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{{Infobox
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{{infobox faction
  
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|bodystyle = width: 23em;
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| image = Blizzard Entertainment logo.svg
  
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| name = Blizzard Entertainment
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|above = Blizzard Entertainment
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|image = [[File:Blizzard Entertainment 2015 logo.svg|250px]]
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| caption = ''Computer and video game publisher''
  
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|caption = 2015 logo<br>''Video game developer and publisher''
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| leader = [[Michael Morhaime]] (president and co-founder)<br />[[Frank Pearce]] (vice president and co-founder)
  
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|label1 = Formerly called
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| leaders = [[Rob Pardo]] (vice president)<br />[[Chris Metzen]] (vice president of Creative Development)<br />[[J. Allen Brack]] (lead producer on ''World of Warcraft'')<br />[[Tom Chilton]] (lead designer on ''World of Warcraft'')
  
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|data1 = Silicon & Synapse<br>(1991–1993)<ref name="pcgamername" /><br>Chaos Studios, Inc.<br>(1993-1994)<ref name="pcgamername" />
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| capital = Irvine, California, USA
  
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|label2 = Type
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| capitals =
 
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|data2 = Subsidiary
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| affiliation = [[Activision Blizzard]]
  
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|label3 = Industry
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| language = [[Common (language)|Common]]/English
  
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|data3 = Video game industry
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| slang = Chinese, French, German, Italian, Korean, Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian, Spanish
  
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|label4 = Founded
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| races = [[Humans]]
  
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|data4 = February 8, 1991
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| theater = Quality RTS and RPG video games
  
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|label5 = Founders
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| status = Active
  
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|data5 = [[Allen Adham]]<br>[[Michael Morhaime]]<br>[[Frank Pearce]]
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|label6 = President
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|data6 = [[Mike Ybarra]] (2021–present)<br>Formerly:<br>Michael Morhaime<br>(1991–2018)<br>[[J. Allen Brack]]<br>(2018–2021)<br>[[Jennifer O'Neal]]<br>(2021)
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|label7 = Headquarters
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|data7 = {{wp|Irvine}}, {{wp|California}}, {{wp|United States|U.S.}}
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|label8 = Number of locations
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|data8 = 10 (studios and offices)
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|label9 = Products
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|data9 = ''[[Diablo franchise|Diablo]]'' franchise<br>''[[Hearthstone (game)|Hearthstone]]''<br>''[[Heroes of the Storm]]''<br>''[[Overwatch franchise|Overwatch]]'' franchise<br>''[[StarCraft franchise|StarCraft]]'' franchise<br>''[[Warcraft universe|Warcraft]]'' franchise
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|label10 = Parent
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|data10 = {{wp|Davidson & Associates}}<br>(1994-1998)<br>{{wp|Vivendi Games}}<br>(1998-2008)<br>[[Activision Blizzard]]<br>(2008-present)
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|label11 = Website
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|data11 = [https://www.blizzard.com blizzard.com]
 
}}
  
}}
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[[File:Blizzard'sFancyOrcOnWolfStatue.jpg|thumb|A statue of an [[Orc Statue|orc riding a wolf]], located outside Blizzard's office.]]
   
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'''Blizzard Entertainment'''® (often shortened to "'''Blizzard'''" or "'''Blizz'''") is a video game developer & publisher that is responsible for the ''[[Warcraft franchise|Warcraft]]'', ''[[StarCraft franchise|StarCraft]]'', ''[[Diablo franchise|Diablo]]'', and ''[[Overwatch franchise|Overwatch]]'' franchises. The company originally concentrated primarily on the creation of game ports for other studios before beginning development of their own program with the development of games like ''Rock n' Roll Racing'' & ''The Lost Vikings''.
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[[File:Blizzard'sFancyOrcOnWolfStatue.jpg|thumb|A statue of an [[orc]] riding a wolf, located outside Blizzard's office.]]
  
   
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In July 2008, Blizzard's parent company, Vivendi, merged their Vivendi Games subsidiary with Activision to create a new holding company called [[Activision Blizzard]].<ref>http://www.activisionblizzard.com/pressReleases/pr120207.php</ref><ref name="Eurogamer">{{ref web|date=2008-06-30|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=163814|title=Eurogamer: Blizzard Worldwide Invertational|author=Rob Purchese|accessdate=2008-01-07}}</ref> Five years later, in July 2013, Vivendi sold off most of its shares in Activision Blizzard, which now exists as an independent company.<ref>{{ref web|date=2013-07-26|url=http://variety.com/2013/biz/global/vivendi-sells-majority-stakes-in-activision-blizzard-for-8-2-billion-1200568494/|title=Vivendi Sells Majority Stake in Activision Blizzard for $8.2 Billion|author=Elsa Keslassy|accessdate=2014-05-07}}</ref> As of October 2014, the company employs over 3,900 individuals.<ref name = "BlizzardLives">{{ref web|url = http://www.polygon.com/features/2014/10/3/6901193/blizzard-entertainment-three-lives|title=The Three Lives of Blizzard Entertainment|accessdate=2014-10-04|author=Phillip Kolar|publisher=Polygon}}</ref>
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'''Blizzard Entertainment'''® (often shortened to "'''Blizzard'''" or "'''Blizz'''" by players) is the company responsible for the ''[[Warcraft franchise|Warcraft]]'', ''[[StarCraft franchise|StarCraft]]'', and ''[[Diablo franchise|Diablo]]'' franchises. Besides the general list of products below, this article contains links to websites dedicated to Blizzard's specific products and the company in general.
  
   
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==Core values==
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In July 2008, Blizzard's parent company, Vivendi, merged their Vivendi Games subsidiary with Activision to create a new holding company called [http://www.activisionblizzard.com Activision Blizzard].<ref>http://www.activisionblizzard.com/pressReleases/pr120207.php</ref> <ref name="Eurogamer">{{ref web|date=2008-06-30|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=163814|title=Eurogamer: Blizzard Worldwide Invertational|author=Rob Purchese|accessdate=2008-01-07}}</ref> Five years later, in July 2013, Vivendi sold off most of its shares in Activision Blizzard, which now exists as an independent company.<ref>{{ref web|date=2013-07-26|url=http://variety.com/2013/biz/global/vivendi-sells-majority-stakes-in-activision-blizzard-for-8-2-billion-1200568494/|title=Vivendi Sells Majority Stake in Activision Blizzard for $8.2 Billion|author=Elsa Keslassy|accessdate=2014-05-07}}</ref>
  
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==Core Values==
  
 
Blizzard Entertainment lists its eight core values on their mission statement page:
  
Blizzard Entertainment lists its eight core values on their mission statement page:
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# Gameplay first
  
# Gameplay first
 
# Commit to quality
  
# Commit to quality
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==History==
  
==History==
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[[File:Silicon and Synapse logo.png|thumb|Silicon & Synapse logo]]
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Originally named ''Silicon & Synapse'', the company was founded in 1991 in Irvine, California by [[Allen Adham]] and [[Michael Morhaime]], with ''Brian Fargo'', the CEO and founder of ''Interplay Entertainment'', being granted a share in the company to improve the prospects of working jointly for the young studio. [[Frank Pearce]] also joined the studio upon inception as the first employee.<ref name=Moby>http://www.mobygames.com/company/blizzard-entertainment-inc</ref>
  
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Originally under the name ''Silicon & Synapse'', the company was founded on 8 February 1991<ref name="DidYouKnow">http://us.blizzard.com/en-us/company/</ref><ref name=OriginalInfo>http://web.archive.org/web/19991012192528/http://blizzard.com:80/info.shtml</ref> by three graduates of the {{wplink|University of California, Los Angeles}}:<ref>{{Ref web|url=http://www.engineer.ucla.edu/newsroom/featured-news/archive/2006/november/ucla-engineering-celebrates-accomplishments-at-annual-awards-dinner|title=UCLA Engineering Celebrates Accomplishments at Annual Awards Dinner|publisher=UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science|author=M. Abraham|date=2006-11-06|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716201249/http://www.engineer.ucla.edu/newsroom/featured-news/archive/2006/november/ucla-engineering-celebrates-accomplishments-at-annual-awards-dinner|archivedate=2011-07-16|accessdate=2018-03-04}}</ref> [[Allen Adham]] and [[Michael Morhaime]]. {{wplink|Brian Fargo}}, the CEO and founder of ''Interplay Entertainment'', was granted a share in the company to improve the prospects of working jointly for the young studio.<ref>{{Ref web|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=25264|title=GDC Austin: How Fantastic Contraption Became A Fantastic Hit|publisher=Gamasutra|author=Carless, Simon|date=2009-09-15|accessdate=2018-03-04}}</ref><ref>{{Ref web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/2848761.html?tag=result%3Btitle%3B2|title=GameSpot Interview with Brian Fargo|publisher=Gamespot|author=Trey Walker|date=2002-02-9|accessdate=2018-03-04}}</ref> [[Frank Pearce]] also joined the studio upon inception as the first employee.<ref name="Moby">http://www.mobygames.com/company/blizzard-entertainment-inc</ref>
   
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[[File:Chaos Studios.jpg|thumb|Chaos Studios logo]]
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The small company initially did many "ports", converting games from one platform operating system to another, including board games (Battle Chess, Lexicross), strategy games (Castles), sports games (Amiga Baseball), and others (Dvorak Teaches Typing), though the company did become the first American developer to release a Super Nintendo title with RPM Racing, which became one of the first ten launch titles for the platform in North America.<ref name=Moby/>
  
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The small company initially did many "ports", converting games from one platform operating system to another, including board games (Battle Chess, Lexicross), strategy games (Castles), sports games (Amiga Baseball), and others (Dvorak Teaches Typing), though the company did become the first American developer to release a Super Nintendo title with RPM Racing, which became one of the first ten launch titles for the platform in North America.<ref name="Moby" /> It was not until ''Interplay Entertainment'' and ''Silicon & Synapse'' collaborated on the SNES side-scroller ''The Lost Vikings'' that its critical — though not commercial — breakthrough came. With some acclaim, the game hit the shelves in 1993. The game's release, along with Rock & Roll Racking (also 1993) led Nintendo to name the studio its "Developer of the Year". Tragically, the release of the two games coincided with the death of the 16-bit console market, and neither title sold well.<ref name="Moby" />
   
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Sometime in 1993, co-founder Adham told the other executives that he did not like the name "Silicon & Synapse" anymore as the name was getting confused with the meaning of silicon the chemical element used in microchips. Late 1993, Adham changed the name to "Chaos Studios", reflecting on the haphazardness of their development processes. However, they would later be contacted by a Flordia company by the name of ''Chaos Technologies'' and would happily let them use "chaos" for $100,000. Instead of paying for the license, they decided on a rebrand again which lead to "Ogre Studios" but Jan Davidson, President of Davidson & Associates, stated that it may be too scary for the kids (as stated by Adham). The choice for "Blizzard" came down to Adham looking through the dictionary with a close contender being "Midnight Studios". The company would be renamed to Blizzard Entertainment on 24 May 1994.<ref name="pcgamername">{{Ref web|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/how-blizzard-got-its-name/|title=How Blizzard got its name|publisher=PC Gamer|author=Tom Marks|date=2016-12-07}}</ref>
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It was not until ''Interplay Entertainment'' and ''Silicon & Synapse'' collaborated on the SNES side-scroller ''The Lost Vikings'' that its critical -- though not commercial -- breakthrough came. With some acclaim, the game hit the shelves in 1993. The game's release, along with Rock & Roll Racking (also 1993) led Nintendo to name the studio its "Developer of the Year". Tragically, the release of the two games coincided with the death of the 16-bit console market, and neither title sold well.<ref name=Moby/>
  
   
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In August 1995, the company moved from a 3,600 sq. ft. office in Costa Mesa to a 14,000 sq. ft. office in Irvine, CA.<ref name="DidYouKnow" />
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Facing a lack of success in the console market, and not willing to bet solely on one market, the company continued developing several 16-bit console titles while branching out by starting development on two new games: Games People Play, a crossword/word-game that was never completed, and [[Warcraft: Orcs & Humans]], whose development was led by its second employee and VP of ''Research & Development'', ''Patrick Wyatt''.<ref name=Moby/>
  
   
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Facing a lack of success in the console market, and not willing to bet solely on one market, the company continued developing several 16-bit console titles while branching out by starting development on two new games: Games People Play, a crossword/word-game that was never completed, and ''[[Warcraft: Orcs & Humans]]'', whose development was led by its second employee and VP of ''Research & Development'', ''Patrick Wyatt''.<ref name="Moby" />
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The company temporarily rebranded itself as ''Chaos Studios'' and released the game ''Blackthorne'' under that studio name, but conflicts with an unregistered trademark for the name "''Chaos''" caused the company leadership to consider a new name. Upon acquisition by ''Davidson & Associates'', then the #3 North American educational software publisher, in February 1994, the company changed its name to ''Blizzard Entertainment''.<ref name=Moby/>
  
   
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Blizzard turned 20 years old in 2012. Its history is recorded on a timeline on its own site [http://us.blizzard.com/en-us/company/about/b20/timeline.html here].<ref>{{ref web|url=http://us.blizzard.com/en-us/company/about/b20/timeline.html|title=Blizzard Timeline|publisher=Blizzard Entertainment|accessdate=2012-07-05}}</ref>
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Blizzard turned 20 years old in 2012. The history is recorded on a timeline on its own site [http://us.blizzard.com/en-us/company/about/b20/timeline.html here].<ref>{{ref web|url=http://us.blizzard.com/en-us/company/about/b20/timeline.html|title=Blizzard Timeline|publisher=Blizzard Entertainment|accessdate=2012-07-05}}</ref>
   
