 6 years ago

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  • absolutezero #1 6 years ago

    Blizzard always pull out the stops for CGI shame about everything else.

    and not making anything else. Ever. SINCE WOW

    and stopping another team from making the quite good looking Ghost. Twice.
    Edited by absolutezero at 15/12/06 @ 15:10

  • Mho7276501 #2 6 years ago

    wtf are you talking about, they also have made some amazing games. They have focused on WOW totally recently but who wouldn't!?

  • absolutezero #3 6 years ago

    Yes because as a gamer I feel great saying "I understand that Blizzard are making ass-loads of cash from WoW and I wish them all the best in making even more money and never producing another great game ever again".

    oh but Blizzard are a buisness!! Its perfectly fine!!

    Well I don't know about you but I like to play games, and if a games company who used to make lots of fantastic games makes one game and lives of the results I feel a little jipped.

  • magicpanda #4 6 years ago

    They dont fuck about do they, Their CGI is incredible.

  • Khanivor #5 6 years ago

    The CGI for Diablo II still ranks as my favouritist ever from any game. Probably the main reason I pushed through each act, just to see the next cinematic.

  • Shrike #6 6 years ago

    "the multi-million selling MMORPG will also include a new area, The Outlands, unfortunately not seen in the video"

    I'm going to be a big dork and call you on this. There are many scenes in the video that take place in Outland - in fact, apart from the first three (Blasted Lands/The Exodar/Quel'Thalas) and the Warlock bit (Swamp of Sorrows), they're all Outland. The bits with the Orc are Draenor as it's always been shown, and note floating islands / debris in the mage and troll bits - that's Outland. Also, Illidan lives in Outland (as the video says..) so the bits with Illidan are.. yeah.

    I'll get my nerd coat.

  • Roachdog #7 6 years ago

    For fucks sake, almost convinces me to reinstall the game again........

  • Bertie Verified Senior Staff Writer, Eurogamer.net #8 6 years ago

    Shrike you big dork! Noted :)

  • spindizzy #9 6 years ago

    Christ. Me too (tempted to reinstall that is). But it all got abit too much work for me as soon as I passed 40... I just didn't have the time (or inclination) to slog to 60, and so I can't see the point in this.

    Shame, because it was an amazing game when I started it (with a bunch of friends).

  • Kami #10 6 years ago

    Wow Shrike. Sorry, WoW.

    *realises he's standing under a huge netted supply of coats so decides never to try that joke again*

    Anyway, it looks really interesting at least. For me, the Drenai initially seemed a cop-out but actually have developed far more than the Blood Elves, which do seem a little two-dimensional as a race... but hey. It's WoW, it's an expansion, it'll sell, we'll play, Blizzard will make millions more.

    I would however just like to see Blizzard make another game. Well, after they fix the problems they apparantly made in their last patch...

  • Shrike #11 6 years ago

    @Bertie

    Yay! I am a 60th level Greater Pedant.

  • Bertie Verified Senior Staff Writer, Eurogamer.net #12 6 years ago

    I do love their CGI's, makes the game look so... fun.

    /taunts current WoW'ers

  • Azazel #13 6 years ago

    It's not quite as good as the Mark of Chaos trailer. But it's still nice.

  • ProtoformX #14 6 years ago

    I started playing WoW in January and I still haven't hit 60. A friend of mine started at the same time as me and he hit 60 and started doing raids and I just didn't like the amount of time you have to devote to a run and the number of times you have to do it in order to get the items you're looking for. I'm lvl 48 right now and the amount of time it takes go up even one level is now almost prohibitive with my current working hours.
    I'll probably still get this as WoW is still ranked up with Guitar Hero as my all-time fave games. But Twilight Princess is rapidly approaching them...