Blizzard Timeline
Our anniversary website wouldn't be complete without an in-depth chronicle of Blizzard Entertainment’s long history. Twenty years is a long time, and much has happened since the company first opened its doors. We invite you to read on and join us on a stroll down memory lane.
Silicon & Synapse
1991 Silicon & Synapse, founded this year by Allen Adham, Frank Pearce, and Mike Morhaime, produces RPM Racing, the company's first game.
Software Developer of the Year
1993 The Lost Vikings and Rock N' Roll Racing are released. The company is awarded "Best Software Developer of the Year" by VideoGames Magazine.
Chaos Studios
December 1993 The company changes its name from Silicon & Synapse to Chaos Studios. The year ends with eleven projects shipped. The company has moved into four different offices, and the staff has grown to fifteen people.
Davidson & Associates
April 1994 Davidson & Associates acquires Chaos Studios.
Blizzard Entertainment
May 1994 The company changes its name from Chaos Studios to Blizzard Entertainment.
Orcs & Humans
November 1994 Warcraft: Orcs & Humans is the first game released under the Blizzard Entertainment label.
Blackthorne
December 1994 Blackthorne is released.
Justice League Task Force
March 1995 Justice League Task Force is released for Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo.
The Death & Return of Superman
June 1995 The Death and Return of Superman is released.
New Campus in Irvine
August 1995 The company moves from a 3,600 sq. ft. office in Costa Mesa to a 14,000 sq. ft. office in Irvine, California.
Blizzard on the web
October 1995 Blizzard.com launches. The company finally has an official home on this newfangled "Internet" thing.
Tides of Darkness
December 1995 Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness is released. Oil prices skyrocket across Azeroth.
Beyond the Dark Portal
May 1996 Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal is released. Real estate plummets in Outland.
CUC International, Inc.
July 1996 Davidson & Associates is acquired by CUC International, Inc.
Warcraft II sells 1.2 million
September 1996 Warcraft II sells 1.2 million copies, ending 1996 as the #1-selling PC title.
Warcraft: Battle Chest
November 1996 Warcraft: Battle Chest is released.
Diablo & Battle.net
December 1996
Diablo is released and debuts as the #1-selling PC title. Click click click click click click click.
The Battle.net service launches along with Diablo, making it easier than ever for players to play together online.
Battle.net month one
January 1997 Battle.net surpasses 150,000 players and 1.5 million games in its first month of operation.
Cendant
December 1997 CUC International and HFS Incorporated join together to form Cendant.
1.5 million on Battle.net
February 1998 Battle.net hits 1.5 million users.
StarCraft (PC) & Diablo (PSone)
March 1998
StarCraft is released.
The PlayStation version of Diablo is released.
StarCraft sales
June 1998 StarCraft sells 3 million copies in 3 months.
Brood War
December 1998
StarCraft: Brood War is released and sells over 1.5 million copies, becoming the #1-selling PC game.
Cendant sells Blizzard and Sierra On-Line to Havas, which is acquired by Vivendi and becomes part of Vivendi Games.
Battle.net hits 4 million unique users by the end of 1998.
StarCraft in space
May 1999 A copy of StarCraft is taken into space on the shuttle Discovery during the first docking mission for the International Space Station.
131 Theory
July 1999 The company moves offices to 131 Theory, a new 50,000 sq. ft. building.
StarCraft in South Korea
October 1999 The company sells more than 1 million copies of StarCraft and StarCraft: Brood War in South Korea, becoming the country's most popular game ever.
Diablo II
June 2000
Diablo II is released. It sells 1 million copies in 3 weeks, making it the fastest-selling computer game in history.
Diablo II cinematics are submitted for an Academy Award.
StarCraft 64 for Nintendo 64 is released.
Vivendi Universal
December 2000 Vivendi acquires Universal Studios, and Blizzard Entertainment becomes part of Vivendi Universal.
Lord of Destruction
June 2001 Diablo II: Lord of Destruction is released. Left mouse buttons the world over cower in fear.
Warcraft III
July 2002 Warcraft III is released and becomes the latest fastest-selling PC game in history.
Games for GBA
March 2003 The Game Boy Advance versions of The Lost Vikings, Rock N' Roll Racing, and Blackthorne are released.
The Frozen Throne
July 2003 Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne is released and goes on to sell 3.5 million copies, becoming the company's eighth #1-selling game.