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In 2013, Blizzard announced an official partnership with {{wp|Tespa|TeSPA}} to provide licensed ''[[StarCraft]]'', ''[[Hearthstone (game)|Hearthstone]]'' and ''[[Heroes of the Storm]]'' in-game rewards to college gaming clubs.<ref>{{ref web|title=TeSPA and Blizzard Entertainment Unveil the Membership Milestone Program|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20140207005166/en/TeSPA-Blizzard-Entertainment-Unveil-Membership-Milestone-Program|publisher=Bussiness Wire|date=2014-02-07|accessdate=2018-08-11}}</ref><ref>{{ref web|title=Blizzard and TeSPA Partner to Support College Gaming Groups|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/02/06/blizzard-and-the-esports-association-partner-to-support-college-gaming-groups|publisher=IGN|author=Steve Watts|date=2014-02-06|accessdate=2018-08-11}}</ref><ref>{{ref web|title=Blizzard esports initiative will support your college gaming club|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/blizzard-esports-initiative-will-support-your-college-gaming-club/1100-6417615/|publisher=Gamespot|author=Emanuel Maiberg|date=2014-02-08|accessdate=2018-08-11}}</ref> In early 2014, TeSPA and Blizzard Entertainment hosted the $5,000 ''North American Collegiate Hearthstone Open'' series, culminating in a live grand finals event at the {{Wp|Twitch.tv}} stage at PAX East and PAX Prime.<ref>{{ref web|title=North American Collegiate Hearthstone™ Open 2|url=http://us.battle.net/hearthstone/en/blog/14963900/north-american-collegiate-hearthstone%E2%84%A2-open-2-7-29-2014|publisher=[[Blizzard Entertainment]]|author={{Blizz|Zeriyah}}|date=2014-07-29|accessdate=2018-08-11}}</ref>
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===Blizzard North===
  
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{{Stub-section}}
  
   
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On February 8, 2016, Blizzard celebrated their 25th year anniversary with a video and continued to celebrate it along with the ''[[Diablo]]'' 20th anniversary at [[BlizzCon 2016]].<ref>{{Ref web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeA6rT5LaEQ|title=Blizzard 25th Anniversary Celebration|publisher=YouTube|author=[[Blizzard Entertainment]]|date=2016-02-08|accessdate=2017-11-06}}</ref><ref>{{Ref web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phUgzmvBZ3I|title=Celebrate 25 Years with Blizzard Entertainment|publisher=YouTube|author=Blizzard Entertainment|date=2016-11-04|accessdate=2018-05-30}}</ref><ref>{{Ref web|url=https://blizzcon.com/en-us/news/20318432/blizzard-25th-anniversary-and-diablo-20th-anniversary-party-at-blizzcon-2016|title=Blizzard 25th Anniversary and Siablo® 20th Anniversary Party at BlizzCon® 2016|publisher=[[Blizzard Entertainment]]|date=2016-11-06|accessdate=2017-11-06}}</ref>
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===Blizzard South===
  
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{{Stub-section}}
  
   
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On October 3, 2018, [[Activision Blizzard]] announced [[J. Allen Brack]] as the new president of Blizzard Entertainment succeeding [[Mike Morhaime]].<ref>{{Ref web|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181003005928/en/Activision-Blizzard-Names-World-Warcraft%C2%AE-Executive-Producer|title=Activision Blizzard Names ''World of Warcraft''® Executive Producer J. Allen Brack As New President of Blizzard Entertainment|publisher=Business Wire|date=2018-10-03}}</ref> In February 2019, Blizzard underwent a round of layoffs, though announced that it would be expanding its development staff. Teams for some of its IPs, including ''[[Warcraft]]'' and ''[[Hearthstone (game)|Hearthstone]]'', will be expanded.<ref>{{ref web |url=https://blizzardwatch.com/2019/02/12/activision-blizzard-record-profits-cutting-8-staff/ |title=Activision Blizzard has record profits, so it’s cutting 8% of its staff |date=2019-02-12 |author=Elizabeth Harper |accessdate=2019-03-13}}</ref>
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==Relationship with Activision Blizzard==
  
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On December 2, 2007, [http://www.vivendi.com Vivendi] (Blizzard Entertainment's parent company) announced that their subsidiary Vivendi Games (of which Blizzard Entertainment was a part) would be merging with [http://www.activision.com Activision] to form [http://www.activisionblizzard.com Activision Blizzard]. The deal was finalized on July 8, 2008. Vivendi later divested themselves of Activision Blizzard in July, 2013, and it now exists as an independent holding company.
  
   
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On March 7, 2019, Blizzard and {{wp|GOG.com}} partnered to release the classic ''[[Diablo]]'' on GOG.com's platform<ref>{{Ref web|url=https://us.diablo3.com/en/blog/22887361/diablo-now-available-on-gogcom-3-7-2019|title=Diablo Now Available on GOG.COM|publisher=Blizzard Entertainment|date=2019-03-07|accessdate=2019-06-05}}</ref> as well as ''[[Warcraft: Orcs & Humans]]'' and ''[[Warcraft II: Battle.net Edition]]'' by March 28.<ref>{{Ref web|url=https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/news/22940764/warcraft-orcs-humans-and-warcraft-ii-battle-net-edition-now-available-on-gog-com|title=Warcraft: Orcs & Humans and Warcraft II Battle.net Edition Now Available on GOG.COM|publisher=Blizzard Entertainment|date=2019-03-28|accessdate=2019-06-05}}</ref> On June 5, 2019, Blizzard gave the OK to GOG.com to add the authorized non-canoncial expansion {{diablo|Diablo: Hellfire|Hellfire}} which was developed by {{wp|Synergistic Software}} to ''Diablo'' as a free add-on, due to popular demand.<ref>{{Ref web|url=https://www.gog.com/news/release_bhellfire_expansion_to_the_original_diablob|title=Release: Hellfire expansion to the original Diablo|publisher=GOG.com|date=2019-06-05|accessdate=2019-06-05}}</ref>
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Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. remains Blizzard's brand,<ref name = "WOWFaq">{{ref web|author=Ordinn|date=2007-12-02|url=http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=3168513659&sid=1|title=0. Activision Blizzard FAQ|publisher=WoW General Discussion Forum|accessdate=2007-12-02}}</ref> as it and Activision continue to exist as separate entities within the Activision Blizzard umbrella.<ref>{{ref web|url=http://www.blizzard.com/us/press/activision-faq.html|title=Activision Blizzard FAQ}}</ref> Despite many players' fears, there have been no major changes in Blizzard's operations as a result of these business deals.
  
   
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On January 22, 2021, {{wp|Vicarious Visions}} is now a subsidiary of Blizzard Entertainment, from {{wp|Activision}}.<ref name="VicariousVisionsRef1">{{Ref web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-01-23-vicarious-visions-reportedly-working-on-a-diablo-2-remake-at-blizzard|title=Vicarious Visions reportedly working on a Diablo 2 remake at Blizzard|author=Wesley Yin-Poole|publisher=Eurogamer|date=2021-01-23|accessdate=2021-01-25}}</ref><ref name="VicariousVisionsRef2">{{Ref web|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-01-22-vicarious-visions-merged-into-blizzard|title=Vicarious Visions merged into Blizzard|publisher=GamesIndustry.biz|author=Brendan Sinclair|date=2021-01-22|accessdate=2021-01-25}}</ref> Vicarious Visions was merged with Blizzard on 12 April 2022 and renamed to [[Blizzard Albany]] and would be fully dedicated to Blizzard games.<ref name="VicariousMerged">[https://twitter.com/vvisionsstudio/status/1513875152920100867 Vicarious Visions on Twitter]: "We've officially merged with Blizzard Entertainment. Our development team will remain in Albany, NY and fully dedicated to Blizzard games."</ref>
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==Conferences==
  
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Blizzard Entertainment has conferences for Blizzard announcements and demonstrations, known as the Blizzard Entertainment World Wide Invitational and [[BlizzCon]]. The first WWI was held in Seoul, South Korea on May 19 and 20, 2007 when Blizzard officially announced ''[[StarCraft II]]''. Paris, France hosted the second Invitational on June 28 and 29, 2008.<ref>{{ref web|url=http://us.blizzard.com/wwi08/ Worldwide|title=Invitation 2008}}</ref>
  
   
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Blizzard turned 30 years old in 2021 and celebrated it at [[BlizzConline]] with the release of ''[[Blizzard Arcade Collection]]''.
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==Published games==
  
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===General games===
  
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*''{{wplink|RPM Racing}}'' (Released: 1991)
  
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*''{{wplink|J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Vol. I}}'' (Amiga port) (Released: 1992)
  
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*''{{wplink|Battle Chess II: Chinese Chess}}'' (Amiga port) (Released: 1992)
  
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*''{{wplink|Castles}}'' (Amiga port) (Released: 1992)
  
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*''{{wplink|Battle Chess}}'' (Windows port) (Released: 1992)
  
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*''{{wplink|MicroLeague Baseball}}'' (Amiga port) (Released: 1992)
  
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*''{{wplink|Lexi-Cross}}'' (Macintosh port) (Released: 1992)
  
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*''{{wplink|Dvorak on Typing}}'' (Macintosh port) (Released: 1992)
  
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*''{{wplink|The Lost Vikings}}'' (Released: 1992)
  
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*''{{wplink|Rock N' Roll Racing}}'' (Released: 1993)
  
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*''{{wplink|Shanghai II: Dragon's Eye}}'' (Released: 1993)
  
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*''{{wplink|Blackthorne}}'' (Released: 1994)
  
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*''{{wplink|The Death and Return of Superman}}'' (Released: 1995)
  
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*''{{wplink|Justice League Task Force}}'' (Released: 1995)
  
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*''{{wplink|The Lost Vikings II}}'' (SNES version) (Released: 1997)
  
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*''{{wplink|Blackthorne}}'' (PC version) (Released: 2013)
  
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*''[[Heroes of the Storm]]'' (Alpha: 2014)
  
   
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From the late 2010s to 2022, Blizzard experienced a round of departures, with many employees going on to form their own development studios.<ref name = "IndieExodus">2022-12-27, [https://www.ign.com/articles/after-blizzard-the-big-new-aaa-to-indie-exodus-is-in-full-swing After Blizzard: The Big New AAA-to-Indie Exodus Is in Full Swing]. ''IGN'', retrieved on 2022-12-30</ref>
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===Warcraft Universe===
  
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{{Main|Warcraft Universe}}
  
   
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Blizzard Entertainment and NetEase who had licensing agreements since 2008 to bring Blizzard games to China were unable to come to an agreement on the renewal terms for the license. The license expired on 24 January 2023, with games and software such as ''[[World of Warcraft]]'' and the [[Warcraft III Battle Platform]] shutting down until a new licensing agreement can be made with an another company.<ref>{{Ref web|url=https://investor.activision.com/news-releases/news-release-details/blizzard-entertainment-and-netease-suspending-game-services|title=Blizzard Entertainment and NetEase Suspending Game Services in China|publisher=[[Activision Blizzard]]|date=2022-11-16}}</ref><ref>{{ref web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/chinese-wow-servers-shut-down-after-14-years-following-expiration-of-netease-agreement/1100-6510829/|title=Chinese WoW Servers Shut Down After 14 Years Following Expiration Of NetEase Agreement|publisher=GameSpot|date=2023-01-24|author=Cameron Koch}}</ref>
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;Warcraft Series
  
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:#''[[Warcraft: Orcs & Humans]]'' (Released: 1994)
  
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:#''[[Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness]]'' (Released: 1995)
  
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:#''[[Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal]]'' (Released: 1996)
  
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:#''[[Warcraft II: The Dark Saga]]'' (Released: 1997)
  
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:#''[[Warcraft II: Battle.net Edition]]'' (Released: 1999)
  
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:#''[[Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos]]'' (Released: 2002)
  
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:#''[[Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne]]'' (Released: 2003)
  
   
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==Teams==
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;World of Warcraft Series
  
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After the release of ''[[World of Warcraft]]'', the company divided its development staff into numerically designated teams (e.g. [[Team 2]] is the dev team for ''World of Warcraft''), each team focusing on a specific project. While relatively small, each team is supported by a much larger cast of employees, as well as being overseen by other groups within the company.
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:#''[[World of Warcraft]]'' (Released: 2004)
  
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:#''[[World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade]]'' (Released: 2007)
  
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:#''[[World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King]]'' (Released: 2008)
  
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:#''[[World of Warcraft: Cataclysm]]'' (Released: 2010)
  
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:#''[[World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria]]'' (Released: 2012)
  
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:#''[[World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor]]'' (Planned: 2014)
  
   
  +
In addition to the numerically designated teams, "strike teams" were formed, as a result of [[Chris Metzen]]'s desire to keep the company's original culture intact. These teams are not assigned to any one project, but give feedback on separate projects. A "design council" also exists, a gathering of all of the game directors and lead designers throughout the company.<ref name="BlizzardLives" /> As of August 2017, most of Blizzard's development focus is on supporting its existing IPs, but is working on new IPs as well.<ref>{{Ref web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/blizzard-has-multiple-new-ips-incubating-but-wont-/1100-6452270/|title=Blizzard Has Multiple New IPs Incubating But Won't Rush Them Out|publisher=GameSpot|author=Eddie Makuch|date=2017-08-04|accessdate=2017-08-05}}</ref> As of November 2018, Blizzard's current development model is to effectively have one team per IP and support indefinitely. As a team grows and reaches a certain size, elements of the team will be spun off to work on a new IP. Each team consists of around 100&ndash;300 people.<ref name="AdhamInterview">{{Ref web|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/blizzcon2018/2018/11/08/our-full-blizzcon-interview-with-blizzard-co-founder-allen-adham|title=Our Full BlizzCon Interview With Blizzard Co-Founder Allen Adham|date=2018-11-08|publisher=Game Informer|author=Daniel Tack|accessdate=2018-11-19}}</ref>
−
;Other
  
−
:#''[[Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft]]'' (Released: 2014)
  
   
  +
The list of teams of current and past include:
−
:''Related [[Warcraft RPG|pen-and-paper RPG]] materials''
  
−
:*''[[Warcraft: The Board Game]]''
  
−
:*''[[World of Warcraft: The Board Game]]''
  
