Warcraft is a fantasy video game series and media franchise created by Blizzard Entertainment. The series consists of six core 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). Initially a real-time strategy (RTS) series, Warcraft expanded into other game genres beginning with World of Warcraft, a highly influential massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG). The franchise has also spawned novels, comics, a tabletop role-playing game, a trading card game, and a 2016 feature film.

The franchise is primarily set on the planet Azeroth, as well as related planets and metaphysical dimensions. Azeroth is inhabited by various races and civilizations, including typical fantasy races such as elves, dwarves, gnomes, orcs, and trolls, along with original races and creatures unique to the franchise. Its lore and story center on warfare between the races and factions of Azeroth, typically between the human-led Alliance and the orc-led Horde, chronicling the exploits of heroes and villains on both sides. While high fantasy at its core, the Warcraft universe incorporates a diverse assortment of influences, including science fiction and dark fantasy. Warcraft has been noted as differentiating itself from other fantasy universes by highlighting "monster races" such as orcs, trolls, and undead, often portraying them as protagonists and giving them significant character development and moral complexity.

The Warcraft franchise has been highly successful, grossing over $12 billion in revenue, making it one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time. The games have been critically acclaimed: the first three Warcraft games are considered landmarks of the RTS genre, while World of Warcraft is regarded as the most popular and influential MMORPG of all time.

Video games

The first three games in the Warcraft series, including their expansion packs, were all released on both the PC and Macintosh. All of these games were of the real-time strategy genre. Each game proceeded to carry on the storyline of the previous games, and each introduced new features and content to improve gameplay. The name "Warcraft" was proposed by Blizzard developer Sam Didier. It was chosen because "it sounded super cool", according to Blizzard co-founder Allen Adham, without any particular meaning attached to it.

Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness was the first game in the series to feature play over the internet using Battle.net, although this was not included until a later release of the game. Warcraft II was also the first in the series to be re-released as a "Battle Chest", a bundled copy of the game containing both the original and expansion. Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos was the first game in the series to feature a Collector's Edition, which all subsequent games have released as well. Warcraft III and World of Warcraft also have both had "Battle Chests" released for them subsequent to their initial release. The "Battle.net" edition of Warcraft II was also the first to introduce the use of CD keys to the series, requiring each user online to have their own copy of the game in order to be able to connect.

In 1998, an adventure game in the series, Warcraft Adventures: Lord of the Clans, was announced as being canceled, having been previously delayed from a 1997 release.

In 2004, Blizzard Entertainment moved the series away from the real-time strategy genre and released World of Warcraft, a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG). Requiring a subscription fee to be paid to play, it also introduced regular additional content to the series in the form of patches. World of Warcraft gained popularity worldwide, becoming the world's largest subscription-based MMORPG in 2008. The game reached a peak 12 million subscribers worldwide in October 2010. World of Warcraft has had ten expansions as of 2024, with two more announced. During the production of StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, Blizzard co-founder Frank Pearce stated that "If there's a team that's passionate about doing another Warcraft [real-time strategy], then that's definitely something we would consider. It's nothing that we're working on right now, we have development teams working on Cataclysm, StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, Diablo III, and when those teams are all off the projects they're working on, they'll be intimately involved in the discussions about what's next".

In 2013, Blizzard announced a new free-to-play online digital collectible card game, originally titled Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft, with the beta being available in summer of 2013. In March 2014, Hearthstone was released. In addition to free-to-play basic gameplay Hearthstone contains fee-based features such as additional card packs.

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

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

On November 3, 2023, Blizzard released the free-to-play mobile tower defense and action strategy game Warcraft Rumble. At BlizzCon 2023, Blizzard Entertainment unveiled three forthcoming expansions to The War Within, Midnight, and The Last Titan. These expansions collectively constitute the Worldsoul saga, a narrative continuum led by Chris Metzen. Blizzard also announced World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Classic and confirmed their commitment to a more accelerated timeline for future content drops.

