World of Warcraft is Blizzard Entertainment's long-running fantasy massively multiplayer online role-playing game, set in the world of Azeroth and first released in 2004. Its music, voices and game sounds have become familiar shorthand for online gaming culture, and short clips circulate widely in videos, streams and memes even among people who no longer play. This kind of brief game audio survives because it instantly signals adventure, fantasy and multiplayer chaos without needing explanation, making it a useful reference point for creators making gaming content today.