   
  +
*[[Team 1]]
−
===StarCraft Universe===
  
  +
**This team previously worked on titles including ''[[StarCraft]]'', ''[[Warcraft III]]'', ''[[StarCraft II]]'', and ''[[Heroes of the Storm]]''.
−
:''For its connections with Warcraft, see [[StarCraft franchise]]''
  
  +
*[[Team 2]] - ''[[World of Warcraft]]''
−
*''{{wplink|StarCraft}}'' (Released: 1998)
  
  +
**Formed after the release of ''World of Warcraft'' to continue development of the game.<ref name="BlizzardLives" />
−
*''{{wplink|StarCraft: Brood War}}'' (Released: 1998)
  
  +
**There is a separate team working on the [[Classic]]s, such as ''[[World of Warcraft: Classic]]''.<ref>[[BlizzCon 2017]] - World of Warcraft What's Next panel</ref>
−
*''{{wplink|StarCraft#Nintendo_64_version|StarCraft 64}}'' (Released: 2000)
  
  +
**[[Proletariat]] is another studio working alongside Team 2.
−
*Related novels by PocketBooks
  
  +
*[[Team 3]] - ''[[Diablo]]'' franchise<ref name="BlizzardLives" />
−
**''{{wplink|StarCraft II}}''
  
  +
**''[[Diablo IV]]'' team
−
**''{{wplink|StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty}}'' (Released: 2010)
  
  +
**''[[Diablo Immortal]]'' team
−
**''{{wplink|StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm}}'' (Released: 2013)
  
  +
**[[Diablo Legacy]]<ref name="diablolegacyteam">{{Ref web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Diablo/comments/j9zdsm/former_diablo_iii_cm_vaeflare_returns_to_the/g8narnv/|title=Former Diablo III CM Vaeflare returns to the Diablo Legacy team as a 3D artist|author={{Blizz|PezRadar}}|date=2020-10-12|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017223124/https://old.reddit.com/r/Diablo/comments/j9zdsm/former_diablo_iii_cm_vaeflare_returns_to_the/g8narnv/|archivedate=2020-10-17}}</ref> - ''[[Diablo III]]'' and ''Diablo II: Resurrected'' (''Diablo II'' remaster)
−
**''[[Arcade Workshop]]'' (Published: 2014)
  
  +
*[[Team 4]] - ''[[Overwatch franchise|Overwatch]]''
  +
**Formed in the "mid-2000s" to begin work on ''Titan'', the company's big new IP, doomed to be scrapped in 2014.<ref name="BlizzardLives" /> The team's current focus is ''[[Overwatch franchise|Overwatch]]''.
  +
*[[Team 5]] - ''[[Hearthstone (game)|Hearthstone]]''<ref name="BlizzardLives" />
  +
** Formed in 2008 for the express purpose of creating ''Hearthstone'', Team 5 was designed as a "small and nimble" team, comprising only 15 members for most of the game's initial development.<ref name="BlizzardLives" />
  +
* [[Classic Games]] †
  +
** Formed c. 2015 to "restore" ''StarCraft'', ''Warcraft III'', and ''Diablo II''.<ref>{{Ref web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/blizzard-looking-to-revive-these-classic-games-upd/1100-6431991/|title=Blizzard Looking to Revive These Classic Games|date=2015-11-04|publisher=GameSpot|author=Eddie Makuch|accessdate=2017-04-01}}</ref> They were responsible for ''{{sc|StarCraft: Remastered}}'' and ''[[Warcraft III: Reforged]]''. This team was dismantled in 2020.
  +
*[[Incubation]]
  +
**Formed in 2016 to cultivate new projects. Currently focusing on mobile games.<ref>{{Ref web|url=http://diablo.blizzplanet.com/blog/comments/blizzcon-2018-rhykker-interviews-allen-adham-pc-and-console-games-in-development|title=BlizzCon 2018: Rhykker interviews Allen Adham – PC and Console Games in Development|date=2018-11-17|publisher=Blizzplanet|accessdate=2018-11-21}}</ref>
  +
*[[Blizzard Cinematics team|Cinematics team]]
  +
*[[Blizzard Headhunter|Headhunter]]
  +
*[[Blizzard Albany]] - ''Diablo II: Resurrected'' (''Diablo II'' remaster) and ''Diablo IV''
  +
**Moved from Activision to Blizzard as a subsidiary in early 2021<ref name="VicariousVisionsRef1" /><ref name="VicariousVisionsRef2" /> and merged in 2022.<ref name="VicariousMerged" />
   
  +
==Culture==
−
===Diablo Universe===
  
  +
{{Main|Service Awards}}
−
:''For its connections with Warcraft, see [[Diablo franchise]]''
  
−
*''{{wplink|Diablo (video game)|Diablo}}'' (Released: 1996)
  
−
*''Diablo'' (PSX version) (Released: 1998)
  
−
*''{{wplink|Diablo II}}'' (Released: 2000)
  
−
*''{{wplink|Diablo II: Lord of Destruction}}'' (Released: 2001)
  
−
*Related novels by PocketBooks
  
−
**''{{wplink|Diablo III}}'' (Released: 2012)
  
−
**''Diablo III'' (Playstation 3/4, Xbox 360/One versions, Released: 2013)
  
−
**''{{wplink|Diablo III: Reaper of Souls}}'' (Released: 2014)<ref name="RoS">{{ref web|url=http://us.battle.net/d3/en/reaper-of-souls/|title=Reaper of Souls|publisher=Blizzard Entertainment|accessdate=2013-08-15}}</ref>
  
−
**''Diablo III: Reaper of Souls'' (Playstation 3/4, Xbox 360/One versions, Released: 2014)
  
   
  +
==Relationship with Activision Blizzard==
−
===In Development===
  
  +
On December 2, 2007, [http://www.vivendi.com Vivendi] (Blizzard Entertainment's parent company) announced that their subsidiary Vivendi Games (of which Blizzard Entertainment was a part) would be merging with [http://www.activision.com Activision] to form [[Activision Blizzard]]. The deal was finalized on July 8, 2008. Vivendi later divested themselves of Activision Blizzard in July 2013, and it now exists as an independent holding company.
−
*''Titan'' (Planned: 2016) is the project name for a massively multiplayer online game (MMO) that is being developed.<ref>{{ref web|url=http://venturebeat.com/2013/05/28/blizzard-delays-unannounced-mmo-until-2016-resets-whole-project-exclusive/|title=Blizzard delays unannounced MMO until 2016, resets whole project (exclusive)|publisher=GamesBeat|date=2013-05-28|accessdate=2013-11-13}}</ref>
  
  +
−
** ''"When we announce our next MMORPG it’s not going to be another WoW - we’re not a company that tends to tread the same ground. It’ll be something innovative and new that really brings entertainment to another level."'' <ref>http://www.empireonline.com/interviews_and_events/interview.asp?IID=620</ref><ref>{{ref web|date=2013-05-28|url=http://venturebeat.com/2013/05/28/blizzard-delays-unannounced-mmo-until-2016-resets-whole-project-exclusive/|title=Blizzard delays unannounced MMO until 2016, resets whole project (exclusive)|publisher=Gamesbeat|accessdate=2013-05-29}}</ref>
  
  +
Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. remains Blizzard's brand,<ref name = "WOWFaq">{{ref web|author=Ordinn|date=2007-12-02|url=http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=3168513659&sid=1|title=0. Activision Blizzard FAQ|publisher=WoW General Discussion Forum|accessdate=2007-12-02}}</ref> as it and Activision continue to exist as separate entities within the Activision Blizzard umbrella.<ref>{{ref web|url=http://www.blizzard.com/us/press/activision-faq.html|title=Activision Blizzard FAQ}}</ref>
−
*''[[StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void]]'' (TBA)
  
  +
−
*''[[World of Warcraft]]'' expansion(s) (TBA)<ref>{{ref web|date=2013-11-12|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/11/12/world-of-warcraft-sixth-expansion-already-in-development|title=World of Warcraft Sixth Expansion Already in Development|publisher=IGN|author=Luke Karmali|accessdate=2014-01-03}}</ref>
  
  +
==Conferences==
−
*''[[Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft]]'' expansion(s) (TBA)
  
  +
Blizzard Entertainment has conferences for Blizzard announcements and demonstrations, known as the Blizzard Entertainment World Wide Invitational and [[BlizzCon]]. The first WWI was held in Seoul, South Korea on May 19 and 20, 2007 when Blizzard officially announced ''[[StarCraft II]]''. Paris, France hosted the second Invitational on June 28 and 29, 2008.<ref>{{ref web|url=http://us.blizzard.com/wwi08/ Worldwide|title=Invitation 2008}}</ref>
−
*''[[Warcraft: Orcs and Humans]]'' port/remake (TBA)<ref name="Warcraft remake">{{ref web|date=2013-11-10|url=http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2013/11/10/blizzard-working-on-bringing-warcraft-1-amp-2-to-modern-pcs.aspx|title=Blizzard Working On Bringing Warcraft & Warcraft II To Modern PCs|publisher=Gameinformer|author=Kyle Hilliard|accessdate=2014-01-03}}</ref><ref name="Youtube Warcraft Remake">[http://youtu.be/JL2v7WTXO9w?t=34m58s BlizzCon 2013 World of Warcraft Q&A Panel]</ref>
  
  +
−
*''[[Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness]]'' port/remake (TBA)<ref name="Warcraft remake"/><ref name="Youtube Warcraft Remake"/>
  
  +
==Published games and applications==
−
*''[[Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos]]'' port/remake (TBA)<ref name="Warcraft remake"/><ref name="Youtube Warcraft Remake"/>
  
  +
===Non-franchise games===
−
*Unannounced "''small team''" game (TBA)<ref>{{ref web|date=2013-12-10|url=http://www.blizzplanet.com/blog/comments/blizzard-entertainment-looking-for-lead-producer-of-new-unannounced-game|title=New Blizzard Game Led by Counter-Strike and Left 4 Dead Developer|publisher=Blizzplanet|author=Medievaldragon|accessdate=2014-01-03}}</ref>
  