In September 2024, it was reported that there were several talks about making Warcraft 4 but due to the poor reception of Warcraft III: Reforged, Blizzard executives turned down the idea.

Other media

Tabletop games

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

Collectible card games

  • World of Warcraft Trading Card Game – 2006–2013

Novels

  • 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)

Comics

  • 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

Manga

  • 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 is a continuation 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)

Magazine

In 2009, Blizzard announced that it would be releasing a magazine with Future US Ltd. This magazine would be purchasable by online subscription, and not for sale in newsagents or stores, making them collector's items. The magazine released quarterly, and each contained 148 pages. No advertisements were included in the magazine. In September 2011, Blizzard announced that the magazine was ceasing publication. Refunds, plush toys or in-game pets were given to subscribers depending on the outstanding length of subscription.

Film adaptation

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

In January 2013, Duncan Jones was announced to direct the adaptation, from a script by Charles Leavitt. The film was set to begin principal photography in early 2014 with a plot based on the novel Warcraft: The Last Guardian. On July 20, 2013, Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros. Entertainment unveiled a sizzle reel during their San Diego Comic-Con 2013 panel, with Duncan Jones hopping on stage briefly to discuss the project. Production on the film started shooting on January 13, 2014. The first full-length trailer for the film was released on November 6, 2015. Warcraft premiered in Los Angeles on June 6, 2016, and was released by Universal Pictures in the United States on June 10, 2016. It received mostly negative reviews from critics, and grossed $439 million worldwide.

Heroes of the Storm

In 2015, Blizzard released Heroes of the Storm, a crossover multiplayer online battle arena video game in which players can control various characters from Blizzard's franchises as playable heroes, the majority of which come from the Warcraft universe. The game also features numerous mounts based on mounts or other creatures from World of Warcraft, as well as a battleground based on the PvP zone Alterac Pass. A number of Warcraft-themed skins have been introduced for Heroes of the Storm in the “Echoes of Alterac” event in June 2018. Various soundtracks from World of Warcraft, such as Obsidian Sanctum from Wrath of the Lich King, The Wandering Isle from Mists of Pandaria, and Stormwind theme, are present as background music in the game. Heroes of the Storm is inspired by Defense of the Ancients, a community-created mod based on Warcraft III. centers around the reappearance of the Dragon Isles, home of the Dragons and their many aspects, including the humanoid Dracthyr. The various Dragon groups and subspecies are referred to as "Dragonflights", and are all descendants of the original proto-dragons who chose to become empowered by the magic of a race of god-like beings called the Titans. The plot of Dragonflight deals with the awakening of the Dracthyr after 20,000 years in response to the threat of Raszageth the Storm-Eater, a "Primalist" proto-dragon who seeks to separate the rest of her kind from the Dragonflights and retake Azeroth for themselves. The Dracthyr are divided into two groups, one that allies with the Alliance and one the Horde, to deal with this threat. Raszageth eventually falls to both groups, but not before she releases her three siblings: Fyrakk the Blazing, Vyranoth the Frozenheart, and Iridikron the Stoneheart.

The tenth expansion, World of Warcraft: The War Within, takes players beneath the surface of Azeroth into the subterranean kingdom of Khaz Algar, home of the Earthen, a new playable allied race. The expansion introduces Warbands, an account-wide system for sharing currencies, collections, and reputations across characters, as well as Delves, a new form of solo instanced content.

The eleventh expansion, World of Warcraft: Midnight, returns to the elven kingdom of Quel'Thalas, introducing four new zones including Eversong and Zul'Aman. The expansion features three raids, eight new dungeons, and a player housing system — the first in the game's twenty-year history.

Draenor (Outland)

Draenor, which is featured in Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal, is the original homeland of the Orcs and past home of the Draenei.

