World of Warcraftis nearing the end of its alpha testing forDragonflight, meaning the breadth of the games’ files are within range of dataminers. As such, the animated login screen forWorld of Warcraft: Dragonflighthas been discovered by fans, and it is as breathtaking as the rest of the Dragon Isles.
The new screen itself is the background players will see every time they log in toWorld of WarcraftonceDragonflightreleases. This time, the screen depicts Tyrhold, the fortressseen in theDragonflightannouncement cinematic.
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TheDragonflightlogin screen shows a gorgeous panorama shot of Tyrhold, its beacon bright in the sky. In the animated version, mist rolls off of the cliff sides in the background as the foreground focuses on the towers and aqueducts that lead up to the Titanic facility. The brightly-lit and open scenepaints an optimistic picture forDragonflight, a fitting tone for an expansion which focuses on exploration and rediscovery.
Historically, previousWorld of Warcraftlogin screens have depicted a gate of some kind. Many of them, including the one from vanillaWorld of Warcraft, depicted the Dark Portal in one of its various incarnations. The login screen forDragonflightis reminiscent of theone fromWrath of the Lich King, which depicted the frozen ramparts of Icecrown Citadel. In many ways, with similar structures yet a different feel,Dragonflight’slogin screen is its foil.
Fans were in awe of the beautiful scene from theDragonflightlogin screen. TheWorld of Warcraftart team consistently delivers high-quality content, and this screen is no different. Many players especially enjoyed how the open aesthetic of the screen clearly communicated thepositive shift in toneDragonflightis creatingwith its story so far.
That said, players do have one major question about the new login screen: where are all the dragons? One of the greatest parts of the cinematic trailer forDragonflightwas seeing all the dragons coloring the sky around Tyrhold. Yet, in the login screen, the idyllic sky is quiet and empty, bereft of any creatures whatsoever. It is possible the login screen will have another layer of animation added to it in the future, like howSindragosa flies into the foreground inWrath of the Lich King’slogin screen. Players will have to wait and see if any dragons–perhaps Alexstrasza herself–swoop into the login screen when it is finally added to the game.
World of Warcraftis available now on PC, with theDragonflightexpansion set to launch later this year.
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