  +
{| class="darktable zebra sortable mw-collapsible" style="text-align:center;"
  +
|-
  +
! scope="col"| Company
  +
! scope="col"| Title
  +
! scope="col"| Year
  +
! scope="col"| Platform(s)
  +
! scope="col"| Genre
  +
|-
  +
! rowspan="3" scope="row" | as Silicon & Synapse
  +
| ''{{wp|RPM Racing}}''
  +
| 1991
  +
| {{wp|Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES}}
  +
| Racing game
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[The Lost Vikings franchise|The Lost Vikings]]''
  +
| 1992
  +
| {{wp|Amiga}}, {{wp|Amiga CD32}}, {{wp|Game Boy Advance|GBA}}, {{wp|MS-DOS}}, {{wp|Sega Genesis|Genesis}}, SNES, {{wp|Windows}} (2014)
  +
| Puzzle platform game
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[Blizzard Classic Arcade#Rock n' Roll Racing|Rock n' Roll Racing]]''
  +
| 1993
  +
| SNES, Genesis, GBA, {{wp|Windows}} (2014)
  +
| Racing video game
  +
|-
  +
! rowspan="9" scope="row" | as Blizzard Entertainment
  +
| ''{{wp|The Death and Return of Superman}}''
  +
| 1994
  +
| SNES, Genesis
  +
| {{wp|Beat 'em up}}
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[Blizzard Classic Arcade#Blackthorne|Blackthorne]]''
  +
| 1994
  +
| SNES, {{wp|Sega 32X}}, MS-DOS, GBA, {{wp|Mac OS}}, {{wp|Windows}} (2013)
  +
| Cinematic platformer
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{wp|Justice League Task Force (video game)|Justice League Task Force}}''
  +
| 1995
  +
| SNES, Genesis
  +
| Fighting game
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[The Lost Vikings franchise|The Lost Vikings 2]]''
  +
| 1997
  +
| SNES, Saturn, PlayStation, Windows
  +
| Puzzle platform game
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[Heroes of the Storm]]''
  +
| 2015
  +
| Microsoft Windows, macOS
  +
| Team Brawler
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[Blizzard Arcade Collection]]''
  +
| 2021
  +
| Microsoft Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
  +
| Racing, Cinematic platformer, Puzzle platformer
  +
|-
  +
| ''Odyssey''<ref>{{Ref web|url=https://news.blizzard.com/en-us/blizzard/23768911/create-a-new-universe-with-us|title=Create a new universe with us|date=2022-01-25|publisher=Blizzard Entertainment}}</ref>
  +
| TBA
  +
| PC, console
  +
| Survival<ref>{{Ref web|url=https://wccftech.com/new-info-surrounding-blizzards-survival-game-codenamed-odyssey-has-appeared/|title=New Info Surrounding Blizzard’s Survival Game Codenamed Odyssey has Appeared|date=2022-08-22|publisher=WCCF Tech}}</ref>
  +
|-
  +
| ''Untitled role-playing game<ref>2022-02-09, [https://segmentnext.com/blizzard-unannounced-rpg/ Blizzard’s Working On An Unannounced RPG Within An Established IP]. ''Segment Next'', retrieved on 2022-02-10</ref>
  +
|TBA
  +
|TBA
  +
| Roleplaying game
  +
|-
  +
| ''Untitled FPS game''<ref>2022-04-26, [https://www.cbr.com/blizzard-is-developing-an-unannounced-fps-pvp-project/?msclkid=b74c0d4ccdcf11ec83a22a6bd3ad87cd Blizzard Is Developing an Unannounced FPS PVP Project]. ''CBR'', retrieved on 2022-05-08</ref>
  +
|TBA
  +
|TBA
  +
| First-person shooter
  +
|}
  +
  +
===Franchises===
  +
{| class="darktable zebra sortable mw-collapsible" style="text-align:center;"
  +
|-
  +
! scope="col"| Universe
  +
! scope="col"| Title
  +
! scope="col"| Year
  +
! scope="col"| Platform(s)
  +
! scope="col"| Genre
  +
! scope="col"| Notes
  +
|-
  +
! rowspan="52" scope="row" | [[Warcraft universe|''Warcraft'' universe]]
  +
| ''[[Warcraft: Orcs & Humans]]''
  +
| 1994 (original)<br/>2019 ({{wp|GOG.com}})
  +
| MS-DOS, Mac OS, PC-98
  +
| Real-time strategy
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness]]''
  +
| 1995
  +
| MS-DOS, Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows
  +
| Real-time strategy
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal]]''
  +
| 1996
  +
| Mac OS, MS-DOS, Microsoft Windows
  +
| Expansion
  +
| Warcraft II expansion
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[Warcraft II: The Dark Saga]]''
  +
| 1997
  +
| Sony PlayStation, Sega Saturn
  +
| Real-time strategy
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[Warcraft II: Battle.net Edition]]''
  +
| 1999 (original)<br>2019 ({{wp|GOG.com}})
  +
| MS-DOS, Mac OS, Microsoft Windows
  +
| Real-time strategy
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos]]''
  +
| 2002
  +
| Microsoft Windows, Mac OS
  +
| Real-time strategy
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne]]''
  +
| 2003
  +
| Microsoft Windows, Mac OS
  +
| Expansion
  +
| ''Warcraft III'' expansion
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[World of Warcraft]]''
  +
| 2004
  +
| Microsoft Windows, macOS, (Linux via Wine or Cedega)
  +
| MMORPG
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade]]''
  +
| 2007
  +
|
  +
| Expansion
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King]]''
  +
| 2008
  +
|
  +
| Expansion
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[World of Warcraft: Cataclysm]]''
  +
| 2010
  +
|
  +
| Expansion
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria]]''
  +
| 2012
  +
|
  +
| Expansion
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[Hearthstone (game)|Hearthstone]]''
  +
| 2014
  +
| Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, iPad, Android, iPhone
  +
| CCG
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{hs|Curse of Naxxramas|Hearthstone: Curse of Naxxramas}}''
  +
| 2014
  +
|
  +
| CCG Adventure
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor]]''
  +
| 2014
  +
|
  +
| Expansion
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{hs|Goblins vs Gnomes|Hearthstone: Goblins vs Gnomes}}''
  +
| 2014
  +
|
  +
| CCG Expansion
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{hs|Blackrock Mountain|Hearthstone: Blackrock Mountain}}''
  +
| 2015
  +
|
  +
| CCG Adventure
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{hs|The Grand Tournament|Hearthstone: The Grand Tournament}}''
  +
| 2015
  +
|
  +
| CCG Expansion
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{hs|The League of Explorers|Hearthstone: The League of Explorers}}''
  +
| 2015
  +
|
  +
| CCG Adventure
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{hs|Whispers of the Old Gods|Hearthstone: Whispers of the Old Gods}}''
  +
| 2016
  +
|
  +
| CCG Expansion
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{hs|One Night in Karazhan|Hearthstone: One Night in Karazhan}}''
  +
| 2016
  +
|
  +
| CCG Expansion
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[World of Warcraft: Legion]]''
  +
| 2016
  +
|
  +
| Expansion
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{hs|Mean Streets of Gadgetzan|Hearthstone: Mean Streets of Gadgetzan}}''
  +
| 2016
  +
|
  +
| CCG Expansion
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{hs|Journey to Un'Goro|Hearthstone: Journey to Un'Goro}}''
  +
| 2017
  +
|
  +
| CCG Expansion
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{hs|Knights of the Frozen Throne|Hearthstone: Knights of the Frozen Throne}}''
  +
| 2017
  +
|
  +
| CCG Expansion
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{hs|Kobolds & Catacombs|Hearthstone: Kobolds & Catacombs}}''
  +
| 2017
  +
|
  +
| CCG Expansion
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth]]''
  +
| 2018
  +
|
  +
| Expansion
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{hs|The Witchwood|Hearthstone: The Witchwood}}''
  +
| 2018
  +
|
  +
| CCG Expansion
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{hs|The Boomsday Project|Hearthstone: The Boomsday Project}}''
  +
| 2018
  +
|
  +
| CCG Expansion
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{hs|Rastakhan's Rumble|Hearthstone: Rastakhan's Rumble}}''
  +
| 2018
  +
|
  +
| CCG Expansion
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{hs|Rise of Shadows|Hearthstone: Rise of Shadows}}''
  +
| 2019
  +
|
  +
| CCG Expansion
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{hs|Saviors of Uldum|Hearthstone: Saviors of Uldum}}''
  +
| 2019
  +
|
  +
| CCG Expansion
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{hs|Tombs of Terror|Hearthstone: Tombs of Terror}}''
  +
| 2019
  +
|
  +
| CCG Adventure
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[World of Warcraft: Classic]]''
  +
| 2019
  +
| Microsoft Windows, macOS
  +
| MMORPG
  +
| Server option for the vanilla ''[[World of Warcraft]]'' experience
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{hs|Descent of Dragons|Hearthstone: Descent of Dragons}}''
  +
| 2019
  +
|
  +
| CCG Expansion
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{hs|Galakrond's Awakening|Hearthstone: Galakrond's Awakening}}''
  +
| 2020
  +
|
  +
| CCG Adventure
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[Warcraft III: Reforged]]''
  +
| 2020
  +
| Microsoft Windows, macOS
  +
| Real-time strategy
  +
| Remaster of the 2002 ''[[Warcraft III]]''
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{hs|Ashes of Outland|Hearthstone: Ashes of Outland}}''
  +
| 2020
  +
|
  +
| CCG Expansion
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{hs|Scholomance Academy|Hearthstone: Scholomance Academy}}''
  +
| 2020
  +
|
  +
| CCG Expansion
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{hs|Madness at the Darkmoon Faire|Hearthstone: Madness at the Darkmoon Faire}}''
  +
| 2020
  +
|
  +
| CCG Expansion
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[World of Warcraft: Shadowlands]]''
  +
| 2020
  +
|
  +
| Expansion
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{hs|Darkmoon Races|Hearthstone: Darkmoon Races}}''
  +
| 2021
  +
|
  +
| CCG mini-set
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{hs|Forged in the Barrens|Hearthstone: Forged in the Barrens}}''
  +
| 2021
  +
|
  +
| CCG Expansion
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade Classic]]''
  +
| 2021
  +
| Microsoft Windows, macOS
  +
| MMORPG
  +
| Server option for {{expac|The Burning Crusade}} experience
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{hs|United in Stormwind|Hearthstone: United in Stormwind}}''
  +
| 2021
  +
|
  +
| CCG Expansion
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{hs|Voyage to the Sunken City|Hearthstone: Voyage to the Sunken City}}''
  +
| 2022
  +
|
  +
| CCG Expansion
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King Classic]]''
  +
| 2022
  +
| Microsoft Windows, macOS
  +
| MMORPG
  +
| Server option for the {{expac|Wrath of the Lich King}} experience
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{hs|Murder at Castle Nathria|Hearthstone: Murder at Castle Nathria}}''
  +
| 2022
  +
|
  +
| CCG Expansion
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[World of Warcraft: Dragonflight]]''
  +
| 2022
  +
|
  +
| Expansion
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{hs|March of the Lich King|Hearthstone: March of the Lich King}}''
  +
| 2022
  +
|
  +
| CCG Expansion
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[Warcraft Rumble]]''
  +
| 2023
  +
| Android, iOS, iPadOS
  +
| Mobile action strategy
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''Untitled mobile game''<ref>2022-08-08, [https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/gaming/blizzard-looking-to-follow-up-diablo-immortal-with-mobile-warcraft-game/ar-AA10rjAW Blizzard Looking to Follow Up Diablo Immortal with Mobile Warcraft Game]. ''MSN'', accessed on 2022-08-10</ref>
  +
| TBA
  +
| Android, iOS, iPadOS
  +
| TBA
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
! rowspan="9" scope="row" | [[StarCraft franchise]]
  +
| ''{{sc|StarCraft}}''
  +
| 1998
  +
| Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X
  +
| Real-time strategy
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{sc|StarCraft: Brood War}}''
  +
| 1998
  +
|
  +
| Expansion
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{sc|StarCraft 64}}''
  +
| 2000
  +
| Nintendo 64
  +
| Real-time strategy
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{sc|StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty}}''
  +
| 2010
  +
| Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X
  +
| Real-time strategy
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{sc|StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm}}''
  +
| 2013
  +
|
  +
| Expansion
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{sc|StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void}}''
  +
| 2015
  +
|
  +
| Expansion
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{sc|StarCraft II: Nova Covert Ops}}''
  +
| 2016
  +
|
  +
| Mission packs (1-3)
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{sc|StarCraft: Remastered}}''
  +
| 2017
  +
| Microsoft Windows, macOS
  +
| Real-time strategy
  +
| Remaster of the 1998 ''StarCraft''
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{sc|StarCraft II: Free to Play}}''
  +
| 2017
  +
|
  +
|
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
! rowspan="10" scope="row" | [[Diablo franchise]]
  +
| ''{{Diablo|Diablo (Game)|Diablo}}''
  +
| 1996<br>2019 ({{wp|GOG.com}})
  +
| Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, PlayStation <small>(1998)</small>
  +
| Action role-playing, hack and slash, dark fantasy
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{Diablo|Diablo II}}''
  +
| 2000
  +
| Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X
  +
| Action role-playing, hack and slash
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{Diablo|Diablo II: Lord of Destruction}}''
  +
| 2001
  +
| Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X
  +
| Expansion pack
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{Diablo|Diablo III}}''
  +
| 2012
  +
| Microsoft Windows, OS X, PlaySation 3/4 and Xbox 360/One (2013)
  +
| Action role-playing, hack and slash
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{Diablo|Diablo III: Reaper of Souls}}''
  +
| 2014
  +
| Microsoft Windows, OS X
  +
| Expansion
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{Diablo|Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition}}''
  +
| 2014
  +
| PlayStation 3/4, Xbox 360/One
  +
|
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{Diablo|Diablo III: Eternal Collection}}''<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5qdoYmcU44 Diablo III Nintendo Switch Trailer]</ref>
  +
| 2018
  +
| Microsoft Windows, macOS, {{wp|Nintendo Switch}}, Xbox One, PlayStation 4
  +
|
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{Diablo|Diablo II: Resurrected}}''
  +
| 2021
  +
| Microsoft Windows, macOS, consoles
  +
| Action roleplaying, hack n' slash
  +
| Remaster of the 2000 ''Diablo II''
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{Diablo|Diablo Immortal}}''
  +
| 2022
  +
| Microsoft Windows, macOS, {{wp|Android (operating system)|Android}}, {{wp|iOS}}
  +
| MMOARPG
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{Diablo|Diablo IV}}''
  +
| 2023
  +
| Microsoft Windows, macOS, consoles
  +
| Action roleplaying, hack n' slash
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
! rowspan="3" scope="row" | [[Overwatch franchise]]
  +
| ''Overwatch''
  +
| 2016
  +
| Microsoft Windows, macOS, {{wp|Xbox One}}, {{wp|Playstation 4}}
  +
| Team-based multiplayer shooter
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''Overwatch 2''
  +
| 2022
  +
| Microsoft Windows, macOS, consoles
  +
| Team-based multiplayer shooter
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''Untitled mobile game''
  +
| TBA
  +
| Mobile devices
  +
| TBA<ref>2021-11-16, [https://esportsgen.com/overwatch-mobile-may-be-released-on-2023-leaked-by-blizzard-job-offering/ Overwatch Mobile may be released on 2023 leaked by Blizzard job offering]. ''Esportsgen'', retrieved on 2022-05-14</ref>
  +
|
  +
|}
  +
  +
===Applications===
  +
{| class="darktable zebra sortable mw-collapsible" style="text-align:center;"
  +
|-
  +
! scope="col"| Title
  +
! scope="col"| Release year
  +
! scope="col"| Platform(s)
  +
! scope="col"| Notes
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[Blizzard Downloader]]''{{KIA}}
  +
|
  +
| Windows, Mac OS
  +
| Replaced / Defunct
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[Blizzard Launcher]]''{{KIA}}
  +
| 2005
  +
| Windows, Mac OS
  +
| Introduced with patch [[1.8.3]], replaced and no longer used since [[6.0.2]]
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[Blizzard Repair]]''{{KIA}}
  +
|
  +
| Windows, Mac OS
  +
| Replaced with the desktop app
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[Blizzard Updater]]''{{KIA}}
  +
|
  +
| Windows, Mac OS
  +
| Replaced with the desktop app
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[Blizzard Mobile Authenticator]]''
  +
| 2009
  +
| iOS, Android<br />Windows,{{KIA}} Blackberry{{KIA}}
  +
| Originally named Battle.net Mobile Authenticator
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[BlizzCon#Mobile|BlizzCon Mobile]]''
  +
| 2011
  +
| iOS, Android
  +
| Originally ''BlizzCon Guide''
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[World of Warcraft Mobile Armory|WoW Mobile Armory]]''{{KIA}}
  +
| 2009
  +
| iOS, Android
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{StarCraft|StarCraft WCS}}''
  +
| 2013
  +
| iOS, Android
  +
| Originally ''Blizzard WCS''
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[Blizzard Battle.net desktop app]]''
  +
| 2013
  +
| Windows, macOS
  +
| Originally named Battle.net desktop app and Blizzard desktop app
  +
|-
  +
| {{Diablo|Blizzard Augmented Reality Viewer|Blizzard AR Viewer}}{{KIA}}
  +
| 2014
  +
| iOS, Android
  +
| Defunct on iOS
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[World of Warcraft Legion Companion App|WoW Legion Companion App]]''{{KIA}}
  +
| 2016
  +
| iOS, Android
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[Blizzard Battle.net Mobile app]]''
  +
| 2017
  +
| iOS, Android
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''{{Overwatch|Overwatch League Mobile App}}''
  +
| 2018
  +
| iOS, Android
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[BlizzCon#TV|BlizzCon TV]]''
  +
| 2018
  +
| Fire TV, Apple TV
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[Blizzard Esports#Mobile|Blizzard Esports]]''
  +
| 2018
  +
| iOS, Android
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
| ''[[World of Warcraft: Companion App|WoW Companion App]]''
  +
| 2018
  +
| iOS, Android
  +
|
  +
|}
  +
:{{KIA}} Defunct
  +
  +
===Other===
  +
:''Related [[Warcraft RPG|pen-and-paper RPG]] materials''
  +
:*''[[Warcraft: The Board Game]]'' (Published: 2003)
  +
:**''[[Warcraft: The Board Game Expansion Set|Expansion Set]]'' (Published: 2004)
  +
:*''[[World of Warcraft: The Board Game]]'' (Published: 2005)
  +
:**''[[Shadow of War]]'' (Published: 2006)
  +
:**''[[BlizzCon Epic Armor Pack]]'' (Published: 2007)
  +
:**''[[The Burning Crusade (board game)|The Burning Crusade]]'' (Published: September 2007)
   
