World of Warcraft's "War Within" expansion reveals a new login screen, sparking debate among fans. While not yet live in the beta, a glimpse of the design – a rotating ring encircling the expansion's logo – has surfaced, courtesy of game developer Ghost. This departure from tradition, which typically showcases iconic gateways, features a more minimalist, ring-shaped design reminiscent of earthen architecture. This design, while appreciated by some for its simplicity and thematic consistency within the Worldsoul Saga, has drawn criticism from others who find it less visually striking than previous iterations and lament the abandonment of the long-standing gateway motif. The login screen's final design remains subject to change before the expansion's August 26th release.

The new screen deviates from the established pattern of previous expansion login screens, each featuring a distinct portal or architectural landmark. A chronological list includes: Vanilla's Dark Portal (Azeroth), Burning Crusade's Dark Portal (Outland), Wrath of the Lich King's Icecrown Citadel gate, Cataclysm's Stormwind gate, Mists of Pandaria's Vale of Eternal Blossoms monoliths, Warlords of Draenor's Dark Portal (Draenor), Legion's Burning Legion gate, Battle for Azeroth's Lordaeron gate, Shadowlands' Icecrown Citadel gate, and Dragonflight's Tyrhold arches in Valdrakken. The "War Within" login screen, some argue, bears an unexpected resemblance to the Hearthstone main menu. Ultimately, the reception to the new design is mixed, highlighting the significant role these login screens play in the overall player experience and the nostalgic attachment fans have to their visual history.