World of Warcraft has always been a game shaped by different generations of players. Some remember the original Azeroth as the most exciting period in the game's history, while others consider Wrath of the Lich King or Legion the high points of the franchise. Modern expansions have also introduced new audiences, systems, and ways to experience the world. However, A Facebook Reel from Shax has highlighted an increasingly noticeable divide between these groups.
The video uses the phrase "When the best Warcraft games come together" while showing several versions of the franchise. Classic, Wrath of the Lich King, Legion, and WoW Forever are presented together, while Midnight is noticeably excluded. Although the clip is clearly a piece of community humor rather than an official ranking, its message is easy to understand: some players believe that the older versions represent the true identity of Warcraft, while the modern game has moved too far away from what originally made the franchise special.
Interestingly, this discussion has become more relevant following the November 4 launch of WoW Forever. Blizzard has now introduced another permanent way to experience Azeroth, and its early popularity suggests that nostalgia is not simply a feeling shared by a small group of longtime players. It may represent a significant part of the franchise's future.
But why are some players already treating Midnight as an outsider, and what does WoW Forever's arrival mean for the relationship between Classic and modern Warcraft?
WoW Forever's Launch Has Changed the Conversation
Before WoW Forever arrived, discussions about the best versions of Warcraft generally revolved around Classic, The Burning Crusade, Wrath of the Lich King, and popular expansions such as Legion. Each version offered a different interpretation of what made the MMORPG enjoyable.
Classic focused on exploration, difficult leveling, dangerous outdoor environments, and social cooperation. Wrath of the Lich King expanded the experience with memorable storytelling, recognizable characters, and iconic raids. Legion, meanwhile, introduced a stronger emphasis on class identity, artifact weapons, and extensive endgame progression.
WoW Forever is attempting to bring some of those older design principles into a new permanent experience.
According to Blizzard's launch information, WoW Forever takes place in a reimagined original Azeroth, with players progressing from level 1 to level 60. It expands the Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor with more than 1,000 new quests, additional regions, new dungeons, and expanded character options.
Several locations are particularly important to this approach:
- Mount Hyjal: Players can explore the aftermath of Archimonde's defeat and discover new stories surrounding the recovering region.
- Shen'dralas: This area introduces new mysteries connected to the Shen'dralar, Eldre'Thalas, Dire Maul, and the centaur tribes.
- Riverglades: A new frontier featuring trade routes, grasslands, struggling communities, and more than 150 quests.
- Zephras Isle: The starting experience for the new Skyborne race, combining familiar Warcraft aesthetics with elemental architecture.
These additions show that WoW Forever is not simply a reproduction of the original game. Blizzard is trying to preserve the atmosphere of early Warcraft while giving players new reasons to explore.
The launch numbers have also attracted considerable attention. On November 7, Blizzard announced that WoW Forever had achieved the highest peak concurrent player count at launch in World of Warcraft history, along with the highest number of returning players in the franchise's history.
This is a significant development. It suggests that there is considerable demand for a version of Warcraft built around exploration, progression, and social interaction rather than focusing almost entirely on reaching the endgame.
However, a successful launch does not automatically mean that every returning player will remain active. The real test will be whether Blizzard can maintain that interest through new content, meaningful progression, and a healthy in-game economy.
Why Are Classic Players So Attached to Older Versions?
The exclusion of Midnight in the video is more than a simple joke about expansion preferences. It reflects a long-running disagreement over what makes World of Warcraft enjoyable.
For many Classic players, the appeal of the original experience comes from the journey itself.
Leveling is not merely a requirement before reaching endgame content. It is a major part of the adventure. Traveling between zones, discovering new quest locations, finding dungeon groups, and gradually improving equipment all contribute to a sense of achievement.
The difficulty of the journey also makes cooperation more meaningful. Players often need help completing difficult quests or defeating enemies in dangerous areas. Meeting another adventurer can turn an ordinary leveling session into a memorable experience.
Modern Warcraft has gradually developed a different structure. Convenience features, faster progression, more sophisticated endgame systems, and frequent content updates have changed how many players interact with the world.
These changes are not necessarily bad. They make the game more accessible and provide experienced players with additional activities. However, they also create a different rhythm.
Some longtime players feel that modern Warcraft places too much emphasis on efficiency. Instead of exploring Azeroth naturally, players may feel encouraged to follow optimized routes, complete specific activities, and prepare for the next competitive challenge.
This difference helps explain why Classic, Wrath of the Lich King, and Legion continue to receive so much attention in community discussions.
It is not necessarily that every older system was better. Rather, these versions represent experiences that certain players feel are becoming harder to find in modern Warcraft.
Why Is Midnight Being Left Out?
Midnight's exclusion from the video should not be interpreted as proof that the expansion is universally disliked. It is better understood as a reflection of the divide between players who prefer traditional MMORPG design and those who enjoy the modern direction of the franchise.
Midnight belongs to the current Worldsoul Saga and represents a very different design philosophy from WoW Forever.
Modern Warcraft offers players a more developed progression structure, extensive endgame activities, and systems designed to support different playstyles. It also continues to expand the narrative of Azeroth through large-scale conflicts and interconnected storylines.
At BlizzCon 2026, Blizzard discussed Midnight's upcoming Season 3 and revealed Eclipse, its final major content update. The storyline will bring players into direct conflict with Xal'atath as she moves closer to claiming the Worldsoul. These events are intended to prepare the story for The Last Titan, the final chapter of the Worldsoul Saga.