 
===Rumored games===
  
===Rumored games===
 
'''Note:''' Blizzard has confirmed that they are NOT working on a ''StarCraft'' or ''Diablo'' [[MMORPG]].<ref>{{ref web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/blizzard-freezes-non-wow-mmog-rumors/1100-6152718/|title=Blizzard freezes non-WOW MMOG rumors|publisher=GameSpot|date=2006-06-14|accessdate=2013-11-13}}</ref>
  
'''Note:''' Blizzard has confirmed that they are NOT working on a ''StarCraft'' or ''Diablo'' [[MMORPG]].<ref>{{ref web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/blizzard-freezes-non-wow-mmog-rumors/1100-6152718/|title=Blizzard freezes non-WOW MMOG rumors|publisher=GameSpot|date=2006-06-14|accessdate=2013-11-13}}</ref>
  +
*''StarCraft III''<ref name = "SCWC">2015-08-12, [http://au.ign.com/articles/2015/08/12/gamescom-2015-blizzard-will-consider-warcraft-rts-once-starcraft-2-is-done GAMESCOM 2015: BLIZZARD WILL 'CONSIDER WARCRAFT' RTS ONCE STARCRAFT 2 IS DONE]. ''IGN'', retrieved on 2015-08-12</ref>
−
*''Diablo IV''<ref>{{ref web|date=2013-05-21|url=http://www.mmorpg.com/blogs/selinnasback/052013/25142_Travis-Day-guaranteed-players-that-the-Diablo-4-will-Certainly-Come|title=Travis Day guaranteed players that the Diablo 4 will Certainly Come|publisher=MMORPG Champion|accessdate=2014-04-12}}</ref>
 
  +
*''Untitled first-person game (TBA)<ref>November, 2016, [https://gamerant.com/blizzard-first-person-game-258/ Blizzard Working on New First Person Game]. ''Gamerant'', retrieved on 2016-12-01</ref>
−
*''Warcraft IV''<ref>{{ref web|date=2008|url=http://n4g.com/news/213547/warcraft-iv-confirmed-starcraft-ii-to-be-split-into-a-trilogy|title=Warcraft IV Confirmed, Starcraft II to be split into a Trilogy|publisher=NG4|accessdate=2013-05-29}}</ref><ref>{{ref web|date=2011-10-11|url=http://www.sk-gaming.com/content/18772-Warcraft_IV_somewhat_confirmed_at_BlizzCon|title=Warcraft IV somewhat confirmed at BlizzCon|publisher=SK Gaming|accessdate=2013-05-29}}</ref>
  
  +
*''Unannounced multiplayer game (TBA)''<ref>{{Ref web|url=https://gamerant.com/blizzard-entertainment-aaa-multiplayer-project-job-listing/|title=Blizzard Entertainment Hiring for Unannounced AAA Multiplayer Project|date=2021-12-24|author=Rory Young|publisher=Gamerant}}</ref>
  +
*''Warcraft IV''<ref>{{ref web|date=2008|url=http://n4g.com/news/213547/warcraft-iv-confirmed-starcraft-ii-to-be-split-into-a-trilogy|title=Warcraft IV Confirmed, Starcraft II to be split into a Trilogy|publisher=NG4|accessdate=2013-05-29}}</ref><ref>{{ref web|date=2011-10-11|url=http://www.sk-gaming.com/content/18772-Warcraft_IV_somewhat_confirmed_at_BlizzCon|title=Warcraft IV somewhat confirmed at BlizzCon|publisher=SK Gaming|accessdate=2013-05-29}}</ref><ref name = "SCWC"/>
 
*''World of Warcraft 2''<ref>{{ref web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/blizzard-has-considered-wow-2-what-would-you-like-/1100-6421751/|title=Blizzard Has Considered WoW 2 -- What Would You Like to See?|date=2014-08-15|publisher=Gamespot|author=Eddie Makuch}}</ref>
  
*''World of Warcraft 2''<ref>{{ref web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/blizzard-has-considered-wow-2-what-would-you-like-/1100-6421751/|title=Blizzard Has Considered WoW 2 -- What Would You Like to See?|date=2014-08-15|publisher=Gamespot|author=Eddie Makuch}}</ref>
   
 
===Unreleased/Cancelled games===
  
===Unreleased/Cancelled games===
  +
About 50% of all Blizzard games have been canceled during development.<ref name="AdhamInterview" />
  +
  +
*''{{sc|Ares (game)|Project Ares}}'' (codename for a ''StarCraft'' first-person shooter, cancelled on June 6, 2019 to put more resources into ''Overwatch 2'' and ''Diablo 4'')<ref name="KotakuD4OW2">{{Ref web|url=https://kotaku.com/sources-blizzard-cancels-starcraft-first-person-shoote-1835285125|title=Sources: Blizzard Cancels StarCraft First-Person Shooter To Focus On Diablo 4 And Overwatch 2|publisher=Kotaku|author=Jason Schreier|date=2019-06-06|accessdate=2019-06-08}}</ref>
 
*''Bloodlines'' (concepts later used for ''StarCraft'')
  
*''Bloodlines'' (concepts later used for ''StarCraft'')
−
*''Crixia''<ref name = "DICE08">{{ref web|date=2008-02-07|url=http://au.gamespot.com/news/dice-08-blizzard-talks-about-blowing-up-6185736|title=D.I.C.E. '08: Blizzard talks about blowing up|publisher=GameSpot|accessdate=2013-05-29}}</ref>
 +
*''Crixa'' (2D shooter)<ref>{{ref web|date=2014-09-23|url=http://www.polygon.com/2014/9/23/6833039/blizzard-cancelled-unreleased-games|title=A brief history of Blizzard's cancelled and unreleased games|publisher=Polygon|accessdate=2014-09-24}}</ref>
  +
*''Crossroads'' (unused MMO concept)<ref name = "TitanFailure">2017-05-11, [http://blizzardwatch.com/2017/11/05/blizzcon-2017-overwatch-rose-titans-failure/ BlizzCon 2017: How Overwatch rose from Titan’s failure]. ''Blizzard Watch'', accessed on 2017-11-05</ref>
−
*''Denizen''<ref name = "DICE08"/>
  
  +
*''Denizen''<ref name = "DICE08">{{ref web|date=2008-02-07|url=http://au.gamespot.com/news/dice-08-blizzard-talks-about-blowing-up-6185736|title=D.I.C.E. '08: Blizzard talks about blowing up|publisher=GameSpot|accessdate=2013-05-29}}</ref>
−
*''[http://diablo.wikia.com/wiki/Diablo_II:_Salvation Diablo II: Salvation]'' (trademark patented in 2001)
  
  +
*''{{Diablo|Diablo II: Salvation}}'' (trademark patented in 2001)
−
*''[http://diablo.wikia.com/wiki/Diablo_Junior Diablo Junior]'' (intended for the Gameboy Color, scrapped due to production costs)<ref>{{ref web|date=2012-10-12|url=http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/12/blizzard-north-considered-making-diablo-junior-for-the-game-boy/|title=Blizzard North considered making Diablo Junior for the Game Boy Color|publisher=Joystiq|accessdate=2013-05-29}}</ref>
  
  +
*''{{Diablo|Diablo III: The King in the North}}'' (canceled second expansion for ''Diablo III'')
  +
*''{{Diablo|Diablo Junior}}'' (intended for the Gameboy Color, scrapped due to production costs)<ref>{{ref web|date=2012-10-12|url=http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/12/blizzard-north-considered-making-diablo-junior-for-the-game-boy/|title=Blizzard North considered making Diablo Junior for the Game Boy Color|publisher=Joystiq|accessdate=2013-05-29}}</ref>
  +
*''{{Diablo|Diablo MMO}}'' (dropped concept)
 
*''Games People Play'' (crossword puzzles, boggle, and other word games)<ref name = "MobyBlizzard">{{ref web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/company/blizzard-entertainment-inc|title=Blizzard Entertainment Inc.|publisher=Moby Games|accessdate=2013-05-28}}</ref>
  
*''Games People Play'' (crossword puzzles, boggle, and other word games)<ref name = "MobyBlizzard">{{ref web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/company/blizzard-entertainment-inc|title=Blizzard Entertainment Inc.|publisher=Moby Games|accessdate=2013-05-28}}</ref>
  +
*''{{Diablo|Project Hades|Hades}}'' (first ''Diablo IV'' iteration, cancelled)
−
*''Nomad'' (Canceled in favor of ''World of Warcraft'')<ref name = "MobyBlizzard"/>
  
  +
*''[[Neptune]]'' (''Warcraft mobile MMO, cancelled)<ref name = "MobileScrapped">2022-08-04, [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-03/blizzard-netease-scrap-warcraft-game-after-financing-dispute Blizzard, NetEase Scrap Warcraft Mobile Game After Financing Dispute]. ''Bloomberg'', retrieved on 2022-08-04</ref>
−
*''Pax Imperia II'' (rights sold to THQ, later released as ''[[wikipedia:Pax Emperia: Eminent Domain|Pax Emperia: Eminent Domain]]'')<ref>{{ref web|publisher=JudgeHype|url=http://www.judgehype.com/hype17/|title=Pax Imperia II|accessdate=2013-05-28}}</ref>
  
  +
*''[[World of Warcraft#Nomad|Nomad]]'' (cancelled in favor of ''World of Warcraft'')<ref name = "MobyBlizzard"/>
  +
*''[[Orbis]]'' (''Warcraft mobile ARG, cancelled)<ref name = "MobileScrapped"/>
  +
*''Pax Imperia II'' (rights sold to THQ, later released as ''[[wikipedia:Pax Imperia: Eminent Domain|Pax Imperia: Eminent Domain]]'')<ref>{{ref web|publisher=JudgeHype|url=http://www.judgehype.com/hype17/|title=Pax Imperia II|accessdate=2013-05-28}}</ref>
 
*''Raiko''<ref name = "DICE08"/>
  
*''Raiko''<ref name = "DICE08"/>
 
*''Ronin''<ref>{{ref web|date=2013-02-04|url=http://insidetheboxreviews.com/review/the-art-of-blizzard-entertainment-book-review|title=The Art of Blizzard Entertainment (book) review…|publisher=Inside the Box|accessdate=2013-05-28}}</ref>
  
*''Ronin''<ref>{{ref web|date=2013-02-04|url=http://insidetheboxreviews.com/review/the-art-of-blizzard-entertainment-book-review|title=The Art of Blizzard Entertainment (book) review…|publisher=Inside the Box|accessdate=2013-05-28}}</ref>
  +
*''RPM II'' (sequel to ''RPM Racing'', canceled in favor of ''Rock N' Roll Racing'')<ref>{{Ref web|url=https://news.blizzard.com/en-us/blizzard/23622602/rock-n-roll-racing-s-unmistakable-influence-on-the-blizzard-style|title=ROCK N ROLL RACING'S UNMISTAKABLE INFLUENCE ON THE BLIZZARD STYLE|publisher=Blizzard Entertainment|date=2021-02-20|accessdate=2021-04-21}}</ref>
−
*''[http://starcraft.wikia.com/wiki/StarCraft#Conception Shattered Nations]'' (canceled in favor of ''StarCraft'')<ref name = "DICE08"/>
  
  +
*''{{StarCraft|StarCraft#Conception|Shattered Nations}}'' (cancelled in favor of ''StarCraft'')<ref name = "DICE08"/>
−
*''[http://diablo.wikia.com/wiki/Starblo Starblo]'' (ARPG in a sci-fi setting)<ref>{{ref web|date=2012-10-23|url=http://www.neowin.net/news/diablo-in-space-blizzard-actually-worked-on-starblo|title=Diablo in space? Blizzard actually worked on "Starblo"|publisher=Neowin.net|accessdate=2013-05-29}}</ref>
  
  +
*''{{Diablo|Starblo}}'' (ARPG in a sci-fi setting)<ref>{{ref web|date=2012-10-23|url=http://www.neowin.net/news/diablo-in-space-blizzard-actually-worked-on-starblo|title=Diablo in space? Blizzard actually worked on "Starblo"|publisher=Neowin.net|accessdate=2013-05-29}}</ref>
−
*''[[Warcraft Adventures: Lord of the Clans]]'' (Canceled on May 22, 1998)
  
