wow Preparing for the Pre-patch: Updated System Requirements, Driver Updates and More

[Staff 869]

 

Blizzard have tweeted some helpful links for the pre-patch coming to the NA servers tomorrow, with a look at the updated system requirements, driver updates and more:

‼️ The #Shadowlands Pre-Patch launches tomorrow! Helpful links ⬇️.
➡️ Explore the Updates: https://t.co/jSM14donfM
➡️ Driver Update Info: https://t.co/ouUtyHGuYE
➡️ Updated System Requirements: https://t.co/hhOXxQOU88

— Blizzard CS - The Americas (@BlizzardCS) October 12, 2020

Here are the updates themselves:

System Requirements (source)

Below are the minimum and recommended system specifications of the Shadowlands® expansion for World of Warcraft® on Windows® and Mac®. Due to potential programming changes, the minimum system requirements for World of Warcraft may change over time.

• Windows
• Mac

Windows

	Minimum Requirements	Recommended Specifications
Operating System	Windows® 7 64-bit	Windows® 10 64-bit
Processor	Intel® Core™ i5-3450 AMD FX™ 8300	Intel® Core™ i7-6700K AMD Ryzen™ 7 2700X
Video	NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 760 2 GB or AMD Radeon™ RX 560 2 GB or Intel® UHD Graphics 630 (45W TDP) *Requires manufacturer's driver support.	NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1080 8 GB or AMD Radeon™ RX Vega 64 8 GB or better
Memory	4GB RAM (8GB if using supported integrated graphics)	8GB RAM
Storage	Solid State Drive (SSD) 100GB available space Or Hard Disk Drive (HDD) 100GB available space (depending on the performance of the drive, player experience may be impacted on HDD)	Solid State Drive (SSD) 100GB available space
Internet	Broadband internet connection
Input	Keyboard and mouse required. Other input devices are not supported.	Multi-button mouse with scroll wheel
Resolution	1024 x 768 minimum display resolution

Note: Due to potential changes, the System Requirements for this game may change over time.

 

Driver Update (source)

Out-of-date drivers and operating systems can cause a variety of issues and are one of the first things to check when a game is having problems. The instructions below will help you check and update your drivers.

• Even new computers can have out-of-date drivers and operating systems because updates are released routinely.
• Some games and programs might run fine on a system with old drivers, but outdated drivers can still create technical issues with specific games or programs.
• Check our supported video cards articles to make sure your hardware is compatible:
  • World of Warcraft
  • Hearthstone
  • StarCraft II
  • Diablo III
  • Heroes of the Storm
  • Overwatch

Refer to the steps below to update drivers and software for your operating system. 

 

Explore the Update (source)

To help you prepare for the upcoming Shadowlands pre-expansion patch and plan your adventures from now until Shadowlands arrives, we’ve compiled a variety of helpful information.

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Character Boost Changes

With the upcoming character-level conversions in Shadowlands, Character Boosts will also change once the pre-expansion patch is live. You’ll want to plan ahead for how you want to use your boosts.

• Level 120 Character Boosts will boost characters to level 50 after the pre-expansion patch.
• Level 110 Character Boosts will boost characters to level 48 after the pre-expansion patch.

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Levels, Items, and Stats Adjusted

With the pre-expansion patch, levels, items, and stats will be adjusted to make reaching a new level feel more meaningful while simultaneously making the leveling experience faster than before. Characters at level 120 will become level 50 after the content update. To help you understand how the change will affect your character’s level, we’ve pulled together this handy conversion table.

Battle for Azeroth Level	Shadowlands Level	Battle for Azeroth Level	Shadowlands Level
120	50	60–63	25
118–119	49	57–59	24
116–117	48	54–56	23
114–115	47	51–53	22
112–113	46	48–50	21
110–111	45	45–47	20
108–109	44	43–44	19
106–107	43	41–42	18
104–105	42	39–40	17
102–103	41	37–38	16
100–101	40	35–36	15
98–99	39	32–34	14
96–97	38	29–31	13
94–95	37	26–28	12
92–93	36	23–25	11
90–91	35	20–22	10
88–89	34	18–19	9
86–87	33	16–17	8
84–85	32	14–15	7
82–83	31	12–13	6
80–81	30	10–11	5
76–79	29	8–9	4
72–75	28	5–7	3
68–71	27	2–4	2
64–67	26	1	1

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New Starting Experience: Exile's Reach 

Exile's Reach is an all-new starting experience that will take you on an excursion to a faraway island and introduce you to the fundamentals of playing World of Warcraft and your chosen class. If you’re new to World of Warcraft and have never created or leveled a character, you will automatically begin your journey into Azeroth with the starting experience. If you’re a veteran player or you’ve leveled a character before, you can choose to opt out of the starting experience and begin instead at level 1 in the starting area for your race. 