First Worldwide Invitational
January 2004 Blizzard hosts its first Worldwide Invitational event, in South Korea.
Offices in Europe & Korea
February 2004 Blizzard opens offices in Europe and Korea.
World of Warcraft
November 2004 World of Warcraft is released and breaks all previous sales records on its first day of release in North America, Australia, and New Zealand, becoming the company's ninth #1-selling game.
World of Warcraft in South Korea
January 2005 World of Warcraft is released in South Korea.
World of Warcraft in Europe
February 2005 World of Warcraft is released in Europe.
World of Warcraft in China
June 2005 World of Warcraft launches in China.
Over 4 million in WoW
August 2005 World of Warcraft surpasses 4 million players.
First BlizzCon
October 2005 The company hosts its first BlizzCon, in Anaheim, California.
World of Warcraft in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau
November 2005
World of Warcraft launches in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau.
During "College Week" World of Warcraft is featured in a question on Jeopardy
5 million World of Warcraft subscribers
December 2005 World of Warcraft hits 5 million subscribers.
Second Worldwide Invitational
February 2006 The company hosts its second Worldwide Invitational, in South Korea.
WoW Trading Card Game & South Park episode
October 2006 The World of Warcraft Trading Card Game launches. Comedy Central's South Park airs "Make Love, Not Warcraft," an episode about World of Warcraft.
The Burning Crusade
January 2007 World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade is released. Selling nearly 2.4 million copies in the first 24 hours, it becomes the fastest-selling PC game ever.
World of Warcraft hits 8.5 million
March 2007 World of Warcraft hits 8.5 million subscribers.
StarCraft 2 announced
May 2007 The company hosts its third Worldwide Invitational, in South Korea; StarCraft 2 is announced.
Second BlizzCon
August 2007 The company hosts its second BlizzCon, in Anaheim, California.
Campus move
December 2007 The company moves offices to the new "campus" location, with three buildings and a gated security entry.
World of Warcraft hits 10 million subscribers
January 2008 World of Warcraft hits 10 million subscribers.
Fourth Worldwide Invitational
June 2008 The company hosts its fourth Worldwide Invitational, in Paris, France.
Activision Blizzard
July 2008
World of Warcraft launches in Latin America.
Vivendi and Activision complete their acquisition transaction, forming Activision Blizzard.
World of Warcraft in Russia
August 2008
World of Warcraft launches in Russia.
BlizzCon tickets go on sale. They sell out in less than 30 minutes, surpassing all previous BlizzCon ticket sale times.
Blizzard music on iTunes
September 2008 Blizzard game music is now available on iTunes.
Third BlizzCon
October 2008 The company hosts its third BlizzCon, in Anaheim, California. More than 15,000 fans get a sneak preview of Wrath of the Lich King, StarCraft II, and Diablo III, featuring the recently announced wizard class.
Wrath of the Lich King
November 2008 World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King is released. The game sells more than 2.8 million copies in the first 24 hours, making it the fastest-selling PC game of all time. World of Warcraft hits 11 million subscribers worldwide.
Fourth BlizzCon
August 2009 The company hosts its fourth BlizzCon, in Anaheim, California. Thousands of fans get a sneak preview of World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, StarCraft II, and Diablo III, featuring the recently announced monk class.
StarCraft II
July 2010 StarCraft II releases with thousands of fans attending midnight sales. The next generation of Battle.net is unveiled.
Battle.net 2.0
August 2010 Battle.net becomes self-aware and begins monitoring pro players from across the world to learn their elite strategies. Surely nothing bad could come of this.
Fifth BlizzCon
October 2010 The company hosts its fifth BlizzCon, in Anaheim, California. Tenacious D rock the closing ceremonies, and a red-shirted fan makes Warcraft history. Literally.
Cataclysm
December 2010 World of Warcraft: Cataclysm releases. The game sells more than 3.3 million copies within 24 hours of release, making it the fastest-selling PC game of all time and breaking the previous record held by World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King.
Sixth BlizzCon
October 2011 The company hosts its sixth BlizzCon at Anaheim Convention Center. Players get a first look at the next World of Warcraft expansion, Mists of Pandaria, as well as Diablo III, StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm, and Blizzard All Stars.
Diablo III
May 2012 Diablo III is released and sells more than 3.5 million copies within 24 hours, beating the record held by World of Warcraft: Cataclysm to become the fastest-selling PC game to date.