−
* ''{{wplink|Starcraft: Ghost}}'' (indefinitely postponed on March 24, 2006)<ref>{{ref web|url=http://worthplaying.com/article/2006/3/24/news/32071/|title='StarCraft: Ghost' (PS2/Xbox) Cancelled But Goes Next-Gen|publisher=Worthplaying|date=2006-03-24|accessdate=2013-11-13}}</ref>
 +
*''{{StarCraft|StarCraft: Ghost}}'' (indefinitely postponed on March 24, 2006)<ref>{{ref web|url=http://worthplaying.com/article/2006/3/24/news/32071/|title='StarCraft: Ghost' (PS2/Xbox) Cancelled But Goes Next-Gen|publisher=Worthplaying|date=2006-03-24|accessdate=2013-11-13}}</ref>
  +
*''{{StarCraft|StarCraft: Frontiers}}'' (MMO, dropped concept)
  +
*''{{Overwatch|Project Titan|Titan}}'' was the project name for a massively multiplayer online game (MMO) that was being developed as a new IP. In September 2014, Blizzard co-founder and CEO, [[Mike Morhaime]], confirmed with Polygon that the project had been canceled.<ref>{{ref web|url=http://www.theverge.com/2014/9/23/6833563/blizzard-cancels-its-world-of-warcraft-successor|date=2014-09-23|author=Ross Miller|publisher=The Verge|title=Blizzard cancels its 'World of Warcraft' successor}}</ref> Some of the concepts would later be reworked into the original pitch for ''Overwatch.''
  +
*''Untitled mobile game'' (cancelled in June, 2019)<ref name="KotakuD4OW2" />
  +
*''Untitled pirate-themed ARPG'' (cancelled after a year of development)<ref>2016-01-09, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQsiAnJ4PVo& Marvel Heroes 2015 (January 8 2016)]. ''YouTube'', retrieved on 2016-01-11</ref>
  +
*''Untitled project by Mike Booth'' (abandoned in June, 2015)<ref>2015-07-31, [http://blizzpro.com/2015/07/31/the-unsolved-mystery-of-mike-booth/ THE UNSOLVED MYSTERY OF MIKE BOOTH]. ''Blizzpro'', retrieved on 2015-08-01</ref>
  +
*''[[Warcraft Adventures: Lord of the Clans]]'' (canceled on May 22, 1998)
  +
*''[[Warcraft Legends (game)|Warcraft Legends]]'' (canceled RPG, elements re-used in ''Warcraft III'')
  +
*''[[World of Warcraft: The Board Game#Expansions|World of Warcraft: The Board Game - Scion of Darkness]]'' (canceled in 2008)
  +
*''[[World of Warcraft: Clash of Champions]]'' (a deck building game by Cryptozoic,<ref>{{Ref web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2011-12-01-cryptozoic-announces-world-of-warcraft-clash-of-champions-deckb.html|title=Cryptozoic announces World of Warcraft: Clash of Champions deckbuilding game|publisher=Engadget|date=2011-12-01|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716213915/https://www.engadget.com/2011-12-01-cryptozoic-announces-world-of-warcraft-clash-of-champions-deckb.html|archivedate=2021-07-16}}</ref><ref>{{Ref web|url=http://www.gamehead.com/article/1309/details-emerge-about-clash-champions-world-warcraft-deckbuilding-game-cryptozoic|title=Details emerge about Clash of Champions, a World of Warcraft deckbuilding game from Cryptozoic|publisher=GameHead|date=2011-10-24|archivedate=2012-01-26|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126224614/http://www.gamehead.com/article/1309/details-emerge-about-clash-champions-world-warcraft-deckbuilding-game-cryptozoic}}</ref> game finished but never officially released by Blizzard)<ref>{{Ref web|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/715768/officially-cancelled-cryptozoic-announces-wow-deck|title=(Officially cancelled) Cryptozoic announces WoW deck building game Clash of Champions|date=2014-03-14}}</ref>
   
 
==Employees==
  
==Employees==
  +
{{Main|:Category:Blizzard Entertainment employees|label1=Category:Blizzard Entertainment employees}}
  +
 
===Notable===
  
===Notable===
  +
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}} [[Mike Ybarra]] (president)
 
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}} [[Allen Adham]] (vice president and co-founder)
  
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}} [[Allen Adham]] (vice president and co-founder)
 
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}} [[Greg Canessa]] ([[Battle.net 2.0]] project coordinator)<ref name = "BnetPreview">{{ref web|author=Blizzard Entertainment staff, Greg Canessa|date=2010-02-09|url=http://www.starcraft2.com/features/misc/battlenet.xml|title=Battle.net Preview|publisher=Blizzard Entertainment|accessdate=2010-02-09}}</ref>
  
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}} [[Greg Canessa]] ([[Battle.net 2.0]] project coordinator)<ref name = "BnetPreview">{{ref web|author=Blizzard Entertainment staff, Greg Canessa|date=2010-02-09|url=http://www.starcraft2.com/features/misc/battlenet.xml|title=Battle.net Preview|publisher=Blizzard Entertainment|accessdate=2010-02-09}}</ref>
 
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}} [[Tom Chilton]]
  
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}} [[Tom Chilton]]
 
*[[File:BTNTemp.png|18px]] [[Samwise Didier]] (art director)
  
*[[File:BTNTemp.png|18px]] [[Samwise Didier]] (art director)
−
*[[File:Portrait Drawgoon.jpg|18px]] [[Drawgoon]]
 +
*[[File:Portrait Drawgoon.jpg|18px]] [[Peter Lee]]
 
*[[File:Portrait RedKnuckle.jpg|18px]] [[Mark Gibbons]]
  
*[[File:Portrait RedKnuckle.jpg|18px]] [[Mark Gibbons]]
−
*[[File:Metzen.jpg|18px]] [[Chris Metzen]] (vice president of creative development)
  
−
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}} [[Michael Morhaime]] (president and co-founder)
  
 
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}} [[Frank Pearce]] (vice president and co-founder)
  
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}} [[Frank Pearce]] (vice president and co-founder)
−
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}} [[Brian Holinka]] (''WoW'' senior game designer, PvP)
 +
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}} [[Brian Holinka]] (''WoW'' senior game designer)
−
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}} [[J. Allen Brack]] (''WoW'' production director)
  
 
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}} [[Chris Robinson]] (''WoW'' senior art director)
  
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}} [[Chris Robinson]] (''WoW'' senior art director)
 
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}} [[Ion Hazzikostas]]
  
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}} [[Ion Hazzikostas]]
−
*[[File:Portrait Raneman.jpg|18px]] [[Raneman]]
 +
*[[File:Portrait Raneman.jpg|18px]] [[Glenn Rane]]
 
*[[File:Portait Thammer Wolf Worgen.jpg|18px]] [[Thammer]]
  
*[[File:Portait Thammer Wolf Worgen.jpg|18px]] [[Thammer]]
 
*[[File:Portrait Twincruiser.jpg|18px]] [[Twincruiser]] ([[René Koiter]] and [[Michel Koiter]])
  
*[[File:Portrait Twincruiser.jpg|18px]] [[Twincruiser]] ([[René Koiter]] and [[Michel Koiter]])
Line 187: Line 813:
 
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}} ''David Kim'' (balance designer)
  
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}} ''David Kim'' (balance designer)
 
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}} ''Brian T. Kindregan'' (lead writer)
  
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}} ''Brian T. Kindregan'' (lead writer)
−
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}} [http://hearthstone.gamepedia.com/Ben_Brode Ben Brode] (''Hearthstone'' senior game designer)
 +
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}} {{Hearth|Eric Dodds}} (''Hearthstone'' lead game designer)
−
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}} [http://hearthstone.gamepedia.com/Eric_Dodds Eric Dodds] (''Hearthstone'' lead game designer)
  
 
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}} ''Matt Samia'' (senior director of cinematics)
  
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}} ''Matt Samia'' (senior director of cinematics)
 
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}} [[Karune|Kevin Yu]], aka ''Karune'' ([[battle.net]] representative)
  
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}} [[Karune|Kevin Yu]], aka ''Karune'' ([[battle.net]] representative)
  +
  +
===Previous notable employees===
  +
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}} [[Michael Morhaime]] (strategic advisor)
  +
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}} [[J. Allen Brack]] (president)
  +
*[[File:Metzen.jpg|18px]] [[Chris Metzen]] (vice president of creative development)
  +
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}} [[Rob Pardo]] (vice president of game design)
  +
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}} [[Bill Roper]]
  +
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}} [[Paul Sams]] (Chief Creative Officer)
  +
*{{RaceIcon|SpiritCrab}} [[Greg Street]]
  +
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}} [[Ben Brode]] (''Hearthstone'' game director)
   
 
===Organizations===
  
===Organizations===
 
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}}{{RaceIcon|Human|Female}} [[Community Manager]]s
  
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}}{{RaceIcon|Human|Female}} [[Community Manager]]s
−
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}} [[Sons of the Storm]]
  
 
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}}{{RaceIcon|Human|Female}} [[Voice actor]]s
  
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}}{{RaceIcon|Human|Female}} [[Voice actor]]s
  +
*[[Sons of the Storm]]
 
*[[Azeroth Choppers]]
  
*[[Azeroth Choppers]]
−
**{{Alliance Icon Small}} [[Team Alliance]]
 +
**{{Alliance}} [[Team Alliance]]
−
**{{Horde Icon Small}} [[Team Horde]]
 +
**{{Horde}} [[Team Horde]]
   
−
===Previous employees===
 +
==Notes and trivia==
  +
*Since their beginnings as a North American company focusing primarily on the English-speaking market, Blizzard has gone on to become a "global business".<ref name = "BlizzardLives"/> As of 2014, more than half of its players are in Asia.<ref name = "BlizzardLives"/>
−
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}} [[Rob Pardo]] (vice president of game design)
  
  +
*According to ''[[Hearthstone (game)|Hearthstone]]'''s Senior Producer [[Yong Woo]], Blizzard employees receive some of their bonus money in "[[Blizzard Balance|Blizzard bucks]]", which can be spent on company products such as card packs.<ref>{{ref web|url=http://www.twitch.tv/cataclyst78|date=2014-12-13|title=Yong Woo, live on stream}}</ref>
−
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}} [[Bill Roper]]
  
  +
*Blizzard's main location in Irvine, California was sometimes referred to as ''Blizzard South'' to not confuse it with [[Blizzard North]].
−
*{{RaceIcon|SpiritCrab}} [[Greg Street]]
  
   
  +
==Gallery==
−
===Company's ownership===
  
  +
;Logos
−
The company's ownership has shifted many times over the years, through mergers, name changes or acquisitions:<ref name"Moby"/>
  
  +
<gallery mode=packed>
−
*[[wikipedia:Davidson & Associates|Davidson & Associates]] (1994-1996)
  
  +
Blizzard Entertainment Logo (1994).svg|First logo
−
*[[wikipedia:CUC International|CUC International]] (1996-1997)
  
  +
Blizzard Entertainment Logo.svg
−
*[[wikipedia:Cendant Software|Cendant Software]] (1997-1998)
  
  +
Blizzard Entertainment Logo (Gold).svg|Gold variant, used for ''Warcraft'' content
−
*[[wikipedia:Havas|Havas]] (1998)
  
  +
Blizzard Entertainment old logo.gif|Second logo
−
*[[wikipedia:Vivendi|Vivendi]] (1998-2007)
  
  +
Blizzard Entertainment logo.svg|SVG logo
−
*[[Activision Blizzard]] (2007-''present'')
  
  +
Blizzard Entertainment 2015 logo.svg|Current logo
  +
Blizz Logo.jpg|A cinematic logo
  +
Molten core blizzlogo.gif|[[World of Warcraft: The Molten Core|The Molten Core]]
  +
Blizzard Entertainment logo (Overwatch).svg|Logo used for ''[[Overwatch franchise|Overwatch]]'' content
  +
Blizzard Entertainment logo Warcraft.gif|Logo used for ''[[Warcraft]]'' and ''[[Hearthstone (game)|Hearthstone]]'' content
  +
Blizzard Entertainment logo BfA.png|Logo used for ''[[Battle for Azeroth]]'' content
  +
Blizzard Entertainment logo Heroes.gif|Logo used for ''[[Heroes of the Storm]]'' content
  +
Blizzard Entertainment logo Diablo.gif|Logo used for ''[[Diablo]]'' content
  +
Blizzard Entertainment logo StarCraft2.gif|Logo used for ''[[StarCraft]]'' content
  +
Blizzard Entertainment logo Destiny2.gif|Logo used for ''{{wp|Destiny 2}}'' and other generic content
  +
Blizzard Entertainment logo BO4.gif|Logo used for ''{{wp|Call of Duty}}'' games and other generic content
  +
Blizzard Frozen Logo Warcraft Movie Art.jpg|The logo in the [[Warcraft (film)|''Warcraft'' film]]
  +
Blizzard Frozen Logo Warcraft Movie Art2.jpg
  +
Blizzard Frozen Logo Warcraft Movie Art3.jpg
  +
Blizzard Frozen Logo Warcraft Movie Kerrigan.jpg|Kerrigan
  +
Blizzard Frozen Logo Warcraft Movie Arthas.jpg|Arthas
  +
Blizzard Frozen Logo Warcraft Movie Tracer.jpg|Tracer
  +
</gallery>
  +
  +
==Videos==
  +
<vplayer />
  +
{{#vlink:AHz2ky-jng8|Blizzard Retrospective}}
   
 
==References==
  
==References==
−
{{Reflist}}
 +
{{Reflist|2}}
   
 
==External links==
  
==External links==
−
<!-- Read http://www.wowpedia.org/Wowpedia:External_links before posting your links here.
 +
<!-- Please read https://wowpedia.fandom.com/Wowpedia:External_links_policy before adding new links. -->
  +
*{{Elink|link=https://www.blizzard.com/|type=blizzard}}
−
Links that do not conform to the rules will be DELETED.
  
  +
*{{Elink|link=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blizzard_Entertainment|type=wikipedia}}
−
Repeat violations may result in a BAN.
  
