World of Warcraft: Forever, a remake of the classic era of the long-running MMO, is unlikely to be followed by a direct sequel in the vein of Guild Wars 2. Principal designer Kris Zierhut stated that the existing game and its engine have been continuously improved over 25 years, making a complete restart unnecessary. "Why would you throw that away and start over?" Zierhut asked in an interview with IGN.
Blizzard has consistently enhanced World of Warcraft's technical aspects, including graphics, rendering, lighting, and the efficiency of its engine and server infrastructure. Zierhut highlighted that these ongoing improvements mean the game has a robust foundation that a new title might struggle to replicate from scratch. This approach allows for the incorporation of modern advancements into the classic WoW experience.
While a direct sequel could offer a chance to address technical debt and re-evaluate design choices, as seen in the Guild Wars series' evolution toward a more action-focused gameplay, Blizzard's current strategy leans towards iterative development of its established world and engine. The ongoing evolution of World of Warcraft, including its Classic iterations and ongoing retail updates, demonstrates a commitment to building upon its existing framework rather than abandoning it for a new project. The development team believes that continuing to enhance the current game provides a more advantageous path forward than starting a new endeavor from the ground up.