WoW Shadowlands: Are the previous expansions necessary?

In the good old days, when WoW expansions were manageable, each add-on required ownership of the previous expansions. We clarify whether that's still the case in 2021 with the current Shadowlands.

All the content in one expansion: there are no additional purchases for Shadowlands.

Due to the long run of the game and the many expansions, Blizzard changed this system years ago.

WoW Shadowlands: The previous expansions are not necessary

In the meantime, it looks like this:

• If you want to play Shadowlands, you do not have to buy all the previous expansions (such as Battle for Azeroth) separately. It is enough to buy Shadowlands.
• This also applies to the base game (1.0) - this is also not necessary, because Shadowlands combines all WoW content.
• In addition, however, you always need an active game subscription.

This system will continue after Shadowlands. This means that when the next expansion comes (probably 2022), it will fully replace Shadowlands. The purchase entitles then again to play all content.