===Background===
'''Blizzard Entertainment''' was founded on February 8, 1991 by Michael Morhaime, Allen Adham, and Frank Pearce as "[[Silicon & Synapse]]". It had to be renamed to its current name in 1994 shortly after being sued by [[Interplay Entertainment]]. In July 2008, itBlizzard's parent company [[Vivendi Games]] merged with [[Activision Publishing|Activision]] to become Activision Blizzard, butwith it stillBlizzard remainsremaining a subsidiary of it. They are best known for creating the ''Warcraft'', ''Diablo'', ''StarCraft'', and ''StarCraftOverwatch'' franchises, all of which have become worldwide hits.
On July 20, 2021, holding company Activision Blizzard was sued by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing due to widespread allegations of sexual harassment. As a result, on January 18, 2022, it was announced that Microsoft would be acquiring Activision Blizzard, but due to rising fears that it would drastically impact distribution of games for non-Microsoft consoles, several organizations filed suits to block the acquisition starting in late 2022. Regardless, the deal was closed on October 13, 2023.
{{ImageTOC
|Blizzard Entertainment (2008) (From - StarCraft II Zerg Reveal trailer).png|10th Logo (June 2008)
|Blizzard Entertainment (2011) (From - Diablo III).png|11th Logo (Diablo III variant) (May 15, 2012-August 19, 2014)
|Blizzard Entertainment (2016) (From - Warcraft (2016)).png|12th Logo (Warcraft (2016)movie variant) (June 10, 2016)
}}
{{YouTube|id=aOQaxdG6iLQ}}
'''LogoVisuals:''' On a black background, wethere seeis the text "{{color|blue|'''BLIZZARD'''}} {{color|lightblue|ENTERTAINMENT}}", with "BLIZZARD" in a jagged font, and "ENTERTAINMENT" in a straight font.
'''Variants:'''
* On the Sega 32X version of ''BlackThrone'', the logo is in CGI and has a spotlight-like effect. Plus, "ENTERTAINMENT" is in a different font and it'sis a bit bigger than before.
* On the SNES version of ''The Lost Vikings II'', the main characters of the game, Erik, Baleog and Olaf, fall onto the logo and become dizzy.
'''Technique:''' None. TheSprite-based animation on ''The Lost Vikings II'' variant.
'''Music/SoundsAudio:''' A long, quiet "whoosh". Sometimes, the opening theme of the game is heard.
'''Music/SoundsAudio Variant:''' On the Genesis version of ''The Death and Return of Superman'', it's silent.
'''Availability:''' Rare. Appears on ''Warcraft: Orcs & Humans'' for MS-DOS and Mac OS, and ''BlackThorne''. It also appears on ''The Death and Return of Superman'' for Genesis and SNES, and ''Justice League: Task Force'' for SNES.
===2nd Logo (December 9, 1995-May 8. 1998)===
{{YouTube|id=CuNJmf6IEYQ|id2=BY5cCnhF08w|id3=KHV3XZjhrOQ}}
'''LogoVisuals:''' On a black background, we see the word "{{color|blue|'''BLIZZARD'''}}", in the same jagged font as the last logo, flyflies in from the bottom-left side of the screen. It stops in the center, and a white spark zooms across the screen from left to right, forming the word "{{color|blue|ENTERTAINMENT}}".
'''Technique:''' Good CGI for its time.
'''Music/SoundsAudio:''' A big, loud "whoosh", followed by a "boom"-like sound that trails off, and some "twinkling".
'''Availability:''' Easier to find than the last logo, but still pretty rare. Can be found on ''Warcraft II'' and ''Diablo''. It appears on the PlayStation versions of said titles as well.
===3rd Logo (''StarCraft'' variant) (March 31, 1998-May 25, 2001)===
{{YouTube|id=Q-vOleOJVx8}}
'''LogoVisuals:''' On a black background, wethere seeis a bunch of wavy lines moving around in the middle of the screen. After a few seconds, "{{color|blue|'''BLIZZARD'''}}" appears, the wavy lines disappear, and "ENTERTAINMENT" fades in below.
'''Variant:''' On the Nintendo 64 version of ''StarCraft'' (known as ''StarCraft 64''), it's a still logo.
'''Technique:''' Really cool effects. None for the still variantCGI.
'''Music/SoundsAudio:''' Various electric sounds, followed by a small "whoosh", a loud "slam" when "ENTERTAINMENT" appears, and quiet "twinkling". For the still variant, the opening theme of the game.
'''Availability:''' Rare. Seen only on ''StarCraft'' for Windows, Mac OS, and Nintendo 64.
===4th Logo (June 28, 2000-July 5, 2002)===
{{YouTube|id=iA4K2l7eb8s}}
'''LogoVisuals:''' OnOver a black background, we see multiple {{color|blue}} lights emittingemit thoughthrough the background, much like the 1997 Activision logo. After a few seconds, the lights slowly come together, revealing a black Blizzard logo. "ENTERTAINMENT" shines below the Blizzard logo, and the screen flashes, causing the Blizzard logo to turn {{color|blue}}, and the lights to disappear.
'''Technique:''' Nice animation, which still holds up todayCGI.
'''Music/SoundsAudio:''' Cracking sounds when the lights are emitting and coming together, a "whoosh" when "ENTERTAINMENT" appears, a "slam", and quiet "twinkling".
'''Availability:''' Seen on ''Diablo II'' and ''Warcraft III''.