−
Have a nice day. :) -->
  
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{{elink|type=blizzard|site=Blizzard Entertainment|link=http://www.blizzard.com/}}
  
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{{elink|type=wikipedia|link=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blizzard_Entertainment}}
  
   
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{{Blizzard Entertainment}}
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{{Blizzard Entertainment}}
  
 
[[Category:Blizzard Entertainment| ]]
  
[[Category:Blizzard Entertainment| ]]

Latest revision as of 06:41, 4 October 2023

Blizzard Entertainment
Blizzard Entertainment 2015 logo
2015 logo
Video game developer and publisher
Formerly called Silicon & Synapse
(1991–1993)[1]
Chaos Studios, Inc.
(1993-1994)[1]
Type Subsidiary
Industry Video game industry
Founded February 8, 1991
Founders Allen Adham
Michael Morhaime
Frank Pearce
President Mike Ybarra (2021–present)
Formerly:
Michael Morhaime
(1991–2018)
J. Allen Brack
(2018–2021)
Jennifer O'Neal
(2021)
Headquarters Irvine, California, U.S.
Number of locations 10 (studios and offices)
Products Diablo franchise
Hearthstone
Heroes of the Storm
Overwatch franchise
StarCraft franchise
Warcraft franchise
Parent Davidson & Associates
(1994-1998)
Vivendi Games
(1998-2008)
Activision Blizzard
(2008-present)
Website blizzard.com
Blizzard'sFancyOrcOnWolfStatue

A statue of an orc riding a wolf, located outside Blizzard's office.

Blizzard Entertainment® (often shortened to "Blizzard" or "Blizz") is a video game developer & publisher that is responsible for the Warcraft, StarCraft, Diablo, and Overwatch franchises. The company originally concentrated primarily on the creation of game ports for other studios before beginning development of their own program with the development of games like Rock n' Roll Racing & The Lost Vikings.

In July 2008, Blizzard's parent company, Vivendi, merged their Vivendi Games subsidiary with Activision to create a new holding company called Activision Blizzard.[2][3] Five years later, in July 2013, Vivendi sold off most of its shares in Activision Blizzard, which now exists as an independent company.[4] As of October 2014, the company employs over 3,900 individuals.[5]

Core values

Blizzard Entertainment lists its eight core values on their mission statement page:

  1. Gameplay first
  2. Commit to quality
  3. Play nice; play fair
  4. Embrace your inner geek
  5. Every voice matters
  6. Think globally
  7. Lead responsibly
  8. Learn and grow[6]

History

Silicon and Synapse logo

Silicon & Synapse logo

Originally under the name Silicon & Synapse, the company was founded on 8 February 1991[7][8] by three graduates of the University of California, Los Angeles:[9] Allen Adham and Michael Morhaime. Brian Fargo, the CEO and founder of Interplay Entertainment, was granted a share in the company to improve the prospects of working jointly for the young studio.[10][11] Frank Pearce also joined the studio upon inception as the first employee.[12]

Chaos Studios

Chaos Studios logo

The small company initially did many "ports", converting games from one platform operating system to another, including board games (Battle Chess, Lexicross), strategy games (Castles), sports games (Amiga Baseball), and others (Dvorak Teaches Typing), though the company did become the first American developer to release a Super Nintendo title with RPM Racing, which became one of the first ten launch titles for the platform in North America.[12] It was not until Interplay Entertainment and Silicon & Synapse collaborated on the SNES side-scroller The Lost Vikings that its critical — though not commercial — breakthrough came. With some acclaim, the game hit the shelves in 1993. The game's release, along with Rock & Roll Racking (also 1993) led Nintendo to name the studio its "Developer of the Year". Tragically, the release of the two games coincided with the death of the 16-bit console market, and neither title sold well.[12]

Sometime in 1993, co-founder Adham told the other executives that he did not like the name "Silicon & Synapse" anymore as the name was getting confused with the meaning of silicon the chemical element used in microchips. Late 1993, Adham changed the name to "Chaos Studios", reflecting on the haphazardness of their development processes. However, they would later be contacted by a Flordia company by the name of Chaos Technologies and would happily let them use "chaos" for $100,000. Instead of paying for the license, they decided on a rebrand again which lead to "Ogre Studios" but Jan Davidson, President of Davidson & Associates, stated that it may be too scary for the kids (as stated by Adham). The choice for "Blizzard" came down to Adham looking through the dictionary with a close contender being "Midnight Studios". The company would be renamed to Blizzard Entertainment on 24 May 1994.[1]

In August 1995, the company moved from a 3,600 sq. ft. office in Costa Mesa to a 14,000 sq. ft. office in Irvine, CA.[7]

Facing a lack of success in the console market, and not willing to bet solely on one market, the company continued developing several 16-bit console titles while branching out by starting development on two new games: Games People Play, a crossword/word-game that was never completed, and Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, whose development was led by its second employee and VP of Research & Development, Patrick Wyatt.[12]

Blizzard turned 20 years old in 2012. The history is recorded on a timeline on its own site here.[13]

In 2013, Blizzard announced an official partnership with TeSPA to provide licensed StarCraft, Hearthstone and Heroes of the Storm in-game rewards to college gaming clubs.[14][15][16] In early 2014, TeSPA and Blizzard Entertainment hosted the $5,000 North American Collegiate Hearthstone Open series, culminating in a live grand finals event at the Twitch.tv stage at PAX East and PAX Prime.[17]

On February 8, 2016, Blizzard celebrated their 25th year anniversary with a video and continued to celebrate it along with the Diablo 20th anniversary at BlizzCon 2016.[18][19][20]

On October 3, 2018, Activision Blizzard announced J. Allen Brack as the new president of Blizzard Entertainment succeeding Mike Morhaime.[21] In February 2019, Blizzard underwent a round of layoffs, though announced that it would be expanding its development staff. Teams for some of its IPs, including Warcraft and Hearthstone, will be expanded.[22]

On March 7, 2019, Blizzard and GOG.com partnered to release the classic Diablo on GOG.com's platform[23] as well as Warcraft: Orcs & Humans and Warcraft II: Battle.net Edition by March 28.[24] On June 5, 2019, Blizzard gave the OK to GOG.com to add the authorized non-canoncial expansion Hellfire which was developed by Synergistic Software to Diablo as a free add-on, due to popular demand.[25]

On January 22, 2021, Vicarious Visions is now a subsidiary of Blizzard Entertainment, from Activision.[26][27] Vicarious Visions was merged with Blizzard on 12 April 2022 and renamed to Blizzard Albany and would be fully dedicated to Blizzard games.[28]

Blizzard turned 30 years old in 2021 and celebrated it at BlizzConline with the release of Blizzard Arcade Collection.

From the late 2010s to 2022, Blizzard experienced a round of departures, with many employees going on to form their own development studios.[29]

Blizzard Entertainment and NetEase who had licensing agreements since 2008 to bring Blizzard games to China were unable to come to an agreement on the renewal terms for the license. The license expired on 24 January 2023, with games and software such as World of Warcraft and the Warcraft III Battle Platform shutting down until a new licensing agreement can be made with an another company.[30][31]

Teams

After the release of World of Warcraft, the company divided its development staff into numerically designated teams (e.g. Team 2 is the dev team for World of Warcraft), each team focusing on a specific project. While relatively small, each team is supported by a much larger cast of employees, as well as being overseen by other groups within the company.

In addition to the numerically designated teams, "strike teams" were formed, as a result of Chris Metzen's desire to keep the company's original culture intact. These teams are not assigned to any one project, but give feedback on separate projects. A "design council" also exists, a gathering of all of the game directors and lead designers throughout the company.[5] As of August 2017, most of Blizzard's development focus is on supporting its existing IPs, but is working on new IPs as well.[32] As of November 2018, Blizzard's current development model is to effectively have one team per IP and support indefinitely. As a team grows and reaches a certain size, elements of the team will be spun off to work on a new IP. Each team consists of around 100–300 people.[33]

The list of teams of current and past include:

Culture

Main article: Service Awards

Relationship with Activision Blizzard

On December 2, 2007, Vivendi (Blizzard Entertainment's parent company) announced that their subsidiary Vivendi Games (of which Blizzard Entertainment was a part) would be merging with Activision to form Activision Blizzard. The deal was finalized on July 8, 2008. Vivendi later divested themselves of Activision Blizzard in July 2013, and it now exists as an independent holding company.

Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. remains Blizzard's brand,[38] as it and Activision continue to exist as separate entities within the Activision Blizzard umbrella.[39]

Conferences

Blizzard Entertainment has conferences for Blizzard announcements and demonstrations, known as the Blizzard Entertainment World Wide Invitational and BlizzCon. The first WWI was held in Seoul, South Korea on May 19 and 20, 2007 when Blizzard officially announced StarCraft II. Paris, France hosted the second Invitational on June 28 and 29, 2008.[40]

Published games and applications

Non-franchise games

Company Title Year Platform(s) Genre
as Silicon & Synapse RPM Racing 1991 SNES Racing game
The Lost Vikings 1992 Amiga, Amiga CD32, GBA, MS-DOS, Genesis, SNES, Windows (2014) Puzzle platform game
Rock n' Roll Racing 1993 SNES, Genesis, GBA, Windows (2014) Racing video game
as Blizzard Entertainment The Death and Return of Superman 1994 SNES, Genesis Beat 'em up
Blackthorne 1994 SNES, Sega 32X, MS-DOS, GBA, Mac OS, Windows (2013) Cinematic platformer
Justice League Task Force 1995 SNES, Genesis Fighting game
The Lost Vikings 2 1997 SNES, Saturn, PlayStation, Windows Puzzle platform game
Heroes of the Storm 2015 Microsoft Windows, macOS Team Brawler
Blizzard Arcade Collection 2021 Microsoft Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One Racing, Cinematic platformer, Puzzle platformer
Odyssey[41] TBA PC, console Survival[42]
Untitled role-playing game[43] TBA TBA Roleplaying game
Untitled FPS game[44] TBA TBA First-person shooter

Franchises

Universe Title Year Platform(s) Genre Notes
Warcraft universe Warcraft: Orcs & Humans 1994 (original)
2019 (GOG.com) 		MS-DOS, Mac OS, PC-98 Real-time strategy
Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness 1995 MS-DOS, Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows Real-time strategy
Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal 1996 Mac OS, MS-DOS, Microsoft Windows Expansion Warcraft II expansion
Warcraft II: The Dark Saga 1997 Sony PlayStation, Sega Saturn Real-time strategy
Warcraft II: Battle.net Edition 1999 (original)
2019 (GOG.com) 		MS-DOS, Mac OS, Microsoft Windows Real-time strategy
Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos 2002 Microsoft Windows, Mac OS Real-time strategy
Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne 2003 Microsoft Windows, Mac OS Expansion Warcraft III expansion
World of Warcraft 2004 Microsoft Windows, macOS, (Linux via Wine or Cedega) MMORPG
World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade 2007 Expansion
World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King 2008 Expansion
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm 2010 Expansion
World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria 2012 Expansion
Hearthstone 2014 Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, iPad, Android, iPhone CCG
Hearthstone: Curse of Naxxramas 2014 CCG Adventure
World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor 2014 Expansion
Hearthstone: Goblins vs Gnomes 2014 CCG Expansion
Hearthstone: Blackrock Mountain 2015 CCG Adventure
Hearthstone: The Grand Tournament 2015 CCG Expansion
Hearthstone: The League of Explorers 2015 CCG Adventure
Hearthstone: Whispers of the Old Gods 2016 CCG Expansion
Hearthstone: One Night in Karazhan 2016 CCG Expansion
World of Warcraft: Legion 2016 Expansion
Hearthstone: Mean Streets of Gadgetzan 2016 CCG Expansion
Hearthstone: Journey to Un'Goro 2017 CCG Expansion
Hearthstone: Knights of the Frozen Throne 2017 CCG Expansion
Hearthstone: Kobolds & Catacombs 2017 CCG Expansion
World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth 2018 Expansion
Hearthstone: The Witchwood 2018 CCG Expansion
Hearthstone: The Boomsday Project 2018 CCG Expansion
Hearthstone: Rastakhan's Rumble 2018 CCG Expansion
Hearthstone: Rise of Shadows 2019 CCG Expansion
Hearthstone: Saviors of Uldum 2019 CCG Expansion
Hearthstone: Tombs of Terror 2019 CCG Adventure
World of Warcraft: Classic 2019 Microsoft Windows, macOS MMORPG Server option for the vanilla World of Warcraft experience
Hearthstone: Descent of Dragons 2019 CCG Expansion
Hearthstone: Galakrond's Awakening 2020 CCG Adventure
Warcraft III: Reforged 2020 Microsoft Windows, macOS Real-time strategy Remaster of the 2002 Warcraft III
Hearthstone: Ashes of Outland 2020 CCG Expansion
Hearthstone: Scholomance Academy 2020 CCG Expansion
Hearthstone: Madness at the Darkmoon Faire 2020 CCG Expansion
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands 2020 Expansion
Hearthstone: Darkmoon Races 2021 CCG mini-set
Hearthstone: Forged in the Barrens 2021 CCG Expansion
World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade Classic 2021 Microsoft Windows, macOS MMORPG Server option for The Burning Crusade experience
Hearthstone: United in Stormwind 2021 CCG Expansion
Hearthstone: Voyage to the Sunken City 2022 CCG Expansion
World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King Classic 2022 Microsoft Windows, macOS MMORPG Server option for the Wrath of the Lich King experience
Hearthstone: Murder at Castle Nathria 2022 CCG Expansion
World of Warcraft: Dragonflight 2022 Expansion
Hearthstone: March of the Lich King 2022 CCG Expansion
Warcraft Rumble 2023 Android, iOS, iPadOS Mobile action strategy
Untitled mobile game[45] TBA Android, iOS, iPadOS TBA
StarCraft franchise StarCraft 1998 Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X Real-time strategy
StarCraft: Brood War 1998 Expansion
StarCraft 64 2000 Nintendo 64 Real-time strategy
StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty 2010 Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X Real-time strategy
StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm 2013 Expansion
StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void 2015 Expansion
StarCraft II: Nova Covert Ops 2016 Mission packs (1-3)
StarCraft: Remastered 2017 Microsoft Windows, macOS Real-time strategy Remaster of the 1998 StarCraft
StarCraft II: Free to Play 2017
Diablo franchise Diablo 1996
2019 (GOG.com) 		Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, PlayStation (1998) Action role-playing, hack and slash, dark fantasy
Diablo II 2000 Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X Action role-playing, hack and slash
Diablo II: Lord of Destruction 2001 Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X Expansion pack
Diablo III 2012 Microsoft Windows, OS X, PlaySation 3/4 and Xbox 360/One (2013) Action role-playing, hack and slash
Diablo III: Reaper of Souls 2014 Microsoft Windows, OS X Expansion
Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition 2014 PlayStation 3/4, Xbox 360/One
Diablo III: Eternal Collection[46] 2018 Microsoft Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4
Diablo II: Resurrected 2021 Microsoft Windows, macOS, consoles Action roleplaying, hack n' slash Remaster of the 2000 Diablo II
Diablo Immortal 2022 Microsoft Windows, macOS, Android, iOS MMOARPG
Diablo IV 2023 Microsoft Windows, macOS, consoles Action roleplaying, hack n' slash
Overwatch franchise Overwatch 2016 Microsoft Windows, macOS, Xbox One, Playstation 4 Team-based multiplayer shooter
Overwatch 2 2022 Microsoft Windows, macOS, consoles Team-based multiplayer shooter
Untitled mobile game TBA Mobile devices TBA[47]

