Warcraft Neptune: A Look Back at a Canceled Mobile MMORPG Plot
Bloomberg, citing its sources, reported that a Warcraft mobile game once in development for about three years was canceled due to a dispute between Blizzard and NetEase over financial terms. The two studios could not settle how profits should be shared, leading to the project ending before it could reach players.
The project, codenamed Neptune, aimed to become a full MMORPG set in the beloved World of Warcraft universe. It would unfold within Azeroth but in a distinct era, offering a fresh look at a familiar world. A dedicated team of around 100 developers worked on Neptune, and when the decision to terminate came, many in the group dispersed to new roles while a portion of the team found new assignments within Blizzard or its partners.
Neptune stands as the second Warcraft mobile project to be halted. Earlier plans for a game under the working title Orbis were also canceled after roughly four years of effort. The pattern highlights how partnerships and monetization models can shape the fate of large-scale spinoffs in the Warcraft umbrella.
Meanwhile, other ambitious projects continue to surface. A shareware action strategy title with strategic miniature collection mechanics is in development under the Warcraft Arclight Rumble banner. Fans can anticipate new details as the release timeline approaches before the year concludes. In related news, a PC version of The Last of Us Part 1 is expected to arrive soon after its PS5 launch, promising a rapid transition for players seeking a familiar narrative on multiple platforms.
VG Times notes these movements as part of an ongoing evolution in Warcraft related experiences, where publishers balance creative visions with practical business considerations and platform expectations. The conversations around Neptune and Orbis illustrate the broader dynamic between game design ambitions and the realities of licensing and distribution in the modern era.