The Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year, is taking
place on the 29th of January this year as we say goodbye to the year of the rooster and hello to the year of the dog.
Sounds like a perfect time for Blizzard to add another World of Warcraft holiday, right?The Lunar New Year in World of Warcraft will be a time to pay respects to their elders and ancestors. Expect lots of fireworks, freebies, and a raid against Omen (pictured; seemingly inspired by Nian, a predator deeply embedded into the lore of the Chinese New Year), one "where newbies will be able to participate in fighting a raid-style boss," according to the press release.
As 1up suggests, celebrating Lunar New Year in WOW might be "an olive branch...to Chinese gamers who feel they are being discriminated against." While it is possible, we think it's more likely Blizzard is paying respects to a culture that welcomed the game with 1.5 million pairs of open arms.
IGN's RPG Vault has some exclusive screenshots, as well as the official Warcraft lore behind the holiday. The festivities will run from January 27th until February 14th.
[Updated: Fixed New Year's inaccuracies regarding the year of the dog]
[via WOW Insider]
