World of Warcraft, often abbreviated as WoW, is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment. Launched in 2004, it quickly became one of the most popular and influential MMORPGs in gaming history. Set in the fictional world of Azeroth, players can create characters from various races and classes, each with unique abilities and skills. The game offers a vast and immersive virtual world where players can embark on quests, engage in player versus environment (PvE) and player versus player (PvP) combat, explore dungeons and raids, and interact with other players from around the globe.

One of the defining features of World of Warcraft is its rich lore and expansive world-building. Drawing from the Warcraft series of real-time strategy games, WoW incorporates a deep narrative that spans multiple continents, factions, and conflicts. Players can delve into the game's lore through quests, in-game events, novels, and other media. Additionally, World of Warcraft has undergone numerous expansions, introducing new continents, races, classes, dungeons, and gameplay mechanics over the years, ensuring that the game remains fresh and engaging for its player base.