This page is for the Battle.net-compatible and GOG.com enhanced releases. For the original release, see Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness.
Warcraft II: Battle.net Edition is a fantasy RTS game, and an updated version of Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness with its Beyond the Dark Portal expansion pack. It features updated audio compared to the original version, a Windows-native executable instead of a DOS one, and a multiplayer infrastructure on Battle.net which had by then already been used in Diablo and StarCraft.
The game received only two minor official patches after release. Several communities would keep maintaining interest in the game and custom DirectDraw renderers.
On March 28, 2019, the game was released digitally on GOG.com with their own DirectDraw wrapper and additional features, as well as an unmodified 2.02 build for compatibility with the classic servers.
General information
- Wargus & Stratagus patch - For playing on modern systems (in Wargus patch setup select Warcraft II - it's a hidden option).
- GOG.com Community Discussions
- GOG.com Support Page
Availability
Source |
DRM |
Notes |
Keys |
OS |
Retail |
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GOG.com |
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Enhanced 2019 release. Includes a key to play online through Battle.net, shown in the game's library entry. Warcraft I & II Bundle is also available. |
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Version differences
- The GOG.com version features two builds: the first one is the classic version without DRM and with access to the Battle.net server, and the other one is the enhanced version with GOG's custom DirectX wrapper with additional features, but without Battle.net access. It also comes bundled with IPXWrapper, which both versions can use.
Monetization
Essential improvements
Patches
- The latest version for the retail release is 2.02. It is available for Windows and Mac OS (Classic).
- It is included in both the classic and enhanced GOG.com versions.
- This patch allows the use of higher resolutions and fps.
- Adds widescreen and custom resolution support.
- FPS can be uncapped.
Game data
Configuration file(s) location
System |
Location |
Windows |
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Blizzard Entertainment\Warcraft II\ |
Mac OS (Classic) |
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Save game data location
Video
GOG.com release DirectX wrapper settings menu.
Input
In-game input settings menu.
Audio
In-game audio settings menu.
Audio feature |
State |
Notes |
Separate volume controls |
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Separated into music and all other game audio. |
Surround sound |
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A system with a surround sound setup may not play audio; see Issues fixed. |
Subtitles |
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Closed captions |
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Mute on focus lost |
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Royalty free audio |
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Localizations
Language |
UI |
Audio |
Sub |
Notes |
English |
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French |
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German |
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Spanish |
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Retail only. |
Network
Multiplayer types
Ports
Protocol |
Port(s) and/or port range(s) |
TCP |
6112-6119 |
UDP |
6112-6119 |
- Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) support status is unknown.
- Already included in the GOG version.
- This tool provides a workaround the obsolete IPX protocol used in multiplayer. Extract it to <path-to-game>.
Issues fixed
Game crashes on startup or refuses to start
- An issue in the code causes the game to trigger Data Execution Prevention protections.
Fix Data Execution Prevention setting
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Ensure Data Execution Prevention (DEP) setting is set to Turn on DEP for essential Windows programs and services only or add a DEP Exception for Warcraft II BNE.exe and Warcraft II BNE_dx.exe , then reboot the system.
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No audio in-game
- If the operating system is set to use surround sound audio, game audio may not play.
Change operating system audio mode to stereo
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- Press ⊞ Win+R to open a Run window, type
mmsys.cpl and click OK.
- Under the Playback tab, Left Click your default output device, and then Left Click Configure.
- Choose Stereo and follow the configuration wizard instructions.
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Graphical issues (retail, "classic" version on GOG.com)
- For alternative methods, see the DirectDraw troubleshooting article.
Other information
In-game miscellaneous settings menu.
API
Technical specs |
Supported |
Notes |
DirectDraw |
1 |
GOG.com enhanced version uses a DDraw->D3D9 wrapper |
Executable | PPC | 16-bit |
32-bit |
64-bit |
Notes |
Windows | | |
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Mac OS (Classic) | | | |
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Middleware
Source ports
Name |
Description |
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Wargus |
- Alternative open-source engine.
- Aims to improve stability and availability on other platforms such as OS X and Linux.
- Compatible with the GOG.com version.
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Cover Art Gallery
Original Warcraft II: Battle.Net Edition cover art.
System requirements
Original retail release
Windows |
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Minimum |
Recommended |
Operating system (OS) |
95 |
NT |
Processor (CPU) |
Intel Pentium-class | |
System memory (RAM) |
16 MB | |
Hard disk drive (HDD) |
80 MB | |
Video card (GPU) |
SVGA-compliant video card | |
Mac OS |
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Minimum |
Operating system (OS) |
7.6 |
Processor (CPU) |
PowerPC 601 |
System memory (RAM) |
16 MB |
Hard disk drive (HDD) |
80 MB |
Video card (GPU) |
256 colors |
GOG.com digital re-release
Windows |
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Minimum |
Operating system (OS) |
7, 8.1, 10 |
Processor (CPU) |
1 GHz or faster |
System memory (RAM) |
2 GB |
Hard disk drive (HDD) |
1 GB |
Video card (GPU) |
DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver |
- Users running older versions of Windows 10 Redstone may experience a crash on launch when running the game's executable. Patching your operating system to the newest version (Redstone 5) should correct this issue.
The GOG.com release does not support Mac OS nor OS X.
Notes
References