To help cultivate excitement for Wrath of the Lich King Classic, World of Warcraft is releasing its next Exploring Azeroth book focused on Northrend. However, an excerpt from the upcoming atlas has some World of Warcraft fans preparing themselves to be disappointed.Exploring Azeroth: Northrend is the third entry in the World of Warcraft: Exploring Azeroth series of atlas-like lore books. Like its predecessors, it promises to explore the frozen north of Azeroth through the lens of in-universe narrators–this time being Brann, Muradin, and Magni Bronzebeard.Though the book is not yet available, a few screenshots of pages are available on the internet via Amazon, and the text itself does not inspire hope for the book. The excerpt in question focuses on Zul’Drak, the home of the Drakkari Frost Trolls. Though Wrath of the Lich King took place seven in-game years ago, it seems like the zone of Zul’Drak has been virtually unchanged. Despite the rise of the Zandalari and the fall of the Lich King, the Drakkari have not returned to their home, and the Scourge still runs rampant. Instead of using the book as a chance to develop or progress the lore, it seems like Exploring Azeroth: Northrend may simply be regurgitating known information and maintaining the world state as it was.
The Exploring Azeroth series has been the target of criticism since its release. While Exploring Azeroth: Eastern Kingdoms was well-received, Exploring Azeroth: Kalimdor was fraught with issues, with its reliance on outdated stereotypes and baffling worldbuilding decisions. While these egregious issues will hopefully not be present in Exploring Azeroth: Northrend, it may still disappoint in other ways.
Fans are already preparing themselves to be let down by the book. Northrend and Wrath of the Lich King are some of the most beloved parts of World of Warcraft. Many fans hoped this book would take the chance to provide a lens into how the world has changed over the years, especially considering the potential timeskip between Shadowlands and Dragonflight. Unfortunately, it seems more likely Exploring Azeroth: Northrend is going to play it safe and read more like an in-universe version of the Northrend Wowpedia page.
Of course, it is still too soon to condemn the entire book; one mediocre page does not mean the entire book will be a let-down. Regardless of the quality of the book, the phenomenal artwork contained within the book will undoubtedly delight World of Warcraft fans, especially as they return to Northrend in Wrath of the Lich King Classic. Fans will have to wait and see how the final product reads once it releases on October 18.
World of Warcraft is available now on PC. Wrath of the Lich King Classic releases on September 26.
Source: Amazon