The Turtle Restoration Project (TRP) enhances the world maps and loading screens of World of Warcraft’s classic era (version 1.12.1) through machine learning upscaling, tailored specifically for Turtle WoW. Created to complement the server’s fan-made expansion, Mysteries of Azeroth, TRP aligns with the server’s mission to deepen players’ connection to the Vanilla WoW world, capturing Azeroth’s timeless sense of adventure."Ye think ye know the lands o' Azeroth, do ye? There's much yet to discover, if yer willing to seek it."
– Brann Bronzebeard
At higher resolutions, the original Vanilla maps and loading screens appear blurry and lack detail. TRP addresses this by doubling the in-game resolution of map and loading screen files, while effectively increasing visual detail up to four times. The result is a sharper, more immersive experience that enhances exploration and transitions, while preserving Azeroth’s iconic charm.
Note: While TRP aims for high-resolution quality, the limitations of the old WoW engine require careful adjustments to avoid crashes or instability. As a result, the final quality may not fully match the resolution of current retail WoW assets but should come impressively close.
TRP is built in a modular way, following a three-phase approach for each map:
- Upscaling and Fixing Major Errors:
Initial upscaling of the map and addressing any prominent errors that may arise. - Refining Labels:
Adjusting and improving labels, such as city names and region titles, to ensure clarity and alignment. - Enhancing Visual Details:
Adding final touches to enhance other design elements for a polished, immersive look.
Project Progress
Below is an overview of the current progress on TRP. Each zone goes through three stages: Upscaling, Relabeling, and Enhancement. The checkmark indicates completion of that stage for each zone.
| Zone | Upscaled | Relabelled | Enhanced |
| World Overview |  | ||
| Eastern Kingdoms Overview | | ||
| Kalimdor Overview | | ||
| Capitals | | ||
| Durotar | In Progress | ||
| Elwynn Forest | In Progress | ||
| ... |
How to Use
Download the Patch-T.mpq here.
Find all files (and more information) on GitHub!
The enhanced maps of the Turtle Restoration Project (TRP) come as a MPQ patch. To install them, simply place the provided Patch-T.mpq file in the /Data directory of your WoW installation.
The path should look like this:
WoW/Data/Patch-T.mpq
Once placed correctly, the enhanced maps will be automatically loaded in-game upon next start.
Known Issues
Below is a list of known issues currently affecting the Turtle Restoration Project. Each issue includes a brief description, status, and relevant notes. This section will be updated as fixes or workarounds are implemented. If you come across other issues, please report them by opening an issue on GitHub (preferred) or commenting on this post.
| Issue | Description | Status | Notes |
| Overlapping Alpha Borders | Borders between explored and unexplored areas have overlapping alpha channels, resulting in a checkerboard effect. | Acknowledged | Investigating potential fixes. |
| General Glitches | Some areas of the upscaled maps display graphical glitches, particularly noticeable in Thunder Bluff. | Investigating | Likely to be addressed in the next update. |
| Label Font Issues | Some city and region labels appear distorted after machine learning upscaling. | Scheduled for Phase 2 | Requires manual relabeling for clarity. |
| Blurry Zoom Levels | When using the Magnify add-on, certain zoom levels show reduced sharpness. | Investigating | Likely caused by engine limitations. |
Support the Project
The Turtle Restoration Project (TRP) is a solo, passion-driven effort to enhance the classic World of Warcraft experience. If you enjoy the improvements TRP brings to Turtle WoW and would like to support further development, you might consider a small, voluntary contribution.
- Ko-fi – Buy me a coffee to show your appreciation and help fund the project.
- PayPal – One-time donations are also greatly appreciated.
Thank you for being part of the TRP journey and helping to bring Azeroth to life in new ways!
Change 2024-11-07: I updated the repository and replaced the loose files with a conveniently packed Patch-T.mpq. I changed the setup instructions here and included a direct download link as well.
Change 2024-11-07_2: Added Alah'Thalas and a secret island, so all capitals are included now! Just get the new Patch-T.mpq and you're golden!
