The End of One Era, The Start of Another
Blizzard has officially announced the end of Season of Discovery—a bold and experimental take on World of Warcraft Classic. With the release of Phase 8 in April 2025, the curtain falls on this seasonal adventure, and all eyes are now turning to Blizzard’s next major WoW Classic project. Whether you’ve followed every phase or are just catching up, here’s everything you need to know about what’s ending, what’s continuing, and what’s coming next.
Season of Discovery Ends with Phase 8
The final chapter of Season of Discovery launched in April 2025, introducing Phase 8, the most content-rich update of the season. This phase includes:
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The long-anticipated Scarlet Enclave raid
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An epic Legendary weapon questline
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Outdoor content with new events and story-driven gameplay
After several successful content phases, Blizzard has confirmed that no further updates will follow Phase 8, marking the official end of Season of Discovery’s development.
Servers Will Remain Online Indefinitely
Although active development is ending, Season of Discovery servers are not shutting down. Like Classic Era realms, they will remain online and fully playable. Players can continue leveling, raiding, PvPing, and exploring the world without disruption.
This move ensures the community can revisit Season of Discovery anytime and that progress won’t be lost. It also opens the door for possible replays or community-driven events in the future.
Why Blizzard Is Ending Season of Discovery
Blizzard’s development team, led by Josh “Aggrend” Greenfield, explained that the decision isn’t about scrapping the project—it’s about finishing what was planned. The team wanted to deliver a full, closed-ended experience, and Phase 8 wraps up that vision.
Ending Season of Discovery now allows the Classic team to shift resources toward developing new Classic experiences, which fans are eagerly anticipating.
Eastern Plaguelands
What’s Inside Phase 8: Final Features Breakdown
Here’s what Phase 8 brought to the table:
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The Scarlet Enclave: A full-fledged raid set in Eastern Plaguelands
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Dreadlord Balnazzar: A new high-end boss with lore significance
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Legendary Weapon Questline: A unique, class-agnostic reward
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Outdoor Events: New stories and open-world content for all players
This phase was originally not in Blizzard’s scope, but it was added in response to positive player feedback and demand for more endgame content.
Scarlet Enclave Raid
Free Level 85 Boost: A Reward for Finishing Strong
Players who defeat Dreadlord Balnazzar in Phase 8 before June 30, 2025, will receive a free Level 85 character boost for use in Mists of Pandaria Classic. This is Blizzard’s way of thanking dedicated players and helping them transition into the next phase of Classic.
The boost includes:
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One character instantly leveled to 85
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Gear appropriate for Pandaria content
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Ready-to-go professions and talent trees
It’s a great incentive for anyone still working through Phase 8 content.
What’s Next: Blizzard’s “Next Major Classic Project”
With Season of Discovery ending, Blizzard has officially confirmed that their team is now fully focused on their next major WoW Classic project. While no specifics have been announced yet, this next project is already in development.
Potential future projects may include:
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A second Season of Discovery with new twists
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Classic+ content expansions
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Fresh Classic realms with new progression systems
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Revamped seasonal formats for other Classic expansions
Fans should expect updates later in 2025—possibly during events like Gamescom, where Blizzard is expected to share more.
The Classic WoW Roadmap for 2025–2026
Blizzard’s Classic roadmap is clearer than ever. Here’s what’s officially confirmed:
| Timeline | Content |
|---|---|
| April 2025 | Season of Discovery ends with Phase 8 |
| July 2025 | Launch of Mists of Pandaria Classic |
| Early 2026 | Release of Burning Crusade Classic |
| TBD | New major Classic project |
This roadmap reveals Blizzard’s commitment to evolving WoW Classic across multiple expansions while still experimenting with new formats.
Key Takeaways
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Season of Discovery ends with Phase 8 in April 2025
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Scarlet Enclave is the final raid, featuring new bosses and lore
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Servers will stay online permanently—no shutdowns planned
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A free Level 85 boost is available for players who complete Phase 8 by June 30
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Blizzard is working on a brand-new Classic project to be revealed soon
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Mists of Pandaria Classic launches in July 2025, followed by BC Classic in 2026
FAQs
Q1. Is Season of Discovery officially over?
Yes. With Phase 8 released in April 2025, Blizzard has confirmed that no further content will be added.
Q2. Can I still play on Season of Discovery servers?
Absolutely. All servers will remain online and fully operational.
Q3. What is the Scarlet Enclave raid?
It’s the final raid of Season of Discovery, set in the Eastern Plaguelands and featuring Dreadlord Balnazzar.
Q4. How do I get the free Level 85 boost?
Defeat Balnazzar in the Scarlet Enclave by June 30, 2025, and Blizzard will award you a free boost for MoP Classic.
Q5. What is Blizzard’s next Classic project?
While still unannounced, development is underway. Fans expect a new seasonal format or a Classic+ expansion.
Q6. Is Mists of Pandaria Classic really coming in 2025?
Yes, it’s officially launching in July 2025, followed by BC Classic in early 2026.
Q7. Will there be fresh Classic servers?
Yes. Blizzard plans to offer fresh realms that can eventually progress into Burning Crusade Classic.
Season of Discovery might be over, but the Classic WoW journey is far from done. With new expansions, fresh realms, and secret projects in the works, there’s never been a better time to be part of the Classic community.