Summary
- The Feast of Winter Veil in World of Warcraft mirrors Christmas, offering annual special rewards and new items.
- A lore video, in collaboration with PlatinumWoW, explores the holiday's origins, including Dwarven myths, a Titan-forged giant, and Tauren traditions.
- The video also covers the commercialization of Winter Veil by Smokeywood Pastures and the recurring kidnappings of Metzen the Reindeer.
World of Warcraft has teamed up with PlatinumWoW to bring players an engaging lore video that delves into the rich history of the Feast of Winter Veil. This in-game event, akin to Christmas, returns annually with unique rewards and activities, often introducing new collectibles that players can acquire through various in-game methods.
The newly released video, narrated by World of Warcraft lore expert PlatinumWoW, provides a comprehensive look at the holiday's origins. It covers the Dwarven myth of Greatfather Winter, a Titan-forged giant who leaves a trail of snow, and the Tauren's traditions of spiritual reflection, renewal, and gratitude towards the Earthmother. Additionally, the video explains the rise of Smokeywood Pastures, a Goblin-run enterprise that has commercialized Winter Veil, drawing parallels to real-world Christmas celebrations.
A highlight of the video is the story of Metzen the Reindeer, named after Warcraft executive creative director Chris Metzen. This unfortunate reindeer has been kidnapped multiple times throughout World of Warcraft's history—first by pirates and Dark Iron Dwarves in Classic, and later by the Greench in the modern version of the game. The video humorously concludes with Metzen the Reindeer thanking viewers in Thrall's voice, a nod to Chris Metzen's iconic role as the voice of the Orc Shaman.
This collaboration with PlatinumWoW is part of a series of content creator partnerships Blizzard has engaged in recently. PlatinumWoW has previously provided lore breakdowns on topics like Nerubians, Vrykul, the Scourge, World Trees, and Blackrock Depths, as well as guides for events such as Season of Discovery and Plunderstorm. Other notable collaborations include Taliesin & Evitel's tips for returning players in Dragonflight and Hurricane's cinematic trailers for World of Warcraft Classic.
Players have until January 5, 2024, to participate in this year's Feast of Winter Veil. This year, Hunters can tame the Dreaming Festive Reindeer, and all players can collect new holiday transmogs and the Grunch pet. After their real-life celebrations, fans are encouraged to log in and check under the tree in Orgrimmar or Stormwind for a special Winter Veil gift, similar to last year's Junior Timekeeper's Racing Belt toy.