Warcraft is a fantasy video game series and media franchise created by Blizzard Entertainment. The series includes six main games: Warcraft: Orcs & Humans (1994), Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness (1995), Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos (2002), World of Warcraft (2004), Hearthstone (2014), and Warcraft Rumble (2023). Originally a real-time strategy (RTS) series, Warcraft later expanded into other types of games, starting with World of Warcraft, which is a popular massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG). The franchise has also led to the creation of novels, comics, a tabletop role-playing game, a trading card game, and a 2016 movie.

The Warcraft universe is mainly set on the planet Azeroth, as well as other planets and imaginary dimensions. Azeroth is home to many different races and civilizations, including common fantasy races like elves, dwarves, gnomes, orcs, and trolls, along with races and creatures unique to the franchise. The stories focus on conflicts between the races and groups on Azeroth, often between the human-led Alliance and the orc-led Horde. These stories follow the actions of heroes and villains from both sides. While Warcraft is based on high fantasy, it also includes elements from science fiction and dark fantasy. The franchise stands out by showing "monster races" like orcs, trolls, and undead as main characters, giving them detailed development and complex moral choices.

The Warcraft franchise has been very successful, earning over $12 billion in money, making it one of the most profitable media franchises ever. The games have received high praise from critics: the first three Warcraft games are seen as important examples of the RTS genre, and World of Warcraft is considered the most popular and influential MMORPG of all time.

Video games

The first three games in the Warcraft series, along with their expansion packs, were released for both the PC and Macintosh computers. All of these games belonged to the real-time strategy genre. Each game continued the story from the previous ones and added new features to improve gameplay. The name "Warcraft" was suggested by Blizzard developer Sam Didier. According to Blizzard co-founder Allen Adham, the name was chosen because "it sounded super cool," without any specific meaning attached to it.

Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness was the first game in the series to allow online play through Battle.net, though this feature was added in a later version of the game. It was also the first game in the series to be re-released as a "Battle Chest," a package that included the original game and its expansion. Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos was the first game in the series to offer a Collector's Edition, a format that later games also used. Both Warcraft III and World of Warcraft later received "Battle Chest" versions after their initial releases. The "Battle.net" edition of Warcraft II was the first to use CD keys, requiring each player to own a copy of the game to connect online.

In 1998, an adventure game called Warcraft Adventures: Lord of the Clans was announced but later canceled, having been delayed from its original 1997 release date.

In 2004, Blizzard Entertainment shifted the Warcraft series away from the real-time strategy genre and released World of Warcraft, a massive multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG). This game required players to pay a subscription fee to play and introduced regular updates called patches. World of Warcraft became very popular worldwide, becoming the largest subscription-based MMORPG in 2008. The game reached a peak of 12 million players globally in October 2010. As of 2024, World of Warcraft has had ten expansions, with two more planned. During the development of StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, Blizzard co-founder Frank Pearce said, "If there's a team that's passionate about making another Warcraft real-time strategy game, we would consider it. But we are not working on it now. Our teams are focused on Cataclysm, StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, and Diablo III. When those projects are complete, they will be involved in future discussions."

In 2013, Blizzard announced a new free-to-play digital collectible card game called Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft. The beta version was available in summer 2013, and the game officially launched in March 2014. Hearthstone includes free-to-play basic gameplay but also offers paid features, such as additional card packs.

On May 3, 2022, Blizzard announced a new free-to-play mobile game called Warcraft Arclight Rumble.

In 2022, Blizzard and NetEase canceled an unannounced mobile spin-off of World of Warcraft.

On November 3, 2023, Blizzard released a free-to-play mobile game called Warcraft Rumble, which combines tower defense and action strategy gameplay. At BlizzCon 2023, Blizzard announced three upcoming expansions for The War Within, Midnight, and The Last Titan. These expansions are part of the Worldsoul saga, a story series led by Chris Metzen. Blizzard also announced World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Classic and confirmed plans to release future content more quickly.

In September 2024, reports indicated that discussions were underway about creating Warcraft 4. However, due to the poor reception of Warcraft III: Reforged, Blizzard executives decided not to proceed with the idea.

