World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth pre-patch arrives next week

Just a bit of quick news for World of Warcraft players: the Battle for Azeroth pre-patch will arrive next week.

Blizzard announced today a World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth pre-patch will release on Tuesday, July 17 or Wednesday, July 18 depending upon region.

To help players prepare for the pre-expansion update, the studio has released a “Survival Guide” video providing an overview of what’s to come.

There are a variety of features and system changes included in the pre-patch. Each lays the groundwork for the expansion.

Here’s the list of features provided by Blizzard:

World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth pre-patch content

Battle for Azeroth Class Updates: The arrival of the Pre-Patch will bring with it significant changes for many of the classes and specs in the game. Players will be able to start practicing their updated spells and abilities, This gives them an edge as they set out to Kul Tiras or Zandalar in the expansion to seek out more power.
War Mode and PvP Updates: With the arrival of the Pre-Patch, the long-awaited War Mode will be available. Players will be able to toggle War Mode on or off when in Orgrimmar or Stormwind. When the mode is enabled, players are able to engage in world PvP – no matter what realm they’re on. The update includes an arsenal of changes to PvP talents and the Honor system.
Cross-realm Communities: Players will be able to create and join cross-realm communities. This new kind of social group makes it easier to connect with and play alongside others in your faction.

Players have plenty to look forward to in Battle for Azeroth. Those who pre-order will receive a level-110 character boost and the ability to recruit the first four of the new Allied Races.