Blizzard Entertainment’s community representative Zarhym has confirmed the World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Friends and Family Alpha testing began today, allowing hundreds of players to roam the new revamped lands of Azeroth.The world has been shaken to its foundations by a global earthquake originated in Deepholm, a newly accessible region to the west of Burning Steppes, with the reemergence of Deathwing the Dragon Aspect of Earth.Old school WarCraft gamers might remember Deathwing’s debut in WarCraft II:: Tides of Darkness and WarCraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal.The black dragon has seen a lot of spotlight in the WarCraft lore outside the game in WarCraft: Day of the Dragon, WarCraft: Night of the Dragon and WarCraft: War of the Ancients. Novels written by New York Times Bestselling author Richard A. Knaak. Deathwing also appears in World of WarCraft: Beyond the Dark Portal by Aaron Rosenberg and Christie Golden.World of WarCraft: Cataclysm Beta Testing has no ETA at the moment, but it’s clear it won’t be long before closed beta starts. Possibly by the end of this summer.
“Yes, we can confirm that the Family & Friends phase of the testing process for World of Warcraft: Cataclysm has begun. The closed beta test phase has not yet started, but we will provide updated information when it does.
This phase of testing is under a confidentiality agreement. As we get further along in the testing process and open it up to the public, the NDA will be lifted.” — said a Blizzard Entertainment representative.
