When did World of Warcraft release? All WoW expansions & Classic

Lauren Bergin
World of Warcraft

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


world of warcraft wow jaina on a ship in battle for azeroth
Home to a whole plethora of iconic characters, World of Warcraft is an ever-expanding world.

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:

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