Blizzcon opened with the announcement of the new World of Warcraft Expansion “Cataclysm” due out in 2010. The internet has been buzzing about this highly rumored expansion which will be 1 of 2 releases for Blizzard next year (the other being Starcraft II).

Included in the expansion:

• New Races – Worgen for Alliance and Goblins for Horde
• Level Cap at 85
• Race Class Combos – Tauren Paladins, Human Hunters, Night Elf Mages, Gnome Priests, Tauren Priests, Dwarf Shamans
• Revamp of all zones
• 20 Guild Levels, Guild advancement, guild talent tree, Guild Perks (Slower durability loss, cheaper repairs, mass res)
• Phased Terrain (like in Wrath of the Lich King)
• New secondary profession: Archaeology
• Path of Titans, alternative advancement where paths are not class dependent
• New mastery system
• New dungeons, raids, creatures, quests, artifacts, items
• Two new starting zones 1-15, plus a new zone for 78-85
• Will be able to fly everywhere in Azeroth (All cities in Classic world will be flyable)

Land/Storyline:

• Alliance has lost the Southshore
• Barrens split in half, covered with trees and vegetation
• Leveling in classic zones will be entirely new/different
• New land pieces rising
• Auberdine has been destroyed
• Horde base in Zoram’s strand
• Goblins have cut path from Ashenvale into Stonetalen from a small cave to a normal passage
• Azshara is the Golbin 10-20 zone, mountain completely moved
• Undercity flyable
• Underwater mounts (will feel like flying mounts) ability to walk underwear or swim
• Deepholm, elemental plane, use scar left by Deathwing’s passing to get into it
• Twilight’s Hammer now serves Deathwing
• Deppholm Trogg Town, travel ports
• Two Level 83-84 in Uldum, rumored to hold a Super Weapom
• New creature race, Tol’vir (stonelike cat creature)

Check back for more updates, and for a look at the trailer beginning with “As the terrible war against the Lich King continues, the proud defenders of Azeroth fight to secure a lasting peace. But there can be no peace when the world itself is devoured by rage,” and concluding with the ominous message “Deathwing has returned”. View the debut trailer here: WoW Cataclysm Debut Trailer