Description
The world gets new lighting and global illumination, volumetric fog and god rays, a new water renderer and real-time shadows. Artists applied it zone by zone.
Details
Blizzard examples: 'rivers that flow through Elwynn Forest, mist over the waters of Darkshore, and moonlight breaking through the trees' Game Informer lists new lighting and global illumination, volumetric particle effects, a new water renderer and real-time shadows Warcraft Wiki and EGW list 'new lighting and global illumination, volumetric fog and god rays, improved water graphics and shadows' Warcraft Tavern: Holly Longdale said the team prioritized 'lighting and water'. Ion Hazzikostas described Duskwood at night with patrollers carrying torches and lanterns lit in real time. Environment artists placed the lighting by hand in each zone; it was not an automatic engine update Inven Global: 'efforts are concentrated on enhancing environmental effects such as lighting and water' while fine objects and textures stay unchanged
Confidence note
confirmed_official (examples); reported (technical feature list)