What is World of Warcraft?
World of Warcraft (WoW) is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment. Released in 2004, it quickly became one of the most popular and influential online games of all time.
Origins: WoW is the direct successor to the Warcraft series, also created by Blizzard. The franchise began as a series of real-time strategy games, starting in 1994. With Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos (2002), Blizzard established the modern foundations of Azeroth — its worldbuilding, characters, and conflicts — which WoW later expanded into a living, persistent MMO world.
When World of Warcraft launched in 2004, players were invited to explore the vast world of Azeroth, choosing from multiple races and classes and aligning with either the Horde or the Alliance. The game surged in popularity thanks to its deep lore, varied gameplay systems, and strong social fabric that turned guilds, raids, and PvP into unforgettable experiences.
Warcraft Begins
The franchise starts as real-time strategy games, setting the stage for Azeroth.
Warcraft III
Reign of Chaos establishes the modern lore, characters, and core conflicts.
WoW Launch
World of Warcraft releases and reshapes MMOs with scale, polish, and social depth.
