A casual remark from Blizzard's executive creative director Chris Metzen has blown up into a full community firestorm. In a recent interview with The Game Business, World of Warcraft executive producer Holly Longdale shared that Metzen occasionally jokes, "I wish we hadn’t called it Warcraft. It sounds intimidating." Paired with discussions of Warcraft as an "underutilized" IP ripe for expansion beyond the MMO, the comment struck a nerve, with fans accusing Blizzard of diluting the franchise's hardcore roots in pursuit of mass appeal.
The interview, featuring game director Ion Hazzikostas and Longdale, painted an optimistic picture of WoW's future. Longdale pushed back on Metzen's joke by comparing Warcraft to Warhammer: an "understood name" that doesn't scare off newcomers once established. She emphasized making the IP "approachable" through shorter sessions, player housing, and new formats like single-player titles or mobile experiences. "We’re never going to stop doing the things people love," she said, but added Blizzard envisions Warcraft as more than "simply an MMORPG," evolving into a "third space" for socializing, raids, and stories from 20+ years of lore.
That vision includes leveraging Microsoft's resources for faster upcoming expansions (The War Within (2024), Midnight (March 2026), and The Last Titan (pre-2030)) while spinning off standalone projects. Longdale called the IP "fantastic" but underutilized, aiming to "bring it to as many people as possible." Most of all the rage from fans happens from comments made after the 28:30 mark in the interview. Check it out yourself:
Fans, however, latched onto Metzen's line as a red flag. On X, posts exploded with memes and rants. One viral thread mocked the idea of Warcraft with having been born from gritty RTS games and changing into needing a rebrand to sound cuddly. "Metzen has some George Lucas level of delusion about his own creation," tweeted a user, contrasting early dark Warcraft art with perceived softening. Streamer Michael Bellular warned against "torching the Warcraft you have chasing a version that only exists as a 20 year plan," fearing "Disneyfication" that prioritizes casuals over veterans.
Fans on social media and Blizzard forums echoed the sentiment. Threads debated if "Warcraft" evokes epic conflict which is perfect for the brand or if it presents barriers for noobs. Critics argued the name's edge draws dedicated players, while defenders noted it's tongue-in-cheek: Longdale used "sometimes like," signaling humor. One poster mentioned the outrage machine needs "constant drama." Do you think they are right and this is an over-reaction to a joke?
Blizzard has stayed silent on the anger from fans, but the interview's timing with pre-Midnight hype and all amplifies the scrutiny. WoW's player base, aging with the game, craves depth amid sub dips, yet expansions like Dragonflight succeeded by balancing accessibility with challenge. Metzen's return as creative lead fuels hope for epic tales, but comments like this risk alienating the core fans.
Is Blizzard right to broaden Warcraft, chasing Fortnite-style social hubs and spin-offs? Or does it signal a drift from the gritty wars that defined it? The backlash underscores a tightrope: evolve without erasing identity. As Midnight looms and releases soon, players watch if "approachable" means welcoming new blood or chipping down the old guard's health bars. For now, the name sticks and so does the debate.
What are your thoughts on it? Is Warcraft actually an underutilized IP or are they just not listening to fans? Let us know in the comments below! As per usual, stay tuned for more news and updates as we get them.