{{YouTube|id=AdrnyVdadaY}}
'''LogoVisuals:''' On a black background, we see a bunch of white lines tracingtrace the Blizzard logo. After about six seconds, the lines disappear, and the Blizzard logo appears.
'''Technique:''' 2D computer animation.
'''Music/SoundsAudio:''' The opening theme of the trailer.
'''Availability:''' Seen only on the first trailer for the famous MMORPG ''World of Warcraft''.
{{YouTube|id=F9myb3yZ_5E}}
'''LogoVisuals:''' On a black background, we see a huge {{color|blue}}/{{color|darkviolet|purple}} light shineshines across the screen from top-right to center. The light then disappears, revealing the Blizzard logo.
'''Technique:''' CGI animation.
'''Music/SoundsAudio:''' A big "whoosh".
'''Availability:''' Seen on the trailer for the unreleased third-person shooter ''StarCraft: Ghost''.
{{YouTube|id=HUhRskKLL3U}}
'''LogoVisuals:''' On a smokey {{color|gold|yellow}} background, the text "TEN YEARS", with a {{color|red}}/{{color|orange}} light shining over it from right to left, fades in. After about four seconds, the text fades out, and more text reading "OF WARCRAFT", with a registered trademark next to "WARCRAFT" and another {{color|red}}/{{color|orange}} light shining over the text from right to left, fades in. After about seven seconds, it fades out, and yet another {{color|red}}/{{color|orange}} light appears, once again shining from right to left, slowly revealing the Blizzard logo, this time in {{color|gold}} instead of {{color|blue}}. Once the logo is fully revealed, the light disappears, and the Blizzard logo slowly fades out.
'''Technique:''' Impressive animation, clocking the logo in at about 25 secondsCGI.
'''Music/SoundsAudio:''' A low synth note held throughout, accompanied by some loud "whooshes", a choir, and a loud "slam" when the Blizzard logo is fully revealed.
'''Availability:''' Seen on the famous MMORPG ''World of Warcraft''.
</gallery>
'''LogoVisuals:''' On a black background, the Blizzard logo from before slowly fades in from the left. When it completely fades in, it flashes, and then slowly fades out.
'''Variants:'''
* Later versions of this logo have the logo shinier and the flashing omitted.
* On the ''World of Warcraft'' expansion pack ''The Burning Crusade'', the logo is {{color|gold}}.
'''Technique:''' CGI animation. Pretty disappointing compared to the previous logo.
'''Music/SoundsAudio:''' The opening theme of the game, accompanied by some "whooshes".
'''Availability:''' Seen on the ''World of Warcraft'' expansion pack titled ''The Burning Crusade'', as well as several more games from the company.
{{YouTube|id=UgTgLokyA6k|id2=N2qYBWqsjtM}}
'''LogoVisuals:''' An extended remake of the 3rd logo: WeThe startsequence starts out with some {{color|blue}} static. The static disappears, and we see a big explosion of {{color|blue}} light occurs. The light suddenly zooms to the center of the screen and starts forming the Blizzard logo. Once the logo is completely formed, the light disappears, and "ENTERTAINMENT" fades in below. After a few seconds, more {{color|blue}} static appears and disappears very quickly, much like a TV being turned off.
'''Technique:''' Again, excellent animationCGI.
'''Music/SoundsAudio:''' Various futuristic sounds and vague whispers of the company name.
'''Availability:''' Seen on the trailer for ''StarCraft II''.
{{YouTube|id=m9zLOv76U6U}}
'''LogoVisuals:''' OnOver a black background, we see {{color|darkviolet|purple}} cracks appearingappear on various parts of the screen and comingcome together. As the camera rotates and zooms out, the cracks are revealed to be forming the Blizzard logo. Once the Blizzard logo is completely formed, the cracks disappear, the logo turns {{color|blue}}, and "ENTERTAINMENT" appears below.
'''Technique:''' Once again, very good animationCGI.
'''Music/SoundsAudio:''' Cracking sounds when the cracks are forming, and "whooshing" when the cracks disappear.
'''Availability:''' Seen on the trailer for the ''StarCraft II'' expansion pack titled ''Zerg'' (later re-titled to ''Heart of the Swarm'').
{{YouTube|id=Y9mUe5vHYzs}}
'''LogoVisuals:''' On a white cloth, the camera rotates around a frozen {{color|red}} substance splatter with the Blizzard logo formed on it. There is also a string above the logo.
'''Technique:''' The camera moving, the effects of illuminationCGI.
'''Music/SoundsAudio:''' An ominous sound, and a man saying "And the end of days...". All are part of the intro of the game.
'''Availability:''' Seen on ''Diablo III''.
===12th Logo (''Warcraft (2016)'' movie variant) (June 10, 2016)===
<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
Blizzard Entertainment (2016) (From - Warcraft (2016)).png
{{YouTube|id=wlbAO1CNxwU}}
'''LogoVisuals:''' Various shots of ice appear, with characters/items from previous Blizzard features: the runeblade Frostmourne from ''Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos (2002)'', Sarah Kerrigan from ''StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty (2010)'', Arthas Menethil from ''Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos (2002)'' and Tracer from ''Overwatch (2016)''. The Blizzard logo is then fully revealed, animating similarly to the 8th logo.
'''Technique:''' ExcellentCGI animationby Greenhaus GFX.
'''Music/SoundsAudio:''' The film's intro music.
'''Availability:''' Seen only on the ''Warcraft'' film.
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Video game logos]]
[[Category:Microsoft]]
[[Category:Activision Blizzard]]
[[Category:Logos made by Greenhaus GFX]]
[[Category:English-language logos]]
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