Blizzard has surprised Warcraft fans with a brand-new campaign for Warcraft 3, marking the first new campaign for the classic strategy game in 23 years.

The new content, called Warcraft III: Forsaken Kingdom, was announced at BlizzCon and released on the same day. It is designed for Warcraft 3: Reforged, Blizzard’s remastered version of the 2002 real-time strategy game.

Blizzard Releases New Warcraft 3 Campaign After 23 Years

The last major Warcraft 3 campaign arrived with The Frozen Throne expansion in 2003. Since then, fans have not received a new campaign for the game, making the unexpected release a major surprise.

Forsaken Kingdom Is a Two-Part Campaign

Warcraft III: Forsaken Kingdom is divided into two parts. The campaign starts with a prologue that explores the story of Arthas, one of the most important characters in Warcraft lore.

Arthas later became the central antagonist of World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King. The new prologue gives players an opportunity to revisit part of his story through Warcraft 3.

The main campaign then moves to the Undercity, the capital of the undead Forsaken Kingdom. Players will encounter several well-known Warcraft characters, including Sylvanas, Putress, and members of the Scarlet Crusade.

The campaign expands the Forsaken story. It also gives Warcraft 3 players new content set in the game’s familiar universe.

Warcraft 3: Reforged Also Gets a Major Update

Alongside the new campaign, Blizzard has released a free 3.0 update for Warcraft 3: Reforged.

The update is expected to improve the overall experience and provide another reason for players to return to the remastered strategy game.

Warcraft 3: Reforged originally launched in 2020 but received significant criticism from players over various issues with the remaster. Blizzard’s latest update and the surprise campaign could help improve the game’s reputation among longtime fans.

Forsaken Kingdom Available Now

Warcraft III: Forsaken Kingdom is available now through Battle.net for $30.

The unexpected release also comes during a year in which several older games have received new content. Other examples include Thief Remastered: The Tarnished Mirror, Quake: Dawn of the Machine, and The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past.

With Forsaken Kingdom, Blizzard is giving Warcraft 3 fans a new reason to return to one of the most well-known real-time strategy games in PC gaming history. For players who have been waiting since The Frozen Throne in 2003, the arrival of a new campaign after more than two decades is a particularly notable surprise.