World of Warcraft Classic Fresh Reveals The Burning Crusade Release Schedule

World of Warcraft has officially confirmed February 5 as the release date for The Burning Crusade expansion for the Classic Anniversary Edition realms. Players can explore the broken world of Outland and reach level 70 once more when the World of Warcraft Classic expansion goes live, with the three launch raids opening two weeks later.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of World of Warcraft, Classic began a new set of realms that would start in Vanilla all over again. Dubbed World of Warcraft Classic Anniversary Edition, or sometimes simply WoW Classic Fresh, these realms introduced a handful of fan-favorite quality-of-life improvements, including dual spec, the LFG tool, and the Chronoboon Displacer, but were otherwise largely unchanged from the original version.

WoW: The Burning Crusade Anniversary Edition Schedule

• January 13 – The Burning Crusade Pre-Expansion update
  • New Races: Blood Elf (Horde) and Draenei (Alliance)
  • New Profession: Jewelcrafting
  • Class, mount, leveling, and PvP changes
  • Guild Bank
  • Level 58 Character Boosts available
• February 5 – The Burning Crusade launch
  • New zones on Outland
  • New level cap: 70
  • Flying mounts
• February 17 – PvP Arena Season 1 begins
• February 19 – The Burning Crusade raids open
  • Karazhan
  • Gruul’s Lair
  • Magtheridon’s Lair

Now, Classic Fresh is getting ready to launch The Burning Crusade, its first expansion. On February 5 at 3 PM PT, the Dark Portal will open, revealing the shattered Orc homeland of Outland. World of Warcraft players can explore The Burning Crusade‘s many dungeons spread across its seven zones as they fight against the forces of Illidan Stormrage, Lady Vashj, and Kael’thas Sunstrider. As they go, fans will also reach the new max level of 70, and unlock flying mounts that can be used across Outland.

Image via Blizzard

With the weekly reset on February 17, the first PvP Arena season for The Burning Crusade will begin. Players who rise to the challenge in the three arenas – the Ring of Trials in Nagrand, the Circle of Blood in Blade’s Edge Mountains, and the Ruins of Lordaeron in TIrisfal Glades – can earn gear, mounts, titles, and other rewards. Then, on February 19, the first three raids of WoW: The Burning Crusade will open: Karazhan, Gruul’s Lair, and Magtheridon’s Lair.

However, fans won’t have to wait that long to start enjoying some of what The Burning Crusade has to offer. January 13 marks the release of the World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade Anniversary Edition Pre-Expansion update. This patch will add the Blood Elf and Draenei playable races in World of Warcraft, the Jewelcrafting profession, Guild Bank feature, and changes to classes, leveling experience requirements, PvP systems, and mount costs and unlock levels in preparation for the expansion. What’s more, gamers who want to dive right into the endgame will be able to purchase Level 58 Character Boosts, which can be used on Blood Elves and Draenei as well.

That said, some World of Warcraft Classic Fresh players have some homework to do before then. There are currently free realm transfers available for characters on Anniversary Edition servers that can take them to Classic Era if they wish. Normal Anniversary Edition characters who do not want to be automatically brought along into The Burning Crusade will want to use this free service before it closes on January 12 at 3 PM PT, when the servers go down for 24-hour maintenance before the Pre-Patch. Likewise, Classic Fresh Hardcore realms are not going to The Burning Crusade, so characters on these servers will have to transfer out of their Hardcore realms if they don’t want to be left behind.

What’s Next for World of Warcraft Classic?

It is unclear exactly what WoW Classic is planning next, as Blizzard has yet to show a roadmap for 2026. There has been no confirmation whether the Anniversary Edition realms will eventually continue onward to Wrath of the Lich King after The Burning Crusade, and Classic Progression realms are rapidly approaching the end of Mists of Pandaria, with no idea if WoW: Warlords of Draenor Classic will be a thing.

There have also been a lot of rumors about Classic+, a theoretical Vanilla World of Warcraft server that would introduce a bunch of new content, potentially including original zones, races, and instances. If such a thing were going to be announced, it would almost certainly happen at BlizzCon 2026 in September.

Systems

Released

November 23, 2004

ESRB

T for Teen: Blood and Gore, Crude Humor, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence (online interactions not rated)

Engine

Unreal Engine

•