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WOW Cataclysm expansion unveiled

Goblins, Worgen, level cap at 85, more.

The rumours were true! Blizzard's next World of Warcraft expansion is called Cataclysm, although there's no word yet on a release date.

Cataclysm will be "nothing less than earth-shattering", Blizzard's Chris Metzen told his disciples during the ongoing BlizzCon 2009 conference. It will "very literally change the face of Azeroth as you know it".

Cataclysm introduces two new races - the Worgen join the Alliance while the Goblins join the Horde. There are also new class/race combinations - the Troll Druid and Tauren Paladin are the ones we spotted in the trailer - and a new profession, Archeology. There will be more new class/race combinations on top of that, too, and the level cap's going up to 85.

A fast-moving trailer introduced new character progression called Path of the Titans, guild levelling and achievements, and something about ranked play in Battlegrounds that we'll clear up once the conference finishes and Eurogamer MMO can check my dimwitted interpretation of the ongoing live report.

Look out for more on Cataclysm, not to mention all the other stuff at BlizzCon, as we report from the panels and gameplay sessions.