Western Digital has outlined the roadmap for the next increases in storage capacity up to 30 TB, but without giving specific dates. In addition, the next form of Energy-Assisted Perpendicular Magnetic Recording aka ePMR 2 was addressed.
A roadmap without dates
The roadmap timeline has no data, so it is only a rough guide and reflects expectations. After the new models with 22 TB and a conventional recording method (Conventional Magnetic Recording, CMR) and 26 TB with the help of Shingled Magnetic Recording (SMR) with overlapping data tracks, Western Digital is planning steady increases of a further 2 TB each. The next tiers are 24TB with CMR and 28TB with SMR. This is followed by 26 TB with CMR and 30 TB with SMR.
The roadmap from 2020, on the other hand, was much more specific, but could be outdated by now.
Roadmap from January 2020 (Image: Western Digital) MAMR could be hiding behind ePMR 2
In addition to a further increase in the number of magnetic discs, an increase in areal density is to be expected through more tracks per inch (tracks per inch, TPI). A new form of Energy-Assisted Perpendicular Magnetic Recording (ePMR) is to be used here, which Western Digital is now calling ePMR 2. The figure and its description indicate: A Spin Torque Oscillator (STO) is used.
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Western Digital: ePMR 2
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Western Digital:ePMR 2 
Western Digital: ePMR In a question and answer session in front of media representatives, to which ComputerBase was also invited, Western Digital did not want to explicitly confirm that Microwave Assisted Magnetic Recording (MAMR) was involved . Western Digital was the first manufacturer to hold the prospect of MAMR, but surprisingly postponed the introduction of the technology and instead presented its first version of ePMR.
Toshiba, on the other hand, has the first MAMR hard drives already placed on the market, but only reach up to 18 TB; 20 TB coming soon. Only the second generation should achieve up to 30 TB with improved MAMR technology (MAS-MAMR instead of FC-MAMR).
It remains to be seen what exactly will come after ePMR 2 from Western Digital hides and when the technology will find its way. The older roadmap had forecast a change from ePMR to MAMR or HAMR for 2023 at the earliest.