Numbers first: a strategy game from 2002, a remaster with 4K support and a release planned for 2019. That is how Blizzard presented Warcraft III: Reforged at the BlizzCon opening on November 2, 2018.
The list of promises was long. Characters and animations rebuilt from scratch, remastered maps and campaigns, an updated interface and map editor, 4K support and mod support. On the systems side, the company also promised improved matchmaking and balance tweaks to units, heroes and buildings. The package would include the original game, Reign of Chaos, and the expansion The Frozen Throne. A special edition, Spoils of War, went up for pre-order on Battle.net with bonuses for Diablo III, Hearthstone, Heroes of the Storm and World of Warcraft. Much of the new 3D art was produced in partnership with the studio Lemon Sky.
Translating the jargon: it was not just a “fresh coat of paint.” Pete Stillwell, from the Blizzard team, said the idea was to “do more” with the game. Check out the trailers shown at the event:
Remastered CG intro
Gameplay
What came next
The 2019 window slipped, and Reforged came out on January 28, 2020. In practice, the launch became a case study. Critics gave it 59 on Metacritic and the public was much harsher: the game even became Blizzard’s title with the worst user score on the site, a spot it only lost to Diablo Immortal in 2022. The complaints ranged from promised features that never appeared and features of the original being removed, to a worse interface and the new rule that gave Blizzard ownership of player-created content. Since all copies of the classic Warcraft III were forced to update, even those who did not buy the remaster did not escape the changes. Blizzard began offering full refunds regardless of playtime. In November 2024, update 2.0 brought the “Classic HD” graphics and improvements for mods, in a belated attempt at reconciliation.
Max Xavier
SavePoint Team
Doutor Overclock
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