Upon reaching level 10, new players will continue their journey through Battle for Azeroth and into Shadowlands. [LEARN MORE]

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/New Player Has Joined the Chat

After creating your new character and beginning your journey into World of Warcraft for the first time, you will automatically be added to a Newcomer Chat channel, where you can talk with other new players and seek advice from experienced players on the same faction who will be your guides as you level through the new starting zone of Exile's Reach. New players and guides will be able to recognize one another in the chat channels and by icons above their characters' heads that only they can see. Upon reaching level 20, new players will continue the journey ahead on their own and will no longer have access to the Newcomer Chat. 

If you're a veteran player and interested in guiding new players as they experience World of Warcraft for the first time, head over to Stormwind or Orgrimmar and speak to the guide recruiter once you've met the following criteria:

• Have an account in good standing
• Reach level 50
• Complete 3,000 quests
• Earn at least two of the following achievements: Terrific Trio, Rival: Battle for Azeroth Season Four, Battle for Azeroth Keystone Conqueror: Season Four, The Waking Dream, or We Have the Technology.

If you no longer wish to be a guide, you can speak to guide recruiter once again. 

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Timewalking Campaigns 

Players who have already experienced Battle for Azeroth and reached level 50 on at least one character can choose to level any subsequent characters in a different expansion using Timewalking Campaigns. This new feature allows content from locations like Northrend or Pandaria to scale to a player’s level, so they can adventure from level 10 all the way to 50 and experience the stories of these areas at their originally intended pacing. Visit Chromie near the embassies in Stormwind or Orgrimmar to select your expansion leveling experience. If you'd like to select a different expansion to level through, simply speak to Chromie again. 

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Recruit A Friend Updates

With the upcoming release of Shadowlands and the leveling adjustments that come with it, we’re making a few changes to Recruit A Friend. Beginning with the release of the pre-expansion patch, characters who are created by a recruited friend* will receive a unique 30-slot bag—the Extra-Spacious Knapsack—upon completing their adventure in Exile’s Reach as a part of the new player experience.

The additional experience boost that currently exists for recruited players and recruiters who party together will be phased out before the launch of Shadowlands. All other rewards available with the Recruit A Friend program will continue to be available for recruiters.

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Appearance Change Service for Shadowlands Retiring Soon

With the release of the pre-expansion patch, players will be able to seek out a Barber Shop for a variety of character-customization options, including the ability to change your character’s gender, hair, facial features, and more. Due to this upcoming new in-game option, the Appearance Change service for Shadowlands will be retired from the Blizzard Shop prior to the release of the pre-patch.

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Recruiting Allied Races

Players who are seeking to recruit a new Allied Race to their side will no longer need to earn Exalted reputation with their associated faction once the pre-expansion patch goes live. Players will still need to complete any achievements and story quests associated with the Allied Race to gain access, however.

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Battle for Azeroth PvP Season 4 Ends and the Post-Season Begins

The gates will soon close on Battle for Azeroth PvP Season 4 with the release of the Shadowlands pre-expansion patch. Don’t worry though, you’ll still be able to take part in competitive PvP in a special post-season, which will end with the launch of the expansion. The new Shadowlands Season 1 will then go live shortly after the launch of Shadowlands.

If you participated in Season 4, to ensure you receive the rewards that you’re due, please keep the following in mind:

• Refrain from transferring your character(s) to another realm or faction until after Battle for Azeroth Season 4 has ended.
• Battle for Azeroth Season 4 titles and mounts will be awarded approximately two weeks after the season ends.

Faction-Based Rewards

Don’t forget—end-of-season rewards are based on your faction. If you transfer your character to the other faction, you must have 50 wins after your transfer to receive the reward and 150 wins after your transfer to earn Gladiator and Corrupted Gladiator.

Jump Into Post-Season

Once the pre-expansion patch is live, we’ll be kicking off a special post-season that last until the launch of Shadowlands. While placement on the season ladder is locked for any end-of-season rewards such as the Gladiator mount or title, players will be able to continue to earn Conquest towards the Conquest Schedule, gain random PvP loot, and collect catch-up gear rewarded from strongboxes. Players will also be able to purchase Corrupted Aspirant gear from vendors located in Stormwind and Orgrimmar.

Leaderboards Temporarily Offline
Please note that PvP Leaderboards will not be available once the pre-expansion patch goes live but will become available again with the start of the new Shadowlands PvP season.

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Earning Flight in Warlords of Draenor and Legion

With the release of the Shadowlands pre-expansion patch, flying in Warlords of Draenor and Legion will no longer require earning the achievements Draenor Pathfinder and Broken Isles Pathfinder, Part Two, respectively.

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Time Runs Short: Battle for Azeroth

With the last days of Battle for Azeroth almost upon us, you’ll want to make sure you’re tying up any last tasks or goals you have. Check out our article to learn more.

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Check back for more updates as we get closer to the release of the Shadowlands pre-expansion patch.

 

*Players who are recruited prior to the release of the Shadowlands pre-expansion patch will not receive the new 30-slot bag, the Extra-Spacious Knapsack.