Blizzard Entertainment. (2004). World of Warcraft [Video game]. Blizzard Entertainment.

World of Warcraft (WoW), released in 2004 by Blizzard Entertainment, is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) set in the expansive Warcraft universe. The game unfolds in Azeroth, approximately four years after the events of Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne. Players create avatars from diverse races and classes, aligning with either the Alliance or the Horde factions. The primary gameplay involves exploring a vast open world, completing quests, battling various creatures, and interacting with both non-player characters (NPCs) and other players.

Character progression is central to WoW, with players earning experience points to level up, enhancing their abilities, and acquiring better equipment. The game encourages both solo and group play, offering dungeons and raids that require coordinated team efforts. Player versus player (PvP) combat is also a significant aspect, with designated battlegrounds and arenas for competitive matches.

Since its launch, WoW has expanded through multiple major expansion packs, each introducing new content, continents, races, classes, and gameplay mechanics. Notable expansions include The Burning Crusade (2007), Wrath of the Lich King (2008), Cataclysm (2010), Mists of Pandaria (2012), Warlords of Draenor (2014), Legion (2016), Battle for Azeroth (2018), Shadowlands (2020), Dragonflight (2022), and The War Within (2024). Two further expansions, Midnight and The Last Titan, were announced in 2023.

WoW has been a critical and commercial success, reaching a peak of 12 million subscribers in 2010 and grossing over $9.23 billion by 2017, making it one of the highest-grossing video game franchises. Its longevity is marked by continuous developer support and a dedicated player base, with over one hundred million registered accounts by 2014. In 2019, Blizzard released World of Warcraft Classic, allowing players to experience the game as it was before any expansions, catering to nostalgia and preserving the game's legacy.

The game's impact extends beyond entertainment; it has been the subject of various studies on player interaction and community building. Notably, the "Corrupted Blood incident," a virtual plague that unintentionally spread among players, attracted attention from epidemiologists for its parallels to real-world disease outbreaks.

Overall, World of Warcraft remains a seminal title in the MMORPG genre, continually evolving while maintaining the core elements that have captivated players for over two decades.