World of Warcraft Celebrates 20 Years as a Genre-Defining MMORPG

Blizzard reflects on two decades of evolution, community impact, and plans for the game's future.

World of Warcraft launched on November 23, 2004, transforming the niche MMORPG genre into a mainstream cultural phenomenon.
Blizzard attributes WoW's longevity to its balance of familiarity and innovation, ensuring returning players feel at home while introducing features like account-wide progression and solo endgame activities in recent expansions.
The game has evolved significantly over 20 years, with five different versions currently available, including 'Classic' modes that preserve earlier iterations of the game for nostalgic players.
WoW's social impact extends beyond gaming, with its community fostering friendships, academic studies, and even inspiring new development priorities, such as enhanced roleplaying features.
Blizzard emphasizes its commitment to listening to player feedback and evolving the game for the next 20 years, with upcoming features like player housing and more frequent content updates under discussion.