Other media

• Warcraft: The Board Game – a strategy board game made by Fantasy Flight Games, inspired by Warcraft III
• Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game – a role-playing game created by Sword & Sorcery Studios
• World of Warcraft: The Board Game – a board game based on World of Warcraft, made by Fantasy Flight Games
• World of Warcraft: The Adventure Game – a board game based on World of Warcraft, made by Fantasy Flight Games
• World of Warcraft Miniatures Game – a miniature war game based on World of Warcraft, made by Upper Deck Entertainment

• World of Warcraft Trading Card Game – released from 2006 to 2013

• Warcraft: Of Blood and Honor (2000)
• Warcraft: Day of the Dragon (2001)
• Warcraft: Lord of the Clans (2001)
• Warcraft: The Last Guardian (2002)
• Warcraft: War of the Ancients (2007) The Well of Eternity (2004) The Demon Soul (2004) The Sundering (2005)
• World of Warcraft: Cycle of Hatred (2006)
• Warcraft Archive (2006)
• World of Warcraft: The Chronicles of War (2010) World of Warcraft: Rise of the Horde (2006) World of Warcraft: Tides of Darkness (2007) World of Warcraft: Beyond the Dark Portal (2008)
• World of Warcraft: Night of the Dragon (2008)
• World of Warcraft: Arthas: Rise of the Lich King (2009)
• World of Warcraft: Stormrage (2010)
• World of Warcraft: The Shattering: Prelude to Cataclysm (2010)
• World of Warcraft: Thrall: Twilight of the Aspects (2011)
• World of Warcraft: Wolfheart (2012)
• World of Warcraft: Jaina Proudmoore: Tides of War (2012)
• World of Warcraft: Vol'jin: Shadows of the Horde (2013)
• World of Warcraft: Dawn of the Aspects Parts I-V (2013)
• World of Warcraft: Paragons (2014)
• World of Warcraft: War Crimes (2014)
• World of Warcraft: Destination: Pandaria (2014)
• World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1 (2016)
• World of Warcraft: Illidan (2016)
• Warcraft: Durotan – The Official Film Prequel (2016)
• Warcraft: The Official Novelization (2016)
• World of Warcraft: Traveler (2016)
• World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 2 (2017)
• World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 3 (2018)
• World of Warcraft: Traveler: The Spiral Path (2018)
• World of Warcraft: Before the Storm (2018)
• World of Warcraft: Traveler: The Shining Blade (2019)
• World of Warcraft: Shadows Rising (2020)
• World of Warcraft: Sylvanas (2022)
• World of Warcraft: War of the Scaleborn (2023)

• World of Warcraft (2007–2009), a series published by DC Comics imprint WildStorm
• World of Warcraft: Ashbringer (2008–2009), a four-issue mini-series published by WildStorm
• World of Warcraft: Curse of the Worgen (October 9, 2012)
• World of Warcraft: Pearl of Pandaria (September 25, 2012)
• Warcraft Saga Issue 1
• World of Warcraft: Dark Riders (May 7, 2013)
• World of Warcraft: Bloodsworn (August 13, 2013)
• World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor (2014) a three-issue series published by Blizzard
• Warcraft: Bonds of Brotherhood (2016)
• World of Warcraft: Legion (2016) a four-issue series published by Blizzard

• Warcraft: The Sunwell Trilogy, a comic series published by Tokyopop. Dragon Hunt (March 2005) Shadows of Ice (March 2006) Ghostlands (March 2007)
• Warcraft: Legends (2008–2009), a five-part graphic novel series that continues the story from The Sunwell Trilogy
• World of Warcraft: Death Knight (December 1, 2009)
• World of Warcraft: Mage (June 1, 2010)
• World of Warcraft: Shaman (September 28, 2010)
• World of Warcraft: Shadow Wing The Dragons of Outland (June 2010) Nexus Point (March 2011)

In 2009, Blizzard announced it would create a magazine with Future US Ltd. The magazine would only be sold through online subscriptions, not in stores, making them special items for collectors. It was released every three months and had 148 pages. No ads were included. In September 2011, Blizzard said the magazine would stop being published. Subscribers received refunds, plush toys, or in-game pets based on how long they had subscribed.

On May 9, 2006, Blizzard Entertainment and Legendary Pictures announced a live-action movie set in the Warcraft universe. At BlizzCon 2008, Mike Morhaime said a script was being written.

In January 2013, Duncan Jones was chosen to direct the movie, based on a script by Charles Leavitt. The movie was planned to start filming in early 2014, with a story inspired by the book Warcraft: The Last Guardian. On July 20, 2013, Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros. showed a preview of the movie at San Diego Comic-Con 2013. Production began on January 13, 2014. The first full trailer was released on November 6, 2015. The movie premiered in Los Angeles on June 6, 2016, and was released in the United States on June 10, 2016. Critics mostly gave it bad reviews, but it made $439 million worldwide.

In 2015, Blizzard released Heroes of the Storm, a video game where players can team up and fight online, using characters from Blizzard’s games, many from the Warcraft universe. The game includes

Setting

The Warcraft series is mainly set on the planet Azeroth. Other planets in the Warcraft universe include Draenor (and its broken parts, called Outland), Argus, K'aresh, Mardum (also called the Shattered Abyss), Xoroth, Rancora, and Nathreza. There are also special areas not tied to physical locations, such as the Emerald Dream, the Elemental Planes, the Twisting Nether, the Great Dark Beyond, and the Shadowlands. The first game in the series, Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, is set on Azeroth.

