It’s been nine years since World of Warcraft opened its gates—nine years since fledgling heroes from all walks of life spoke to their first quest giver and began their journey through Azeroth, unaware of where those first steps would ultimately take them.
Nine years is a long time for any voyage, and we couldn’t have hoped for a more dedicated and passionate community to come on this adventure with us. World of Warcraft wouldn’t be what it is today without you: the players who celebrate your passion for the game every day and share your own Azeroth-enhancing contributions with one another. From creating awe-inspiring costumes for BlizzCon to talking complex raid strategies on podcasts, from building fansites to making amazing machinima, the World of Wacraft community has forged a culture and language uniquely its own.
While our primary quest remains to create an epic world for you all to enjoy, we’ve also joined you in the trenches on our own journeys to become heroes of Azeroth. From the very beginning, we’ve engaged in endless battles on the fields between Southshore and Tarren Mill and faced Onyxia in her lair. We knew we needed “more DoTs” and there were many whelps, and we handled it together—carrying off truly epic loot for our efforts.
We banded together as realms to gather resources and ring the Scarab Gong to fight the vile Qiraji. We journeyed through the Dark Portal in The Burning Crusade, listening to Kael’thas talk endlessly about his master plans before taking him and his minions down. In Wrath of the Lich King, we set sail to Northrend to cross swords and spells with Arthas and seal his fate. We’ve watched as the world was torn asunder by the immense power of Deathwing in Cataclysm . . . and witnessed a change in Horde leadership that would one day bring the world to the brink of ruin once more. Beyond the Mists of Pandaria, we explored a strange new land—and while the Alliance found itself more united, the Horde began to come apart at the seams.
Garrosh Hellscream now sits in chains awaiting his judgment, but the journey will go on. While the war between the Alliance and the Horde continues to drive the races of Azeroth apart, the bonds outside of the game continue to strengthen and grow. We’re humbled by the stories you’ve shared about how World of Warcraft has affected your lives. We’ve celebrated marriages and births with your guildmates and PvP rivals, mourned alongside you at the loss of community members and friends, and gathered together at places like BlizzCon to swap stories face-to-face—all reminding us that World of Warcraft is more than just a game.
We couldn’t be happier to have so many of you join us on this journey all these years, and we hope you’ll lend us your swords, axes, and spells for many, many more.
Happy 9-year anniversary, World of Warcraft community—we’ll see you in game!
-The World of Warcraft Team