World of Warcraft’s New D.R.I.V.E. Mount Explained

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As a long-time World of Warcraft enthusiast who has traversed countless virtual landscapes since the game’s inception, I can confidently say that the upcoming D.R.I.V.E. mount is set to revolutionize my gaming experience. The prospect of a ground mount outpacing even the fearsome Dragonriding speed is exhilarating!

The classic game World of Warcraft celebrates its 20th birthday, with Blizzard’s 30th Anniversary Direct providing an in-depth look at the game’s past, present, and future. During this presentation, Blizzard revealed details about the upcoming patch for World of Warcraft: The War Within, named “Undermined.” This exciting update will transport players to the goblin city of Undermine where they can join forces with the goblin cartel as the narrative continues. Unlike previous ground adventures, players won’t just walk through Undermine’s streets; instead, a new high-speed ground mount called D.R.I.V.E. will be introduced in this expansion.

In a recent group chat with Mark Kelada, the lead quest designer for World of Warcraft, we discussed the details of the new D.R.I.V.E. mount featured in the 30th Anniversary Direct for Warcraft. Kelada explained the extent of customization options, speed capabilities, and future features that players can anticipate with this unique ride.

A Breakdown of World of Warcraft’s D.R.I.V.E. Mount

World of Warcraft’s New D.R.I.V.E. Mount Has the Potential to Be Its Fastest Yet

As a seasoned World of Warcraft gamer, let me tell you about the new D.R.I.V.E. mount that’s causing quite a buzz. While its unmatched customization is certainly impressive, what really gets gamers talking is its speed – it’s faster than any standard ground mount in the game. But here’s the kicker, this speed can be cranked up even more through customization! This makes me wonder if the developers have considered whether players will be able to handle this blazing fast ride without constantly bumping into walls. You see, soaring above cities is one thing, but tearing through them at breakneck speeds with what’s about to become WoW’s fastest ground mount? That could be a whole new ball game! When I brought up this concern, Kelada, the developer, simply replied: “Stay tuned for more updates on D.R.I.V.E., players!

Is the hot rod easy to control so it doesn’t collide with walls? That really depends on both the driver’s abilities and the car itself. The speed of this hot rod is around 3 to 5 times faster than a standard ground vehicle without any modifications, and at its maximum speed, it’s approximately 10% quicker than Dragonriding for a brief period. To put it simply, it’s incredibly fast! Controlling it is quite challenging, but if you manage, you’ll have achieved Mach 10 speed and broken the sound barrier.

Indeed, just as Kelada pointed out, it’s only through D.R.I.V.E.’s customization features that such speed can be attained – a level of personalization unparalleled in the realm of mounts within World of Warcraft. Currently, Dragonriding is approximately 6.5 times faster than a character’s running speed on foot, making it hard to envision D.R.I.V.E. surpassing this speed, particularly as a ground-based mount. However, Kelada hinted that reaching D.R.I.V.E.’s top speed might be challenging for players, but Ion Hazzikostas, the game director, stated during the Warcraft 30th Anniversary Direct that Undermine was designed with speed in mind.

Players Will Be Able to Customize and Even Race the New D.R.I.V.E. Mount

During the 30th Anniversary Direct, Hazzikostas shared some fundamental details about the D.R.I.V.E. mount. However, Kelada revealed additional specifics during the subsequent interview, such as a concept that’s still under development and hasn’t been put into practice yet. Delving deeper into the versatile customization possibilities of D.R.I.V.E., Kelada mentioned this undeveloped idea as well.

Regarding customization options, here’s a breakdown: You can tailor your vehicle to favor grip or drift more; enhance efficiency by focusing on boost or prioritize maximum speed; adjust engine characteristics for a balance between top speed and acceleration; and of course, color choices are essential too. Lastly, we’re brainstorming about incorporating a cartel associate who can join you in the hot rod, offering some sort of aid during the ride.

It’s uncertain at this point which of these various choices will resonate most with players, as it depends on personal preference. To help find the ideal match, players might benefit from trying out multiple build options. Moreover, the full extent of customization for the D.R.I.V.E mount with the Undermined patch may not have been disclosed by Kelada and Hazzikostas yet, so more possibilities could surface later on.

To address a question that some players might have been wondering about, let me clear up any confusion regarding the Skyriding races in the game “WoW: The War Within”. These races are triggered by Time Keepers found throughout each zone. Now, with the introduction of the new D.R.I.V.E. mount for the current patch, there was speculation about whether Undermined would also include these timed races. To put your concerns to rest, Kelada has provided an answer: yes, Undermined will indeed have Skyriding races for the D.R.I.V.E. mount. Enjoy the competition!

Here’s my take:

The developers were queried about the possibility of D.R.I.V.E. eventually acquiring the skill to fly, to which Hazzikostas humorously hinted at some “Back to the Future” references regarding this notion, but it’s not a feature Blizzard is currently exploring. However, D.R.I.V.E. represents a significant advancement for World of Warcraft mounts, and it will be intriguing to observe its development, particularly if the hot rod becomes usable in various locations at some point in the future. For the time being, players will have to restrict their adventures to the streets of Undermine once the update rolls out in 2025; however, this might just allow the new mount to fully demonstrate its capabilities.

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2024-11-16 15:53