What year does WoW take place?

What Year Does WoW Take Place?

The World of Warcraft, one of the most popular online multiplayer games, has been a phenomenon since its release in 2004. With a vast world to explore and a rich lore to immerse oneself in, many players wonder about the year in which the game takes place. In this article, we’ll delve into the answers and provide insights into the Warcraft universe.

Current Year in WoW

As of the Shadowlands expansion, the current year in the World of Warcraft is 40. This expansion marked the beginning of a new era for the game, introducing new zones, playable characters, and game mechanics.

Timeline of WoW Expansions

To better understand the progression of the game, here is a list of all WoW expansions, along with their release years:

• 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)

Yearly Progression in WoW Lore

Here is a rough estimate of the yearly progression in the Warcraft lore, as stated by the game’s developers and various sources:

• Warcraft I (released in 1994): The earliest point in time where humanoids, including Trolls and Murlocs, inhabited the world of Azeroth.
• Warcraft II (released in 1995): About 25-30 years after the events of the first game, the second game took place.
• Warcraft III (released in 2002): Another 30-40 years passed before the events of the third game.
• The Burning Crusade (released in 2007): A major expansion that took place approximately 500 years after the events of Warcraft III.
• Wrath of the Lich King (released in 2008): About 80 years later, the next expansion introduced the death of the Lich King, Arthas Menethil.
• Cataclysm (released in 2010): A catastrophic event caused a massive overhaul of Azeroth’s landscape and altered the timeline.
• Mists of Pandaria (released in 2012): Taking place about 30-40 years after the Cataclysm, this expansion saw the rise of the mogu empire.
• Warlords of Draenor (released in 2014): This expansion took place about 50-60 years later, introducing a new faction and a return to Draenor.
• Legion (released in 2016): About 60-70 years later, the legion expansion took place, culminating in the events of the Battle of Azeroth.
• Battle for Azeroth (released in 2018): Immediately after the events of the legion expansion.
• Shadowlands (released in 2020): Starting from year 40, this expansion introduced the world of Shadowlands, exploring the realms of death.

The Age of Azeroth

It is essential to note that Azeroth’s calendar does not work like ours. The calendar is more related to the events of the game’s lore. The Year of the Dragons, The Year of the Sunwell, or The Year of the Brew are just a few examples of the Azeroth calendar’s divisions. This adds a layer of complexity when trying to understand the game’s timeline.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the year in which World of Warcraft takes place is 40, as stated in the Shadowlands expansion. While the game’s timeline may seem confusing at first, understanding the expansions and their release dates provides a general idea of the game’s progression. By exploring the Warcraft universe and its rich lore, we can better appreciate the depth and complexity of this beloved game.