How Big is World of Warcraft Map with All Expansions?
World of Warcraft is one of the most popular massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) in the world, with over 100 million registered accounts. The game has been expanded several times since its release in 2004, adding new continents, zones, and storylines to the game. In this article, we will explore the size of the World of Warcraft map with all expansions, and answer some frequently asked questions about the game.
The Original Map ( Vanilla WoW)
When World of Warcraft was first released in 2004, the game consisted of a single continent called Azeroth, which was divided into five main regions: Kalimdor, the Eastern Kingdoms, Outland, and the continents of Northrend and Eastern Plaguelands. The original map was relatively small, covering an area of approximately 23,500 square kilometers (9,075 square miles).
The Expansion Packs (1-5)
In the years following the release of Vanilla WoW, Blizzard Entertainment released five expansion packs that added new continents, zones, and storylines to the game. These expansions were:
- The Burning Crusade (2007): Added the continent of Outland, which doubled the size of the game’s map.
- Wrath of the Lich King (2008): Added the continent of Northrend, which added another 10,000 square kilometers (3,861 square miles) to the game’s map.
- Cataclysm (2010): Rewrote the game’s story and reworked the original zones, but did not add any new continents or major expansions to the map.
- Mists of Pandaria (2012): Added the continent of Pandaria, which added 5,500 square kilometers (2,124 square miles) to the game’s map.
- Warlords of Draenor (2014): Added the continent of Draenor, which added 8,000 square kilometers (3,088 square miles) to the game’s map.
The Legion and Battle for Azeroth Expansions
In the past few years, Blizzard has released two more expansions that have significantly increased the size of the game’s map. These expansions were:
- Legion (2016): Added the Broken Isles, a group of islands that added 1,000 square kilometers (386 square miles) to the game’s map.
- Battle for Azeroth (2018): Added the continents of Zandalar and Kul Tiras, which added 5,000 square kilometers (1,931 square miles) to the game’s map.
The Current Map Size
After the release of the Battle for Azeroth expansion, the total size of the World of Warcraft map is approximately 57,500 square kilometers (22,201 square miles). This is more than twice the size of the original map and covers an area larger than the country of Portugal.
How the Map Size Compares to Other Games
To put the size of the World of Warcraft map into perspective, it is roughly equivalent to the size of:
- The entire country of Sweden
- The combined size of the states of Maryland, New Jersey, and Delaware in the United States
- The size of the island of Ireland
- The combined size of the Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How does the World of Warcraft map size compare to other MMORPGs?
A: The World of Warcraft map is one of the largest in the MMORPG genre, rivaling the size of other popular games such as Final Fantasy XIV and Guild Wars 2.
Q: Will the map size continue to increase with future expansions?
A: While Blizzard has not announced any specific plans for the size of the map, the company has indicated that it will continue to expand the game’s world and storylines with future expansions.
Q: How does the game’s map size affect gameplay?
A: The large size of the map can affect gameplay in several ways, including increased travel time between zones, more diverse landscapes and climates, and a greater variety of content and activities to participate in.
Q: Can I play World of Warcraft without purchasing the expansion packs?
A: Yes, you can play the base game of World of Warcraft without purchasing the expansion packs. However, purchasing the expansion packs will give you access to new content, zones, and storylines.
Q: How do I measure the size of the World of Warcraft map?
A: The size of the World of Warcraft map is measured in square kilometers (or square miles), and can be calculated by using mapping tools and software to measure the area of each zone and continent.
Q: Will the map size change if Blizzard changes the game’s terrain or architecture?
A: Yes, changes to the game’s terrain or architecture can affect the size of the map. For example, if a zone is reworked or rewritten, its size may change accordingly.
Q: Can I visit every location on the World of Warcraft map?
A: While it is theoretically possible to visit every location on the World of Warcraft map, some areas may be restricted to players who have completed specific quests or have reached certain levels or reputation.
Q: How does the size of the World of Warcraft map affect the game’s performance and load times?
A: The size of the World of Warcraft map can affect the game’s performance and load times, particularly if you are playing on lower-end hardware. However, Blizzard has implemented various optimization techniques and tools to minimize the impact of the map size on gameplay.
Q: Can I create my own map of the World of Warcraft game world?
A: Yes, there are various mapping tools and software available that allow you to create your own map of the World of Warcraft game world. These tools can be used to measure the size of the map, create custom maps for navigation, and even build your own terrain and architecture.