Shadowlands crossed into Warcraft’s afterlife
Shadowlands opened at 23:00 UTC on November 23, 2020, beginning the journey through the afterlife and toward a Covenant choice.
Shadowlands launched at 23:00 UTC on November 23, 2020, or midnight on November 24 in Central Europe. This was the revised release date following the expansion’s earlier postponement.
Bastion, Maldraxxus, Ardenweald and Revendreth offered distinct interpretations of the afterlife. Players met their ruling Covenants while advancing to level 60, then joined one to shape their continuing campaign. The Maw provided a threatening contrast to those domains.
The expansion opening began the story and leveling journey. Castle Nathria and the first season followed later, making launch night a different milestone from the opening of the complete endgame schedule.
WoWAzeroth archive. This is a retrospective account of the event above, not an article originally published on its launch date.