Mystery continent spotted
by Eliah Hecht 
Nov 7th 2008 at 6:00PM
Sure, it might be a bit early to speculate about the third expansion, given that the second isn't even out yet (five days!). But I'm going to do it anyway; we do know they've got more planned.
One of the most enduring theories for a place we might see in a new expansion (besides the Emerald Dream) is the Undermine, home of the goblins. The Undermine sits on (technically, under) the Isle of Kezan, and where's that? In Azeroth's southern seas, right where our mystery blob is. Throw in the Maelstrom itself and a few more islands, and you've got yourself a pretty nice set of zones for an expansion.
So is Kezan what we're seeing in this picture? The theory is not without its difficulties. For one thing, the blob is way too big; Kezan is described as a small island, certainly not bigger than Northrend. But what if we flip the picture upside-down? This makes sense, because the bay in what I'm taking for the Eastern Kingdoms also cuts the wrong way, south instead of north. Then the mystery blob at the bottom becomes Northrend, and what we were taking as Northrend is now a reasonably likely candidate for Kezan, being much smaller.
Alright, I think that's enough unfounded speculation out of me. What do you guys think this is? Am I making far too much out of a tiny texture on a random book in a corner of the game, or is this the first hint of WoW 4.0?
Filed under: Expansions, Rumors
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
woez Nov 7th 2008 6:03PM
it's hell
woez Nov 7th 2008 6:05PM
woah I have no idea why that posted 3 times.. sorry
nishk Nov 8th 2008 3:25PM
These maps can also be found in the Kara library. I noticed this a while back when I still raided.
If you look at some other maps, though, it's possible that it's the top tip of Northrend bleeding over to the other side. Unlikely, but possible.
woez Nov 7th 2008 6:03PM
it's hell
woez Nov 7th 2008 6:03PM
it's hell
Reinard Nov 7th 2008 6:03PM
...Yes, it's Kezan.
Andrew Nov 8th 2008 4:06AM
I really hope it ' s Kezan and Maelstorm for the next expansion because they can ' t help but release Kul Tiras and probably Gilneas. FINALLY.
Generic Nov 8th 2008 12:58PM
Well it's in the right place for being Kezan, but man is it big in that picture.
This is what happens when Blizz lets their Devs drink on the job :)
Olendar Nov 7th 2008 6:06PM
Im not sure what it is but if it is another continent it better be patched up b/c another expansion will ruin this game doesnt make any sense gg blizz.
igneusnex Nov 7th 2008 6:10PM
Its already completely confirmed this is not the last expansion, we have at least two more. Maelstrom and Emerald Dream.
Sayce Nov 7th 2008 6:10PM
Why exactly would another expansion ruin the game?
drypulse Nov 8th 2008 1:27AM
you must be new to mmo's. welcome!
Kasika Nov 7th 2008 6:05PM
well if were going to Northrend, maybe this is Southrend? :D
Ted Nov 7th 2008 6:13PM
Northwin right there
Namus Nov 7th 2008 8:08PM
bah, beat me to it!
rogue Nov 7th 2008 6:05PM
That the screenshot shows the thing upside down was my first thought. It seems entirely plausible that it is intended as that, however the fact that it's there... I just don't see it as implying that we'll actually see Undermine any time soon.
Farrell Nov 7th 2008 6:06PM
as said, it's Kezan - where the goblins come from.
Camaris Nov 7th 2008 6:08PM
Well, there's high chance of the next expansion being related to Kezan/Undermine, if you consider it part of a Maelstrom/South Seas expansion. The other major contender is an Emerald Dream expansion.
But expansion or not, Undermine is a part of lore, and was already present on those very early hand-drawn maps of Azeroth seen in The Making Of DVD.
My guess is that's its probably a piece of texture drawn from whatever reference they have of the whole map of Azeroth, not necessarily related to 4.0 (or 5.0). But its probably inevitable that we will one day see that part of Azeroth in an expansion.
Vidi Nov 7th 2008 8:55PM
I'm of the opinion it will be Emerald Dream. I think the next hero class will be a healer class, like the Arch Druid, seeing as we got a tank this time out.
Graargh Nov 7th 2008 6:08PM
Haha, awesome post.
I love how you invert the picture to make it look right.
I think it's some artist at Blizzard having fun and thinking "nobody will ever notice this". But yes, I think you're right. It's an inverted picture of Azeroth.
Wait... Inverted Azeroth. Isn't the Emerald Dream supposed to be what Azeroth would have looked like if nobody had ever lived there? Maybe that entire thing, the non-inverted one, is the Emerald Dream!