Ahead of BlizzCon 2019, there was a leak suggesting that Blizzard would be announcing a new World of Warcraft expansion, one that could possibly take players back to Icecrown and maybe encounter the Lich King again. It turns out that the rumors were sort of right as Blizzard has since taken the wraps off the Shadowlands expansion.
In the cinematic trailer above, it seems former Horde leader Sylvanas Windrunner challenge the current Lich King (the former paladin, Bolvar Fordragon) to the throne, where she very handily dispatches him before ripping the crown in half and shattering the skies. For a moment, it felt as though Sylvanas Windrunner would put on the crown, but it was the opposite.
As to what her intentions are, they remain unclear but it seems that with this expansion, players will venture into the Realms of the Dead. There will be five new realms for players to explore and also expansions on the classes, where Pandaren and other allied races will be able to play as the Death Knight class.
There will be improved character customization and also an improved leveling system, which Blizzard hopes will provide a “meaningful sense of achievement” with every level obtained. There is no word on a release date yet, but Blizzard seems to be aiming for a 2020 release.