World of Warcraft players have caught a sneak peek at the login screen for the upcoming "War Within" expansion. While not yet live in the beta and subject to change, the image offers a compelling glimpse into the game's visual identity. This follows a long-standing tradition of unique login screens for each expansion, each becoming instantly recognizable within the WoW community.
The newly discovered screen showcases a rotating ring encircling the expansion's logo, a departure from previous designs. This design, shared by developer and addon creator Ghost on Twitter, breaks with the established pattern of featuring gates or archways from in-game locations. The ring, while reminiscent of a gate, appears to be a stylized representation rather than a specific location within the game world.
A chronological listing of past login screens highlights this shift:
- Vanilla: The Dark Portal (Azeroth)
- The Burning Crusade: The Dark Portal (Outland)
- Wrath of the Lich King: Gate of Icecrown Citadel
- Cataclysm: Gate of Stormwind
- Mists of Pandaria: Twin Monoliths in the Vale of Eternal Blossoms
- Warlords of Draenor: Dark Portal (Draenor)
- Legion: Burning Legion gate
- Battle for Azeroth: Gate of Lordaeron
- Shadowlands: Gate of Icecrown Citadel
- Dragonflight: Tyrhold arches in Valdrakken
- War Within: Rotating ring surrounding the expansion logo
Player reactions are mixed. Some appreciate the minimalist design, suggesting it aligns well with the overall Worldsoul Saga. Others find it less visually striking than previous iterations, lamenting the apparent end of the "gateway" tradition. With the release date set for August 26th, further refinements remain a possibility.
