Under the Microsoft label, Blizzard Entertainment is now offering the original Warcraft: Orcs and Humans, Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness, and Diablo (1996) in the Blizzard Shop for under $10 each. Color me intrigued.
These games have been available at GOG for a few years now. Blizzard, under Activision Blizzard, had relinquished these Classic games to a third-party to sell and host. As a matter of fact, they are still sold there right now.
Why bring them back to the Blizzard Launcher now? Well, it does make Microsoft some cash for sure. I mean, Activision Blizzard cost them a bit over $68 billion.
Adding the Classic games to the Blizzard Launcher is its own Ads campaign. Everyone on your Friends List can see you are playing it.
For some time, I have been hopeful that these Classic games get the Diablo II: Resurrected treatment with modern 3D graphics and FX. We’d have to wait and see if that’s on the table, but I wouldn’t hold my breath. Yet, here we are. Classic Games are now in the Blizzard Launcher, and bringing new revenue to the Studios.
This also allows those who never played the original games to catch up on the old lore, and what made these games special in the 90s.
Face the Lord of Terror (again?) in Diablo
Beneath the cathedral of Tristram, past the catacombs and deep caves, a Prime Evil grows in strength. Terror grips the townsfolk. They pray for an adventurer to descend into the darkness, avenge their fallen friends, and save Tristram. Will you answer the call? With three iconic character classes, 16 levels of old-school dungeon delving, and multiplayer demon-slaying, the stage is set for your return to 1997’s Diablo–the title that launched one of gaming’s most enduring action-RPG universes. Diablo is now available on the Battle.net Shop for USD $9.99. For more details, check out the blog.
Revisit the Horde and Alliance origins in Warcraft: Orcs & Humans
As fearsome invaders from another world threaten the peace, Azeroth calls for a hero to lead its human defenders in battle…or conquer this realm in the name of the orcish Horde! Explore two dozen missions across two separate campaigns, battle your friends in 2-player versus mode, and more! If you’ve ever wondered what it was like to fight at the dawn of the Warcraft saga, this is your chance to see how it all began. The very first game in the Warcraft universe and Blizzard’s first RTS, 1994’s Warcraft: Orcs and Humans, is now available in the Battle.net Shop for USD $5.99. To learn more, head on over to Battle.net.
Fight for honor in Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness
The greatest strategists of the Alliance and the Horde race towards a terrifying clash as war continues to rage across Azeroth. It’s up to you to defend this world and its people…or crush these pitiful weaklings and claim their realm for the Horde! Follow both factions in 28 missions across two epic campaigns, go Beyond the Dark Portal once you’ve completed the Tides of Darkness, and get creative with the Warcraft II map editor. Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness is available now for USD $9.99 – details on the website.