This shows that Midnight is still an important part of Blizzard's long-term plans. Nevertheless, some players may not feel connected to this direction. For them, a larger story, more elaborate progression systems, or additional endgame activities cannot necessarily replace the atmosphere of early Azeroth.
There is also a difference in what players consider meaningful rewards. In Classic-inspired gameplay, obtaining a useful weapon, finding valuable crafting materials, or earning enough gold for an important purchase can feel like a major achievement. In modern Warcraft, players may be more concerned with competitive performance, high-level equipment, seasonal objectives, and increasingly complex progression systems.
Neither approach is inherently superior. They simply satisfy different expectations. The video turns that disagreement into a visual joke by placing Midnight outside the group. It is an exaggerated representation of a real community divide, not a reliable measure of the expansion's quality.
WoW Forever Could Bring Different Generations of Players Together
One interesting aspect of WoW Forever is that Blizzard is not presenting it as a temporary event or another short-lived Classic season.
The developer has described it as a permanent experience alongside modern and Classic Warcraft. Its long-term direction is based on continuing to expand original Azeroth while preserving the principles that made the original game memorable.
Blizzard has identified four major design principles: familiarity, making the world itself the main character, prioritizing the journey over the destination, and protecting the social experiences that make Azeroth feel alive.
These ideas are reflected in several systems. For example, WoW Forever does not include flying mounts or level scaling. This preserves the importance of traveling through the world and makes different zones feel more distinct.
The Camping system also encourages players to interact outside traditional group activities. Players can contribute profession-crafted Camp Features to shared campsites, allowing adventurers to gather, rest, and receive useful benefits.
The game also introduces Legacy progression for players who enjoy leveling multiple characters. Meanwhile, the new Skyborne race and expanded race-class combinations give players additional ways to create characters without abandoning the familiar Warcraft setting.
These features could appeal to both returning veterans and newcomers who want a more traditional MMORPG experience.
However, WoW Forever does not need to replace Midnight to succeed. In fact, its greatest advantage may be that it offers something different.
Players who enjoy modern raids, competitive progression, and the evolving Worldsoul Saga can continue playing Midnight. Those who prefer slower leveling, exploration, and social cooperation can spend more time in WoW Forever.
The two experiences can coexist without requiring players to agree on which one is objectively better.
Why WoW Forever Gold Could Become Important During Early Progression
Another important part of WoW Forever's early development is its in-game economy.
With a large number of returning players entering Azeroth, demand for equipment, crafting materials, consumables, and other useful resources is likely to develop alongside character progression.
WoW Forever Gold remains an important part of this experience. Players need to manage their resources carefully as they level, improve their professions, prepare for dungeons, and eventually approach the first level 60 raids.
For players returning after years away, understanding the economy may be just as important as choosing the right class.
WoW Forever gold can support several aspects of progression:
- Equipment upgrades: Gold provides access to useful items and materials that can help characters become more prepared for challenging content.
- Profession development: Crafting professions require materials and investment, making economic planning important for players who want to develop useful items.
- Consumables and preparation: Potions, food, and other resources can become increasingly valuable as players prepare for difficult encounters.
- Mount and training expenses: Saving gold for important progression milestones can make the leveling experience more manageable.
- Raid preparation: With the first level 60 raids scheduled to open on December 9, players have an additional reason to plan their resources before endgame activities begin.
The upcoming raids are particularly relevant. Blizzard has announced three initial raids: Barrow Deeps, Hyjal Summit, and Onyxia's Lair. These encounters will give level 60 players an opportunity to test their preparation and teamwork.
For players who want to experience these encounters early, building a stable economic foundation can make a meaningful difference.
Still, gold should not become the only measure of progress. WoW Forever is designed around exploration and cooperation, and players who spend all their time chasing currency may miss some of the experiences that make the game attractive in the first place.
The most effective approach is to treat gold as a resource that supports progression rather than the ultimate goal.
Can WoW Forever and Midnight Share the Same Community?
The biggest question raised by the video is whether World of Warcraft's different player communities can respect each other's preferences.
For years, players have debated which expansion represents the franchise's golden age. Some prefer the original experience, others favor Wrath of the Lich King, and many consider Legion one of the strongest modern expansions.
Midnight now faces the challenge of proving its value to players who already have strong opinions about what Warcraft should be.
At the same time, WoW Forever has an opportunity to establish its own identity. Its record-breaking launch suggests that Blizzard has successfully attracted a large number of returning players, but maintaining that interest will require consistent updates and a healthy community.
The first raids on December 9 will be an important milestone. Future dungeon releases, PvP updates, additional quests, Hardcore support, and further world content will also determine whether WoW Forever can maintain its momentum.
Ultimately, the community video is interesting because it exposes a disagreement that has existed for years. Players do not necessarily want the same version of Warcraft, and that is not something Blizzard can solve by making every expansion follow one design philosophy.
Midnight does not need to become Classic, and WoW Forever does not need to replace the modern game.
Perhaps the healthiest future for World of Warcraft is one where different versions can coexist, each offering a distinct experience to the players who enjoy it.
The real question is not whether Midnight deserves to stand beside the classics. It is whether Warcraft players can accept that the best version of the game may simply be different for everyone.
