Today marks the 20th anniversary of World of Warcraft, celebrated on November 23, 2024.
Back in the day, World of Warcraft came out and changed gaming as we knew it. It took what was cool from games like Everquest, made it better, and suddenly, everyone was playing. It became a huge deal, with people all over willing to pay every month just to explore Azeroth’s magical lands.
The WoW you play now is way different from the one that started it all 20 years ago. The latest expansion, The War Within, brought in new stuff like account-wide progression and solo endgame activities that players really love.
In 2019, Blizzard let players experience the game’s early days again with “Classic” versions, something fans had unofficially done for years. There are now five WoW versions to pick from, showing how big a deal this game still is. Most games don’t last long, but Blizzard’s running five versions at once and doing great with them.
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For this special occasion, GameSpot chatted with WoW developers about what makes Azeroth so awesome, why the game is still around, and what’s next.
Holly Longdale, the executive producer, believes it’s the familiar feeling that keeps players coming back, even after many years. “There’s something really powerful about coming home,” she said. So, Blizzard isn’t planning any big changes to WoW’s look anytime soon.
She also mentioned that WoW had a big head start, being the first major game of its kind. “Let’s be honest, when you’re the first game of this sort, that came out of a genre that hadn’t hit mainstream and you were the one that became mainstream, you have an advantage,” Longdale said.
Fans just love feeling part of something big and special.
Blizzard’s approach is to “leave no player behind,” aiming to keep players happy with regular updates and by listening to their feedback. They want to use more data to understand what players like and make the game better.
Longdale was inspired by a Netflix documentary about Mats Steen, a WoW player with muscular dystrophy, which pushed the team to think about adding more ways to interact in the game, like hugs and high-fives.
Game director Ion Hazzikostas shared his thoughts on WoW’s success, mentioning how factions have changed over time. Players from different factions can now team up, something that was once unthinkable. “Alliance and Horde are playing together today in many cases, and it’s still Warcraft,” he said.
Hazzikostas believes the community is a big reason for WoW’s lasting power. It’s the friendships and connections that keep it alive and evolving.
“The fact we are now turning 20, and we are 10 expansions in, and the game has evolved enough that we can release multiple Classic versions of the game that stand on their own, and have a different vibe, and a different pace, and appeal to a different audience, I think is a testament to how much the game has changed along with our players and grown up along with our players,” Hazzikostas said.
Looking ahead, Longdale says it’s crucial to listen to the community and prepare for the future. They want WoW to grow and be a place where everyone can have fun.
“We want to keep doing better…the goal is to grow,” Longdale said. “We want everybody on the planet to be in Azeroth, at some point.”
