World of Warcraft Director Reveals Blizzard’s Ambitious Plans Beyond MMORPGs, Acknowledges Underutilization of Warcraft IP
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As World of Warcraft celebrates its 22nd anniversary, vice president and executive producer Holly Longdale believes the Warcraft IP has “been underutilized” and envisions a broader future for the franchise beyond just being an MMORPG.
In a recent interview, Longdale expressed her desire to make the franchise accessible to a wider audience. “It’s a fantastic IP,” she stated. “In my humble opinion, it’s been underutilized, and I just want to bring it to as many people as possible. That means evolving what Warcraft means, what it is, and where it’s going. We want it to be approachable.”
She mentioned that Warcraft’s executive creative director, Chris Metzen, sometimes wishes they hadn’t named it Warcraft, as it can sound intimidating. Longdale disagrees, arguing that names like Warhammer don’t carry the same weight of intimidation.
While she doesn’t believe the name is a barrier, she acknowledges the potential for growth. “This idea of ‘third space’ in our online worlds is something we’re still defining, but we want to create a space where people can gather, celebrate birthdays, have weddings, embark on grand adventures, and forge new friendships—everything that World of Warcraft has excelled at for over 20 years.”
While she might be referring to roleplayed online weddings, it would be quite the twist if Blizzard aimed to make its MMO a venue for real-life ceremonies. Regardless, she added, “At the same time, we want to leverage 20 years of stories, both told and untold, and start sharing them with the world in a broader way. That’s my goal and vision.”
In conclusion, Longdale stated, “We’re never going to stop doing the things we know people love. But at the same time, I think we have a bigger vision than just an MMORPG.”
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