Warcraft is a fantasy video game series and media collection 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 game types, starting with World of Warcraft, a popular massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG). The franchise also includes books, comics, a tabletop game, a trading card game, and a 2016 movie.

The stories in Warcraft take place on the planet Azeroth and other connected worlds and mystical realms. Azeroth is home to many races and civilizations, such as elves, dwarves, gnomes, orcs, and trolls, as well as unique races and creatures found only in the Warcraft universe. The stories focus on conflicts between the human-led Alliance and the orc-led Horde, showing the actions of heroes and villains from both groups. While rooted in high fantasy, the Warcraft world also includes elements from science fiction and dark fantasy. The series stands out by featuring "monster races" like orcs, trolls, and undead as main characters, giving them detailed stories and complex moral choices.

The Warcraft franchise has been very successful, earning over $12 billion in total revenue, 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 ever made.

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 games and added new features to improve gameplay. The name "Warcraft" was suggested by Blizzard developer Sam Didier. It was chosen because "it sounded very cool," according to Blizzard co-founder Allen Adham, and had no 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. Warcraft II was also the first to be re-released as a "Battle Chest," a package that included both the original game and its expansion. Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos was the first game in the series to include a Collector's Edition, a feature that later games also used. Warcraft III and World of Warcraft later had "Battle Chests" released after their initial launch. The "Battle.net" version 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 after being 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 massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG). This game required players to pay a subscription fee 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 a team is passionate about making another Warcraft real-time strategy game, we would consider it. We are not working on it now, as teams are focused on Cataclysm, StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, and Diablo III. When those projects are complete, they will help decide future plans."

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 gameplay but also offers optional 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 game based on 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 elements. 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 discussions about creating Warcraft 4. However, due to the poor reception of Warcraft III: Reforged, Blizzard executives decided against the idea.

Other media

• Warcraft: The Board Game – a strategic board game made by Fantasy Flight Games, inspired by Warcraft III
• Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game – a role-playing game made by Sword & Sorcery Studios
• World of Warcraft: The Board Game – a board game based on World of Warcraft, also made by Fantasy Flight Games
• World of Warcraft: The Adventure Game – a board game based on World of Warcraft, also 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 miniseries 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 manhwa 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, which continues the story of 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 release a magazine with Future US Ltd. This magazine could only be bought through online subscriptions, not in stores, making them collector's items. The magazine was released quarterly and had 148 pages. No advertisements were included. In September 2011, Blizzard announced the magazine would stop being published. Refunds, plush toys, or in-game pets were given to subscribers based on how long their subscriptions lasted.

In a May 9, 2006 press release, Blizzard Entertainment and Legendary Pictures announced they would develop a live-action film set in the Warcraft universe. At BlizzCon 2008, Mike Morhaime said a script was being written.

In January 2013, Duncan Jones was announced as the director of the film, based on a script by Charles Leavitt. The film was set to begin filming in early 2014, with a plot based on the novel Warcraft: The Last Guardian. On July 20, 2013, Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros. Entertainment showed a sizzle reel during their San Diego Comic-Con 2013 panel. Duncan Jones briefly spoke about the project. Production began on January 13, 2014. The first full-length trailer was released on November 6, 2015. The film premiered in Los Angeles on June 6, 2016, and was released in the United States by Universal Pictures on June 10, 2016. It received mostly negative reviews from critics and earned $439 million worldwide.

In 2015, Blizzard released Heroes of the Storm, a crossover multiplayer online battle arena game where players can control characters from Blizzard’s franchises, many from the Warcraft universe. The game includes mounts based on creatures from World of Warcraft and a battleground inspired by the PvP zone Alterac Pass. Warcraft-themed skins were introduced in the “Echoes of Alterac” event in June 2018. Background music from *

Setting

The Warcraft series mostly takes place on the planet Azeroth. Other planets in the Warcraft universe include Draenor (and its broken pieces, called Outland), Argus, K'aresh, Mardum (also called the Shattered Abyss), Xoroth, Rancora, and Nathreza. There are also otherworldly places like 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, happens on Azeroth.

