World of Warcraft executive producer expresses mixed feelings about the game’s name, saying “Warcraft” can feel intimidating.

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World of Warcraft has been making waves lately with the new expansion pack, Midnight, and Blizzard’s decision to eliminate combat mods. However, the developers have even bigger aspirations for the MMO.

They aim to attract a broader, more diverse audience, as executive producer and vice president Holly Longdale shared in a recent interview. This vision extends beyond the 2004 MMO to encompass the entire Warcraft franchise. “It’s a fantastic IP. In my humble opinion, it’s been underutilized, and I just want to bring it to as many people as possible,” Longdale stated. So, how does Blizzard plan to achieve this?

One approach, according to Longdale, is to make the franchise more “approachable.” “And that means evolving what Warcraft means, what it is, and where it’s going,” she explained. However, the name “Warcraft” might not sound very inviting to newcomers, a point Longdale acknowledges. She recalls discussions with fellow developers about this.

“Chris Metzen sometimes says, ‘I wish we hadn’t called it Warcraft. It sounds intimidating.'” Longdale doesn’t fully agree, though: “But I’m like, nobody really thinks that about Warhammer. It’s an understood name.” I think she has a point—after all, Warcraft doesn’t necessarily need to sound “friendly.” The narratives often tackle serious themes, including war, which is central to the franchise.

In response to Metzen’s comments, one fan used official Blizzard art to argue that “Warcraft” is an apt title. The artwork features “one of the most badass orcs in Warcraft history with alliance heads hanging off his belt,” and the orc in question is named “Grommash Hellscream,” which makes the argument compelling.

“I wish we hadn’t called it Warcraft. It sounds intimidating,” while this is the OFFICIAL ART from Blizzard of one of the most badass orcs in Warcraft history with alliance heads hanging off his belt. Retail is chopped, bros.

Comments reveal that other fans resonate with this sentiment, though I can see where Metzen is coming from. With competitors like Final Fantasy 14, it’s challenging to present a dark, gritty fantasy without the charm that makes other games so appealing. Longdale elaborates on this, saying, “We want people to come in, hang out, and have birthdays, weddings, raids, grand adventures, play with their friends, meet new friends”—the more relaxed social experiences that MMOs are known for.

She concludes that Blizzard is “never going to stop doing the things people love, but at the same time, we have a bigger vision than simply being an MMORPG.” Here’s hoping that vision unfolds beautifully over the next decade of WoW.

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“Made without crunch”: World of Warcraft Midnight is “the fastest expansion” Blizzard has ever created, with “no sacrifices to team health.”

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