Warcraft is a fantasy video game series and other media 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). At first, Warcraft was a real-time strategy (RTS) game series, but it later expanded into other types of games, beginning with World of Warcraft, a highly influential massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG). The franchise has also inspired novels, comics, a tabletop role-playing game, a trading card game, and a 2016 movie.

The Warcraft series is mainly set on the planet Azeroth and other connected planets and magical realms. Azeroth is home to many different races and civilizations, including common fantasy races like elves, dwarves, gnomes, orcs, and trolls, as well as unique races and creatures from 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 it is a high fantasy series, the Warcraft universe also includes elements from science fiction and dark fantasy. The franchise stands out by featuring "monster races" such as orcs, trolls, and undead, often showing them as main characters with deep character development and complex moral choices.

The Warcraft franchise has been very successful, earning over $12 billion in revenue, making it one of the most profitable media franchises in history. The games have received high praise: the first three Warcraft games are seen as important achievements in 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 were real-time strategy games. 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," and it had no specific meaning.

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 to offer a Collector's Edition, a format that later games also used. Warcraft III and World of Warcraft both received "Battle Chest" releases after their initial launch. The "Battle.net" version of Warcraft II was also the first to use CD keys, which required each player to own a copy of the game to connect online.

In 1998, Blizzard announced that the adventure game Warcraft Adventures: Lord of the Clans was canceled. It had been delayed from its original 1997 release date.

In 2004, Blizzard Entertainment shifted the Warcraft series away from real-time strategy games and released World of Warcraft, a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG). Players had to pay a subscription fee to play. The game also added new content through regular updates called patches. World of Warcraft became popular worldwide and was the largest subscription-based MMORPG in 2008. It reached 12 million subscribers 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. We are not working on it now, as our teams are focused on other projects like 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 a planned mobile version of World of Warcraft.

On November 3, 2023, Blizzard released the free-to-play mobile game 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 introduced 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 not to proceed with 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 created 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 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 release a magazine with Future US Ltd. The magazine would be sold only through online subscriptions, not in stores, making them collector’s items. It was published quarterly, with 148 pages each issue. 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 they had been subscribed.

On May 9, 2006, Blizzard Entertainment and Legendary Pictures announced 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 named director of the film, based on a script by Charles Leavitt. The film was set to begin filming in early 2014, with a story inspired by the novel Warcraft: The Last Guardian. On July 20, 2013, Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros. showed a

Setting

The Warcraft series mostly takes place on the planet Azeroth. Other planets in the Warcraft universe include Draenor (and its broken parts, called Outland), Argus, K'aresh, Mardum (also known as the Shattered Abyss), Xoroth, Rancora, and Nathreza. There are also places that exist beyond normal reality, 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 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. Beneath it 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 for the first two games (and their expansions) and the first half of Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos. It has 22 areas or zones. Stormwind, a human kingdom, is located 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, 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 in Dun Morogh.

The human kingdom of Lordaeron led the human Alliance in Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness but was later taken over 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 introduced in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos and has 18 zones. While the Eastern Kingdoms resemble medieval Europe with kingdoms and cities, Kalimdor is like the Americas before European arrival, with wild, untamed lands. Kalimdor’s 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 that holds the city of Darnassus.

To the south of Kalimdor, past Ashenvale Forest, is the Barrens, between the grasslands of Mulgore (home to the Tauren capital, Thunder Bluff) and Durotar (where orcs live). Thunder Bluff is built on high plateaus and can only be reached 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 home 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 was permanently changed in the game, even for players who did not buy the expansion. The corrupted Black Dragon, Deathwing, broke free from Deepholm, part of the Elemental Planes, and caused major damage. Many previously inaccessible areas of Azeroth became important parts of the world.

Lore-wise, this is the second major change to Azeroth’s shape. 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 is the fourth expansion and focuses on Pandaria, a continent far to the south that was hidden by magical mists. Pandaria is home to the Pandarens, a race of giant panda-like humans. Players explore Pandaria to learn about the Pandaren people, their ancient enemies the Mantid, and the Mogu. The story is split into chapters, with the first chapter introducing Pandaria and solving mysteries from the past 10,000 years. Later chapters bring the Horde and Alliance back into conflict and eventually return 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 it. After defeating the Legion, players travel to Argus, the Legion’s home world, but fail to stop Sargeras completely. Before being imprisoned, Sargeras leaves a magical sword in Azeroth, causing the planet to bleed a substance called Azerite.

World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth is the seventh expansion and focuses on the islands of Kul Tiras and Zandalar, which are home to their respective kingdoms. This is the first expansion to introduce two new continents at launch. The Horde and Alliance seek help from these kingdoms during a renewed war between the factions. Campaigns on both continents reveal the history of the kingdoms and uncover plots involving the Old Gods. Events linked to N'Zoth lead to the discovery of Nazjatar, the underwater kingdom of Azshara, and Mechagon, an island of the Mechagnomes. The final patch of the expansion takes players to the Vale of Eternal Blossoms and Uldum to cure the corruption caused by N'Zoth and face the Old God in his empire, 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 on their list of "Top 50 Games of All Time," ranking them number 32. The publication noted that Warcraft did not invent the real-time strategy genre but helped make it popular with many players. Warcraft II later improved the genre. It was simple to play, well thought out in design, visually pleasing, and often entertaining. The game was nearly perfect. By 2004, the series had sold more than 15 million copies.