Blizzard Entertainment Drops “World of Warcraft: The War Within” Expansion Pack

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The video game World of Warcraft has been going strong since its launch in 2004. For 20 years, the massively multiplayer online role-playing game has thrilled and excited players with new campaigns, stories and characters that deepen the lore of Azeroth.

For its tenth expansion, World of Warcraft it starts The war within — which starts at $49.99 for the base version and drops on Monday, August 26 — the first entry in a new trilogy called The Worldsoul Saga.

“It begins with a mysterious threat facing the world of Azeroth itself,” says Ion Hazzikostas, World of Warcraft game manager to Rolling Stone. “Visions and echoes of dark dreams experienced by heroes around the world calling to them all together. And what we learned very quickly is that the World Soul, the living part of our world, is threatened by its mysterious entity known as Xal'atath, the harbinger who represents the dark forces of the void.”

The war within is literally a war within Azeroth, but the title also has another meaning that shows the depths of the characters in World of Warcraft.

“In our quest to discover the nature of this threat, let alone how to stop it, we will go beneath the surface of Azeroth,” continues Hazikostas. “Meet all kinds of new friends and enemies. But as we go on this journey, the title, The war withinhas multiple meanings. Yes, it's literally an expansion where we go into the world and wage a war down there, but it's also a journey of self-discovery.”

Although World of Warcraft can be intimidating for those who have never played it, especially with the deep lore, extensive world building and established characters, we found the game experience to be really addictive and simple to pick up. One of the best things about the game is that it goes at your own pace, so the more you get familiar with the controls and mechanics, the more you'll get into the rhythm of the game, explore new realms, and start building relationships with other players.

The war within Expansion is also a great opportunity to get in World of Warcraftif you haven't played it before, since it's the beginning of a new story and a new trilogy.

Starting at $49.99, World of Warcraft: The War Within for PC (via Battle.net) will be released on Monday, August 26 at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT. However, if you get the Epic Edition, you'll get early access to the expansion — before the official release.

In the meantime, watch the cinematic trailer for The world inside below:

Where to buy 'World of Warcraft: The War Within' in apparel and collectibles

To celebrate his release World of Warcraft: The War WithinBlizzard Entertainment unveiled new apparel and collectibles for fans to show their love for the video game franchise. There's also new clothing to celebrate the game's 20th anniversary. Scroll down and shop our picks, below: