Warcraft arrives on June 26 to Game Pass: what you can expect if you’re new or veteran

The founding trilogy of Blizzard joins the service and prepares its landing with modern improvements and an unbeatable historical load.

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Few sagas have influenced the video game industry as much as Warcraft. Blizzard’s universe, born as a pure RTS in the mid-90s, became a reference point for the genre, giving birth to MOBA, World of Warcraft, and much of the modern design in real-time strategy. On June 26, 2025, the three original titles return remastered through Xbox Game Pass for PC, marking a milestone for the service and for an entire generation of players.

Whether you’re new to this universe or someone who lived through the glory days on Battle.net, this is a unique opportunity. But what can we expect before their arrival? What does each title bring, and how should we approach them in 2025? We review what you need to know if you’re going to play them for the first time or if you want to reconnect with them.

What to Expect from the Return of Warcraft to PC Game Pass on June 26

For Newcomers: A Masterclass in RTS Design

New players will find three very different games, but with a coherent evolution:

• Warcraft: Orcs & Humans Remastered offers a simpler and more direct experience, ideal for understanding the basics of the genre: construction, gathering, limited units, and dual-faction campaigns (Horde and Alliance). It doesn’t have multiplayer, but its short and well-structured campaigns are still enjoyable.

• Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness Remastered takes a significant leap in everything: naval battles, new types of resources, more complex maps, and richer visual design. Here, you’ll notice a generational leap, and the difficulty is more demanding.

• Warcraft III: Reforged moves away from macro-management and embraces a more tactical and heroic format, where protagonists gain levels, use abilities, and modify the game. It includes Reign of Chaos and The Frozen Throne, and is the most complete of all, with online mode and updated competitive multiplayer.

If you’ve never played a classic RTS, get ready for a slower pace, where positioning, resource economy, and unit management make the difference. These titles are very different from modern RTS games, but their design remains valid and engaging due to its clarity and depth.

For Veterans: Nostalgia with Modern Support and All Original Content

Those who lived through the rise of Warcraft in the 90s and 2000s will find a familiar experience, but more comfortable. The versions coming to Game Pass are not simple ports: each game has been adapted to current systems with improvements in resolution, interface, controls, and stability.

You’ll be able to relive:

• The complete original campaigns of Alliance and Horde, in both Warcraft I and Warcraft II

• The integral experience of Warcraft III, with remastered cinematics, new 3D models, and all campaigns

• Skirmishes, custom maps, and (in the case of Warcraft III) improved multiplayer

Additionally, Blizzard has worked to preserve the original essence, so the game’s pace, texts, units, and ambiance maintain their classic style. The nostalgia is intact, but without the technical issues of old systems.

Three Games, Three Styles, One Legendary Story

With their arrival on Game Pass for PC, the possibility of exploring the entire evolution of Warcraft as a saga opens up:

1. A foundational beginning with Orcs & Humans, focused on simplicity and dark ambiance.

2. An ambitious development with Tides of Darkness, where mechanics are refined, and naval battles, heroes, and more demanding design are added.

3. A culmination with Warcraft III, where the saga blends with RPG elements, visual narrative, and groundbreaking technical aspects for its time.

This journey is also a trip through how real-time strategy design has evolved over 30 years. And doing it without additional cost for Game Pass subscribers makes it an unbeatable opportunity to rediscover one of Blizzard’s pillars.

A Game for Veterans and Newcomers for Many Reasons

• Relive the origins of the Warcraft universe: from Orcs & Humans to The Frozen Throne, this trilogy collects the birth of one of the most influential PC worlds.

• Complete campaigns with classic stories: you’ll be able to play the original Alliance and Horde campaigns, with their restored cinematics and mythical missions.

• Ideal for new players: controls and interface have been adapted to current systems, making it easy to enter the world of classic RTS games without complications.

• Remastered art that respects the original: graphics have been improved without losing the visual style that marked an entire generation.

• Three complete games on Game Pass: without additional cost, if you’re subscribed, you can enjoy the entire evolution of the saga in one place.

• Naval battles in Warcraft II: this mechanic expands strategy and adds a more tactical dimension to classic confrontations.

• Updated multiplayer in Warcraft III: perfect for those who want to compete online or enjoy customized games with community mods and maps.

• Reencounter with legendary heroes: Arthas, Thrall, Jaina, or Illidan return with renewed 3D models and all their charisma intact.

• A piece of video game history: Warcraft was the germ of World of Warcraft and the rise of modern RTS games, so playing it is also about knowing its legacy.

• Lasting fun with high replayability: between skirmishes, campaigns, custom maps, and tactical challenges, you have content for many hours.

Prepare Your PC for June 26

Although they’re not demanding titles, it’s recommended to have your equipment up to date. Warcraft III: Reforged is the most graphically intensive, but the remastered versions of the first two are optimized to run without issues on mid-range equipment.

It’s also worth noting:

• All titles will be available only for PC (not on console or cloud)

• They will be completely in English, although some texts may be translated depending on the client

• Multiplayer is only active in Warcraft III: Reforged

• It’s not necessary to have played World of Warcraft to understand the campaigns

If you’ve never tried them, we recommend starting in order of release or going straight to Warcraft III if you’re looking for a more modern experience. But in any case, the legacy you’re about to discover remains one of the most important in video game history.

Game	Campaigns	Multiplayer	Graphics	Additional Content	Notable Improvements
Warcraft: Orcs & Humans Remastered	Alliance and Horde	No	Improved pixel art	Local skirmishes	Adapted controls and panoramic support
Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness Remastered	Original campaigns + extra maps	No	Remastered with higher resolution	Naval battles and advanced maps	Interface improvements, modern support
Warcraft III: Reforged	Reign of Chaos + The Frozen Throne	Yes (updated online)	Renewed 3D models, improved cinematics	All classic heroes, modes, and maps	Updated multiplayer, current compatibility

Warcraft I, II, and III will arrive on PC Game Pass on June 26, 2025. Whether you want to start with real-time strategy or relive one of the genre’s most brilliant moments, this trilogy is a must-have.