The armor design in the concept art, along with the style of the longsword, clearly pointed toward a fantasy game set in a world of magic. Among the fantasy titles developed by PixelPioneers, there was only one obvious answer: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
Many players immediately concluded that Frostmourne was destined to become one of the legendary weapons in the next chapter of the Elder Scrolls saga, holding a status comparable to the series' most iconic items.
The reasoning seemed perfectly sound. Back in Skyrim, the World-Eater Alduin had never truly been defeated. His physical form had merely been destroyed, while his soul endured. Someday, in the distant future, Alduin would inevitably return, bringing ruin once more to the world of Tamriel, including the beautiful province of Skyrim.
To countless fans, the conclusion was obvious. This mysterious new project had to be a direct sequel, and the legendary blade known as Frostmourne would likely become the divine weapon wielded by the Dragonborn to destroy Alduin once and for all.
Then came even wilder theories. Since the name Frostmourne represented the power of ice, surely there would also be legendary weapons embodying fire, lightning, and earth. Perhaps every elemental force would possess its own sacred weapon. The Dragonborn would embark on a journey to collect each artifact before confronting Alduin's soul in one final, world-ending battle.
The more players discussed it, the more convincing the theory became. Across every gaming forum, Skyrim fans were overflowing with excitement. Even though John had done nothing more than upload a single piece of concept art to his social account, players had already imagined an entire sequel in astonishing detail.
Discussion threads exploded overnight. Even renowned mod creators had already begun designing replacement weapon mods based on Frostmourne's appearance.
The following morning, John browsed through the countless discussions online, his expression becoming increasingly complicated.
First, someone had claimed on the gaming forums that PixelPioneers was assembling a film production crew, suggesting that the company's next project would feature a fantasy setting. Then he had casually posted a single concept illustration. How, exactly, had everyone managed to invent an entire sequel from that?
Not only had they guessed the game's setting, but they had practically written the complete storyline for the next Elder Scrolls title. Reading page after page of increasingly elaborate fan theories left John completely speechless.
As the discussions intensified, he noticed that communities had reached exactly the same conclusion. More and more players confidently declared that PixelPioneers' next game was unquestionably The Elder Scrolls VI.
That was when John started to panic. He had absolute confidence in the quality of Warcraft, but there were two unavoidable realities.
First, RTS games had become an increasingly niche genre.
Second, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim occupied an almost untouchable position in players' hearts. It wasn't just a commercial success; it had become one of the most celebrated games ever released by a domestic studio, earning international Game of the Year recognition.
If everyone convinced themselves that Warcraft was Skyrim's long-awaited sequel, the consequences would be disastrous. The greater the expectations... the greater the disappointment. Players who expected another Elder Scrolls adventure would inevitably compare the two games.
But how could they? They weren't even remotely the same genre. Players would naturally judge Warcraft using Skyrim's greatest strengths, its freedom, open-world exploration, role-playing depth, and player choice.
How was a real-time strategy game supposed to compete in those areas? It simply couldn't. That misunderstanding had to be stopped immediately.
Watching the rumors spread like wildfire, John decided it was time to reveal some genuine information. At the very least, players needed to understand one thing: Warcraft was not the sequel to Skyrim.
Without hesitation, he opened his social account, while instructing his assistant to notify both the Warcraft website team and the marketing department to monitor his upcoming announcement.
Meanwhile, players across gaming communities were still enthusiastically debating Frostmourne and its possible significance. Then John's new post appeared. It was short and direct. Impossible to misunderstand.
[ New game announcement. Warcraft is a brand-new original IP and a brand-new RTS game. As for the Elder Scrolls sequel everyone has been hoping for, we already have an ambitious long-term plan, but don't expect to see it anytime soon. ]
There was no room for interpretation. This wasn't the Elder Scrolls sequel everyone had imagined. It was an entirely original universe. Still, to reassure disappointed fans, John hinted that the Elder Scrolls series was far from over and that future plans already existed.
The moment the announcement went live, PixelPioneers shared it across every platform. Players, journalists, and game developers alike were stunned. So this wasn't the next Elder Scrolls after all? It was a completely original IP? And... an RTS game?
Ordinary players were simply surprised. People inside the gaming industry, however, were genuinely bewildered. An RTS? In today's global market? RTS had become one of the most niche genres in gaming. Only a loyal community of hardcore strategy fans remained active, with even successful titles maintaining modest player populations compared to mainstream releases.
Then everyone remembered another game, Red Alert. It had also been released by PixelPioneers. While it wasn't a massive AAA blockbuster, its fast-paced gameplay, accessible mechanics, and emphasis on pure entertainment had made it one of the genre's biggest modern success stories.
Some hardcore competitive RTS veterans criticized Red Alert for being too casual but nobody could deny its popularity. Clearly, Warcraft was likely following a similar philosophy.
Then another realization spread through the community. Players remembered the numerous connections hidden throughout Red Alert, its references to Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, its links to Assassin's Creed, and the countless easter eggs woven into its universe.
Suddenly, an incredibly bold theory emerged. What if Warcraft wasn't just another standalone RTS? What if it was another large-scale narrative project connected to multiple franchises?
Perhaps, just as Red Alert had quietly established connections between different universes, Warcraft would become the foundation of an even larger fantasy world. Maybe it would eventually intersect with The Elder Scrolls itself. After all, hadn't John already hinted that the Elder Scrolls series had "an ambitious long-term plan?" Could this be the beginning of it?
The theory spread through the internet at astonishing speed. Within hours, countless players had already constructed an enormous interconnected universe inside their own imaginations.
Once again... PixelPioneers had everyone talking.