In a fun case of What Year Is It, World of Warcraft expansion Wrath of the Lich King is releasing on September 26, on WoW Classic.

World of Warcraft Classic released in 2019 as a throwback to the popular MMORPG’s original incarnation, before years of expansions and content updates (circa 2006).

But the march of progress cannot be stopped. In 2021 subscribers could download the Burning Crusade expansion for WoW Classic. And now Classic players are getting the second expansion, Wrath of the Lich King.

Wrath of the Lich King originally released in 2008 as the second major expansion for World of Warcraft. It adds the snowy continent of Northrend, which remained the largest landmass added in an expansion, until the upcoming Dragonflight expansion. Northrend adds 13 new dungeons and nine new raids, including the climactic Icecrown Citadel with the Lich King himself.

The expansion also added the MMO’s first hero class, the Death Knight. Hero Classes were originally only available for players who had previously reached level 55 with another character in that realm. That requirement was eventually removed. All Death Knights start at level 55, and you’re restricted to one per realm.

The Joyous Journey event is taking place in the lead-up to launch. Players can earn 50% bonus xp until September 26. All WoW subscribers will also be granted the ability to create one Death Knight per Classic realm.

Wrath of the Lich King will be a free download to all subscribers with an active World of Warcraft subscription.

World of Warcraft is rated T for Teen.


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Eric has been writing for over nine years with bylines at Dicebreaker, Pixelkin, Polygon, PC Gamer, Tabletop Gaming magazine, and more covering movies, TV shows, video games, tabletop games, and tech. He reviews and live streams D&D adventures every week on his YouTube channel. He also makes a mean tuna quesadilla.