Azeroth has four known continents: the Eastern Kingdoms, Kalimdor, Northrend, and Pandaria, which was recently rediscovered. All continents are separated by the Great Sea. Three major groups of islands are also in the Great Sea: the Broken Isles, Zandalar (where trolls originated), Kul Tiras (a human maritime nation), and the Dragon Isles (where dragons originated). In the center of the Great Sea is a large, never-ending whirlpool called the Maelstrom. Beneath the Maelstrom lies the underwater city of Nazjatar, home to the Naga. Near the Maelstrom is the volcanic island of Kezan, where goblins live.

The Eastern Kingdoms are the main setting of the first two games and their expansions, as well as the first half of Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos. This region has 22 areas or zones. Stormwind, a human kingdom, is located in the south of the Eastern Kingdoms, south of Khaz Modan (a dwarven kingdom) and north of Stranglethorn Vale (a jungle). Stormwind City, the capital of Stormwind, is in the northwest of Elwynn Forest, a large forest in the center of the kingdom. Ironforge, the dwarven capital in Khaz Modan, is located in Dun Morogh.

The former human kingdom of Lordaeron, which led the human Alliance in Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness but was later destroyed by the Scourge in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, is located north of the southern kingdoms. The ruined city of Lordaeron now lies beneath the Undercity, the capital of the Forsaken, a group of undead rebels. This area is now called Tirisfal Glades and is near the Western Plaguelands, which are blocked by The Bulwark. Northeast of Lordaeron is Quel'Thalas, an elven nation with its capital, Silvermoon City, both of which were conquered by the Scourge in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos.

Kalimdor was introduced in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos and has 18 zones. Unlike the Eastern Kingdoms, which resemble medieval Europe, Kalimdor is more like the Americas before European arrival, with many wild and untamed lands. Its geography includes large forests and mountains in the north and deserts and savannahs in the south. The Night Elven kingdom is in the northwest of Kalimdor, including Teldrassil, a giant tree (similar to Yggdrasil in lore) that holds the city of Darnassus.

South of Kalimdor, past Ashenvale Forest, is the Barrens, located between Mulgore (a grassland home to the Tauren capital, Thunder Bluff) and Durotar (the land of the Orcs). Thunder Bluff is built on high plateaus and can only be reached by air or lifts. In the north of Durotar is Orgrimmar, the Orcish capital.

Northrend, the third continent, is in the northern polar region of Azeroth and is the main home of the Undead Scourge. It appears in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos and its expansion, The Frozen Throne, and is the main setting of World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King.

In World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, Azeroth changed permanently in the game, even for players without the expansion. The corrupted Black Dragon Aspect, Deathwing, broke free from Deepholm, part of the Elemental Plane, causing major destruction. This is the second major change to Azeroth’s landscape, following the Sundering. The Sundering happened during the War of the Ancients, when demons from the Burning Legion invaded Kalimdor, causing an explosion that split the continent into four parts and created the Maelstrom.

World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria is the fourth expansion and focuses on Pandaria, a mysterious continent far to the south. Pandaria is home to the Pandarens, a race of giant pandas. Players explore Pandaria, rediscovering the Pandaren people, their ancient enemies the Mantid, and the Mogu. The story is split into chapters, with the first chapter introducing Pandaria and its history, and later chapters returning players to Kalimdor for a final battle against Warchief Garrosh Hellscream.

World of Warcraft: Legion is the sixth expansion and focuses on the Broken Isles, a group of islands near the Maelstrom. One island holds the Tomb of the Dark Titan Sargeras. The Burning Legion invades Azeroth, and players must find powerful artifacts to stop them. After defeating the Legion, players travel to Argus, the Legion’s home world, but Sargeras leaves a magical sword in Azeroth, causing a substance called Azerite to flow from the planet.

World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth is the seventh expansion and focuses on Kul Tiras and Zandalar, two islands with their own kingdoms. This is the first expansion to introduce two new continents. Players help the Horde and Alliance form alliances with these kingdoms, uncovering plots involving the Old Gods. Events tied to N'Zoth lead to the discovery of Nazjatar, the underwater kingdom of Azshara, and Mechagon, a land of the Mechagnomes. The final part of the expansion takes players to the Vale of Eternal Blossoms and Uldum to cure the corruption of N'Zoth and face the Old God in Ny'alotha. This expansion also gives players choices that affect their adventures, such as joining the orc Varrok Saurfang in his rebellion.

Reception

In 1999, Next Generation included Warcraft and StarCraft as number 32 on their list titled "Top 50 Games of All Time." The list noted that Warcraft did not start the real-time strategy game genre, but it helped make the genre popular with many players. Warcraft II later improved the genre. It was easy to play, well-designed, visually attractive, and often entertaining. The list described Warcraft II as nearly perfect.

By 2004, the Warcraft series had sold more than 15 million copies.