Are you wondering when exactly World of Warcraft was released and just how many expansions the beloved game has had so far? Here’s everything you need to know.
World of Warcraft is one of the most popular MMO titles of all time having a dedicated worldwide player base that continues to grow every single day. With decades of content to enjoy, a massive world to explore, and plenty of PvP and PvE activities to enjoy, there’s something for everyone in this beloved game.
It’s notable for being one of the oldest MMORPGs on the market, and you may want to know exactly how long World of Warcraft has been available to play, as well as just how many expansions have been released over the years.
With that in mind, here’s everything you need to know about World of Warcraft, including its original release date and a rundown of every expansion so far.
Contents
WoW release date
World of Warcraft was released in 2004, following on from Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne. With Guild Wars arriving in 2005, this makes WoW one of the oldest MMORPGs out there.
All WoW expansions: From Legion to Dragonflight
WoW has ten different expansions so far, with the most recent being Dragonflight. The MMO’s next era, The Worldsoul Saga was announced at Blizzcon 2023 and will encompass 3 expansions beginning with The War Within.
Here’s a full list of every confirmed WoW expansion so far, and their release years:
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| Expansion | Release Date |
| The Burning Crusade | 2007 |
| Wrath of the Lich King | 2008 |
| Cataclysm | 2010 |
| Mists of Pandaria | 2012 |
| Warlords of Draenor | 2014 |
| Legion | 2016 |
| Battle for Azeroth | 2018 |
| Shadowlands | 2020 |
| Dragonflight | 2022 |
| The War Within | 2024 |
| World of Warcraft: Midnight | TBC |
| World of Warcraft: The Last Titan | TBC |
What is WoW Classic? Release date & info
Released in 2019, WoW Classic effectively recreates the Azeroth of old. While it originally recreated the WoW universe before any of the expansions, this changed in 2020 with the release of The Burning Crusade Classic.
Bringing the Twisted Nether back to life in style and reimagining some of the game’s most iconic dungeons and raids, players can dive into the action all over again and take down Illidan once more.
Following the launch of WoW Classic, the Wrath of the Lich King expansion was made available beginning in 2022, once again giving players the chance to experience one of the most beloved expansions in the game’s history.
So that’s everything you need to know about when World of Warcraft released, as well as all of the different expansions and DLCs that it has spawned so far! For more content on the game, check out our guides below:
How to install addons in WoW Burning Crusade Classic | Best fishing spots in WoW Classic | Best healer classes for Classic dungeons and raids | Classic fishing guide | How to find each faction’s Auction House | How to Layer Hop | How to farm gold in WoW Burning Crusade Classic | WoW Dragonflight How to transfer your character for free | WoW Dragonflight boat and zeppelin locations | WoW Dragonflight server status | How to unlock WoW Dragonflight world quests