Heartfelt Tribute NPC to Embellish World of Warcraft in Patch 11.1

World of Warcraft Patch 11.1: A Tribute to Mats Steen and Undermine's New Content

World of Warcraft's upcoming Patch 11.1 is shaping up to be a significant update, featuring both new content in Undermine and a touching tribute to the late Mats Steen, the subject of the documentary "The Remarkable Life of Ibelin."

Datamined information reveals the addition of Lord Ibelin Redmoore, an NPC directly inspired by Steen's iconic World of Warcraft character. The NPC's title, Private Investigator, is a nod to Steen's renowned roleplaying career as a detective in Stormwind. While the exact nature of this in-game tribute remains a mystery, it's expected to be a heartfelt addition to the game.

Patch 11.1, the first major content expansion for "World of Warcraft: The War Within," promises exciting new adventures within the Goblin city of Undermine. While an official release date is pending, the current schedule for the "Turbulent Timeways" event suggests a launch around February 25th.

Lord Ibelin Redmoore's inclusion transcends the Undermine expansion. His appearance, mirroring Steen's character model from the documentary, is a particularly poignant detail. Even though Steen passed away in 2014, before the Warlords of Draenor character model update, his in-game legacy lives on. Steen, through his Ibelin character, was a beloved roleplayer and member of the Starlight guild, known for his engaging interactions with fellow players in Stormwind.

Speculation abounds on how this tribute will manifest in the game. Some players imagine Ibelin patrolling Stormwind's taverns, others envision him following Steen's familiar route through various zones. His potential appearance on the Public Test Realm (PTR) months before the official release could offer an early glimpse.

This marks the third tribute to Ibelin within World of Warcraft. Previous tributes include a replica of his real-life grave and the Reven fox pet and backpack sold in a charity bundle benefiting CureDuchenne. These multiple memorials highlight the profound impact Steen's story had on the World of Warcraft community.