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

The Eastern Kingdoms are the main setting for 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. The kingdom of Stormwind is in the south of the Eastern Kingdoms, south of the dwarven kingdom of Khaz Modan and north of the jungle called Stranglethorn Vale. Stormwind City, Stormwind’s capital, is located in the northwest of Elwynn Forest, a large forest in the center of the kingdom. Ironforge, the dwarven capital in Khaz Modan, is in Dun Morogh.

The former human kingdom of Lordaeron led the human Alliance in Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness but was later destroyed by the Scourge in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos. 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 held back by The Bulwark. Northeast of Lordaeron is the elven nation of Quel'Thalas and its capital, Silvermoon, both of which were conquered by the Scourge in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos.

Kalimdor was first 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 wild, 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 the island of Teldrassil, a giant tree off the northwest coast that holds the city of Darnassus.

South of Kalimdor, past Ashenvale Forest, is the Barrens, located between the grasslands of Mulgore to the west and Durotar, the land of the orcs, to the east. Mulgore is home to Thunder Bluff, the Tauren capital, built on high plateaus accessible only by air travel or lifts. In the north of Durotar is Orgrimmar, the orcish capital.

Northrend is the northernmost continent of Azeroth and is the main stronghold of the Undead Scourge. It appears in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, its expansion The Frozen Throne, and in World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, the second expansion of World of Warcraft.

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 imprisonment in Deepholm, part of the Elemental Plane, causing major changes and destruction. Many previously inaccessible parts of Azeroth became important in the new world.

Lorewise, this is the second major change to Azeroth’s appearance. The first was the Sundering, which happened during the War of the Ancients when demons from the Burning Legion invaded Kalimdor. This caused a massive explosion that split the continent into four and created the Maelstrom.

World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria was the fourth expansion and focuses on Pandaria, a continent far to the south hidden by magical mists. Pandaria is home to the Pandarens, a race of giant pandas. Players from both factions explore Pandaria, rediscovering the Pandaren people, their ancient enemy the Mantid, and the Mogu. The story of Mists of Pandaria is divided into chapters. The first chapter introduces Pandaria and its history, while later chapters bring the Horde and Alliance back to conflict and eventually return players to Kalimdor for a final battle against Warchief Garrosh Hellscream.

World of Warcraft: Legion was the sixth expansion and focuses on the Broken Isles, a group of islands northeast of the Maelstrom. One of the islands holds the Tomb of the Dark Titan Sargeras. The Burning Legion invades Azeroth, and players must find powerful artifacts to stop the invasion. After defeating the Legion, players travel to Argus, the Legion’s homeworld, to end the threat. Though successful, Sargeras was not fully stopped. Before being imprisoned, he planted a magical sword in Azeroth, causing the planet to bleed a substance called "Azerite."

World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth was the seventh expansion and focuses on the islands of Kul Tiras and Zandalar, home to their respective kingdoms. This is the first expansion to introduce two new continents at launch. During this expansion, the Horde and Alliance seek help from Zandalar and Kul Tiras to fight the renewed conflict between factions. Campaigns on both islands reveal the history of the kingdoms and uncover plots involving the Old Gods. Events tied to N'Zoth lead to the discovery of Nazjatar, the underwater kingdom of Azshara, and Mechagon, an island of Mechagnomes. The final patch of Battle for Azeroth takes players to the Vale of Eternal Blossoms and Uldum to cure them of N'Zoth’s corruption and face the Old God in his empire of 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 placed Warcraft and StarCraft at number 32 on their "Top 50 Games of All Time" list. They noted that, "While Warcraft did not create the real-time strategy (RTS) genre, it made it popular with many players. Warcraft II helped improve the genre. It was simple to play, well-designed, visually appealing, and often funny and enjoyable. Warcraft II was nearly perfect."

By 2004, the series had sold over 15 million copies.