Draenor was torn apart when the Orcish leader, Ner'Zhul (later the first Lich King) opened dozens of portals to other worlds in an attempt to escape the invading Alliance Armies from Azeroth. The sheer number and combined power of the portals ripped Draenor into fragments and cast the remainder into the mysterious parallel dimension called the Twisting Nether, Home of the Demons. The remnants of the world are now known as Outland, and feature in the last mission of the human campaign of Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal (though, without any actual terrain changes), Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne and more prominently in World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade. the Night Elves of Teldrassil, and the Dwarves of Ironforge. Other races who have joined or allied with the Alliance include the Gnomes of Gnomeregan, the Draenei of Outland, the Worgens of Gilneas (creatures that resemble hunched over werewolves), and the Tushui Pandaren. The outbreak of the Fourth War saw the human kingdom of Kul Tiras return to the Alliance. The Dark Iron dwarves officially allied with the Alliance during this time as well, along with Void Elves. Lightforged Draenei which were light infused Draenei also allied with the Alliance during this time along with the Army of the Light who they originally served. Also, a group of mechagnomes, which were gnomes that began augmenting themselves with mechanical parts in an attempt to return to their titan-based form joined as well. When the Dragon Isles reopened the draconic Dracthyr Obsidian Warders weyrn officially joined. Later some reawakened Earthen of Khaz Algar, independent of their titan edicts, also chose to ally with the Alliance.

The Alliance is led by a military commander who coordinates the military actions of all the races in the Alliance. The title for this position depends on the rank of the individual (e.g., Anduin Lothar was a knight and his title was Supreme Allied Commander. Varian Wrynn is a king and his title is High King). This title may require an aspect of diplomacy or has strong political clout as the other leaders can choose not to commit their forces to the commander if they dislike the commander's leadership. Though how many forces and resources are contributed to the war effort is left to each individual leader's discretion, when the military commander issues a call to arms, all races of the Alliance are expected to contribute.

The Horde

In the first two Warcraft games, the Horde is made of the orcs under the command of the Burning Legion and are enemies of the human-led Alliance. The orcs attempt in both games to conquer the human kingdoms. Eventually the Horde was defeated, most of its leaders killed, and the orcs placed in internment camps.

The third Warcraft game, Reign of Chaos, details the orcs shaking off both the chains of the Alliance, and the corruption of the Burning Legion. The Horde expanded their ranks by forging alliances with the Blood Elves, the Dracthyr Dark Talons group, the Forsaken, the Goblins, the Huojin Pandaren, with their influence being notable through most of the wider series. Contrary to the Horde or Alliance, the Burning Legion is not a faction defined by culture, politics or territory but instead an interdimensional army of demons whose singular goal is to eradicate all life and order in the universe.

The Burning Legion is led by Sargeras, a fallen titan who once served as a guardian of worlds but abandoned his role after concluding that creation was irreparably corrupt and could only be ended and not saved. Under his command, the Legion has invaded and destroyed worlds across the universe, consuming or corrupting any beings willing to serve their cause and eradicating those who resist. Their ranks are composed primarily of Eredar warlocks, the Pit Lords, and large armies of minor demons such as the Felguard and Infernals. Some mortal races have also been corrupted into the Legion's service, most notably the orcs of Draenor.

The Legion's chain of command flows from Sargeras through his two principal lieutenants, Kil'jaeden and Archimonde, who direct the Legion's campaigns in his stead. Kil'jaeden oversees matters of corruption and deceit while Archimonde commands its military directly. This hierarchy gives the Legion a more centralized structure of command than the Horde or Alliance, defined entirely by power and obedience rather than politics or diplomacy.

Reception

In 1999, Next Generation listed Warcraft and StarCraft as number 32 on their "Top 50 Games of All Time", commenting that, "While Warcraft did not create the realtime strategy genre, it made it appealing to a broad audience. Warcraft II went on to refine the genre. Easy to play, nuanced in design, a pleasure to look at, and often a laugh riot, Warcraft II was nearly perfect."

By 2004, the series sold more than 15 million units.

References

Further reading

  • Official World of Warcraft community site (US)
  • Official World of Warcraft community site (EU)