Applications

Title Release year Platform(s) Notes
Blizzard Downloader † Windows, Mac OS Replaced / Defunct
Blizzard Launcher † 2005 Windows, Mac OS Introduced with patch 1.8.3, replaced and no longer used since 6.0.2
Blizzard Repair † Windows, Mac OS Replaced with the desktop app
Blizzard Updater † Windows, Mac OS Replaced with the desktop app
Blizzard Mobile Authenticator 2009 iOS, Android
Windows, † Blackberry † 		Originally named Battle.net Mobile Authenticator
BlizzCon Mobile 2011 iOS, Android Originally BlizzCon Guide
WoW Mobile Armory † 2009 iOS, Android
StarCraft WCS 2013 iOS, Android Originally Blizzard WCS
Blizzard Battle.net desktop app 2013 Windows, macOS Originally named Battle.net desktop app and Blizzard desktop app
Blizzard AR Viewer † 2014 iOS, Android Defunct on iOS
WoW Legion Companion App † 2016 iOS, Android
Blizzard Battle.net Mobile app 2017 iOS, Android
Overwatch League Mobile App 2018 iOS, Android
BlizzCon TV 2018 Fire TV, Apple TV
Blizzard Esports 2018 iOS, Android
WoW Companion App 2018 iOS, Android
 † Defunct

Other

Related pen-and-paper RPG materials

Rumored games

Note: Blizzard has confirmed that they are NOT working on a StarCraft or Diablo MMORPG.[48]

  • StarCraft III[49]
  • Untitled first-person game (TBA)[50]
  • Unannounced multiplayer game (TBA)[51]
  • Warcraft IV[52][53][49]
  • World of Warcraft 2[54]

Unreleased/Cancelled games

About 50% of all Blizzard games have been canceled during development.[33]

Employees

Main article: Category:Blizzard Entertainment employees

Notable

Previous notable employees

Organizations

Notes and trivia

  • Since their beginnings as a North American company focusing primarily on the English-speaking market, Blizzard has gone on to become a "global business".[5] As of 2014, more than half of its players are in Asia.[5]
  • According to Hearthstone's Senior Producer Yong Woo, Blizzard employees receive some of their bonus money in "Blizzard bucks", which can be spent on company products such as card packs.[75]
  • Blizzard's main location in Irvine, California was sometimes referred to as Blizzard South to not confuse it with Blizzard North.

Gallery

Logos

Videos

Blizzard Retrospective

References

 
  1. ^ a b c Tom Marks 2016-12-07. How Blizzard got its name. PC Gamer.
  2. ^ http://www.activisionblizzard.com/pressReleases/pr120207.php
  3. ^ Rob Purchese 2008-06-30. Eurogamer: Blizzard Worldwide Invertational. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
  4. ^ Elsa Keslassy 2013-07-26. Vivendi Sells Majority Stake in Activision Blizzard for $8.2 Billion. Retrieved on 2014-05-07.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Phillip Kolar. The Three Lives of Blizzard Entertainment. Polygon. Retrieved on 2014-10-04.
  6. ^ Mission Statement. Blizzard Entertainment. Retrieved on 2009-11-16.
  7. ^ a b http://us.blizzard.com/en-us/company/
  8. ^ http://web.archive.org/web/19991012192528/http://blizzard.com:80/info.shtml
  9. ^ M. Abraham 2006-11-06. UCLA Engineering Celebrates Accomplishments at Annual Awards Dinner. UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved on 2018-03-04.
  10. ^ Carless, Simon 2009-09-15. GDC Austin: How Fantastic Contraption Became A Fantastic Hit. Gamasutra. Retrieved on 2018-03-04.
  11. ^ Trey Walker 2002-02-09. GameSpot Interview with Brian Fargo. Gamespot. Retrieved on 2018-03-04.
  12. ^ a b c d http://www.mobygames.com/company/blizzard-entertainment-inc
  13. ^ Blizzard Timeline. Blizzard Entertainment. Retrieved on 2012-07-05.
  14. ^ TeSPA and Blizzard Entertainment Unveil the Membership Milestone Program. Bussiness Wire (2014-02-07). Retrieved on 2018-08-11.
  15. ^ Steve Watts 2014-02-06. Blizzard and TeSPA Partner to Support College Gaming Groups. IGN. Retrieved on 2018-08-11.
  16. ^ Emanuel Maiberg 2014-02-08. Blizzard esports initiative will support your college gaming club. Gamespot. Retrieved on 2018-08-11.
  17. ^ Blizzard Entertainment Zeriyah 2014-07-29. North American Collegiate Hearthstone™ Open 2. Blizzard Entertainment. Retrieved on 2018-08-11.
  18. ^ Blizzard Entertainment 2016-02-08. Blizzard 25th Anniversary Celebration. YouTube. Retrieved on 2017-11-06.
  19. ^ Blizzard Entertainment 2016-11-04. Celebrate 25 Years with Blizzard Entertainment. YouTube. Retrieved on 2018-05-30.
  20. ^ Blizzard 25th Anniversary and Siablo® 20th Anniversary Party at BlizzCon® 2016. Blizzard Entertainment (2016-11-06). Retrieved on 2017-11-06.
  21. ^ Activision Blizzard Names World of Warcraft® Executive Producer J. Allen Brack As New President of Blizzard Entertainment. Business Wire (2018-10-03).
  22. ^ Elizabeth Harper 2019-02-12. Activision Blizzard has record profits, so it’s cutting 8% of its staff. Retrieved on 2019-03-13.
  23. ^ Diablo Now Available on GOG.COM. Blizzard Entertainment (2019-03-07). Retrieved on 2019-06-05.
  24. ^ Warcraft: Orcs & Humans and Warcraft II Battle.net Edition Now Available on GOG.COM. Blizzard Entertainment (2019-03-28). Retrieved on 2019-06-05.
  25. ^ Release: Hellfire expansion to the original Diablo. GOG.com (2019-06-05). Retrieved on 2019-06-05.
  26. ^ a b Wesley Yin-Poole 2021-01-23. Vicarious Visions reportedly working on a Diablo 2 remake at Blizzard. Eurogamer. Retrieved on 2021-01-25.
  27. ^ a b Brendan Sinclair 2021-01-22. Vicarious Visions merged into Blizzard. GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved on 2021-01-25.
  28. ^ a b Vicarious Visions on Twitter: "We've officially merged with Blizzard Entertainment. Our development team will remain in Albany, NY and fully dedicated to Blizzard games."
  29. ^ 2022-12-27, After Blizzard: The Big New AAA-to-Indie Exodus Is in Full Swing. IGN, retrieved on 2022-12-30
  30. ^ Blizzard Entertainment and NetEase Suspending Game Services in China. Activision Blizzard (2022-11-16).
  31. ^ Cameron Koch 2023-01-24. Chinese WoW Servers Shut Down After 14 Years Following Expiration Of NetEase Agreement. GameSpot.
  32. ^ Eddie Makuch 2017-08-04. Blizzard Has Multiple New IPs Incubating But Won't Rush Them Out. GameSpot. Retrieved on 2017-08-05.
  33. ^ a b Daniel Tack 2018-11-08. Our Full BlizzCon Interview With Blizzard Co-Founder Allen Adham. Game Informer. Retrieved on 2018-11-19.
  34. ^ BlizzCon 2017 - World of Warcraft What's Next panel
  35. ^ Blizzard Entertainment PezRadar 2020-10-12. Former Diablo III CM Vaeflare returns to the Diablo Legacy team as a 3D artist. Archived from the original on 2020-10-17.
  36. ^ Eddie Makuch 2015-11-04. Blizzard Looking to Revive These Classic Games. GameSpot. Retrieved on 2017-04-01.
  37. ^ BlizzCon 2018: Rhykker interviews Allen Adham – PC and Console Games in Development. Blizzplanet (2018-11-17). Retrieved on 2018-11-21.
  38. ^ Ordinn 2007-12-02. 0. Activision Blizzard FAQ. WoW General Discussion Forum. Retrieved on 2007-12-02.
  39. ^ Activision Blizzard FAQ.
  40. ^ Worldwide Invitation 2008.
  41. ^ Create a new universe with us. Blizzard Entertainment (2022-01-25).
  42. ^ New Info Surrounding Blizzard’s Survival Game Codenamed Odyssey has Appeared. WCCF Tech (2022-08-22).
  43. ^ 2022-02-09, Blizzard’s Working On An Unannounced RPG Within An Established IP. Segment Next, retrieved on 2022-02-10
  44. ^ 2022-04-26, Blizzard Is Developing an Unannounced FPS PVP Project. CBR, retrieved on 2022-05-08
  45. ^ 2022-08-08, Blizzard Looking to Follow Up Diablo Immortal with Mobile Warcraft Game. MSN, accessed on 2022-08-10
  46. ^ Diablo III Nintendo Switch Trailer
  47. ^ 2021-11-16, Overwatch Mobile may be released on 2023 leaked by Blizzard job offering. Esportsgen, retrieved on 2022-05-14
  48. ^ Blizzard freezes non-WOW MMOG rumors. GameSpot (2006-06-14). Retrieved on 2013-11-13.
  49. ^ a b 2015-08-12, GAMESCOM 2015: BLIZZARD WILL 'CONSIDER WARCRAFT' RTS ONCE STARCRAFT 2 IS DONE. IGN, retrieved on 2015-08-12
  50. ^ November, 2016, Blizzard Working on New First Person Game. Gamerant, retrieved on 2016-12-01
  51. ^ Rory Young 2021-12-24. Blizzard Entertainment Hiring for Unannounced AAA Multiplayer Project. Gamerant.
  52. ^ Warcraft IV Confirmed, Starcraft II to be split into a Trilogy. NG4 (2008-04-16). Retrieved on 2013-05-29.
  53. ^ Warcraft IV somewhat confirmed at BlizzCon. SK Gaming (2011-10-11). Retrieved on 2013-05-29.
  54. ^ Eddie Makuch 2014-08-15. Blizzard Has Considered WoW 2 -- What Would You Like to See?. Gamespot.
  55. ^ a b Jason Schreier 2019-06-06. Sources: Blizzard Cancels StarCraft First-Person Shooter To Focus On Diablo 4 And Overwatch 2. Kotaku. Retrieved on 2019-06-08.
  56. ^ A brief history of Blizzard's cancelled and unreleased games. Polygon (2014-09-23). Retrieved on 2014-09-24.
  57. ^ 2017-05-11, BlizzCon 2017: How Overwatch rose from Titan’s failure. Blizzard Watch, accessed on 2017-11-05
  58. ^ a b c D.I.C.E. '08: Blizzard talks about blowing up. GameSpot (2008-02-07). Retrieved on 2013-05-29.
  59. ^ Blizzard North considered making Diablo Junior for the Game Boy Color. Joystiq (2012-10-12). Retrieved on 2013-05-29.
  60. ^ a b Blizzard Entertainment Inc.. Moby Games. Retrieved on 2013-05-28.
  61. ^ a b 2022-08-04, Blizzard, NetEase Scrap Warcraft Mobile Game After Financing Dispute. Bloomberg, retrieved on 2022-08-04
  62. ^ Pax Imperia II. JudgeHype. Retrieved on 2013-05-28.
  63. ^ The Art of Blizzard Entertainment (book) review…. Inside the Box (2013-02-04). Retrieved on 2013-05-28.
  64. ^ ROCK N ROLL RACING'S UNMISTAKABLE INFLUENCE ON THE BLIZZARD STYLE. Blizzard Entertainment (2021-02-20). Retrieved on 2021-04-21.
  65. ^ Diablo in space? Blizzard actually worked on "Starblo". Neowin.net (2012-10-23). Retrieved on 2013-05-29.
  66. ^ 'StarCraft: Ghost' (PS2/Xbox) Cancelled But Goes Next-Gen. Worthplaying (2006-03-24). Retrieved on 2013-11-13.
  67. ^ Ross Miller 2014-09-23. Blizzard cancels its 'World of Warcraft' successor. The Verge.
  68. ^ 2016-01-09, Marvel Heroes 2015 (January 8 2016). YouTube, retrieved on 2016-01-11
  69. ^ 2015-07-31, THE UNSOLVED MYSTERY OF MIKE BOOTH. Blizzpro, retrieved on 2015-08-01
  70. ^ Cryptozoic announces World of Warcraft: Clash of Champions deckbuilding game. Engadget (2011-12-01). Archived from the original on 2021-07-16.
  71. ^ Details emerge about Clash of Champions, a World of Warcraft deckbuilding game from Cryptozoic. GameHead (2011-10-24). Archived from the original on 2012-01-26.
  72. ^ (Officially cancelled) Cryptozoic announces WoW deck building game Clash of Champions (2014-03-14).
  73. ^ Blizzard Entertainment staff, Greg Canessa 2010-02-09. Battle.net Preview. Blizzard Entertainment. Retrieved on 2010-02-09.
  74. ^ Blizzcon Video Archive (Sonkie vs Yellow). Blizzard Entertainment. Retrieved on 2008-10-19.
  75. ^ Yong Woo, live on stream (2014-12-13).

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