[GoofsterStud]

WoW Loses 1.1M Subscribers, Down to 9.1M
Activision Blizzard latest earning call revealed that World of Warcraft lost another 1,100,000 subscribers last quarter, bringing us down to 9.1 million players. Some things they made note of on the call are coming up, see the stream below or visit Activision to listen in.

Notes

16.9 million Battle.net users.
10 million D3 copies sold, 1.2 million from annual pass.
Most of the WoW Subscription losses were from the East.
Losses are from people playing Diablo 3 and leaving until the new expansion.
4.7 million people watched the event at MLG for Heart of the Swarm.
Mists of Pandaria will utilize TV and online ads leading up to the launch.
The China launch Mists of Pandaria will hopefully launch as soon as possible, not likely in Q3

Track record:
Q1 2011 - 600,000 subscribers lost
Q2 2011 - 300,000 subscribers lost
Q3 2011 - 800,000 subscribers lost
Q4 2011 - 100,000 subscribers lost.
Q1 2012 - 0 subscribers lost.
Q2 2012 - 1,100,000 subscribers lost.

Source: http://www.mmo-champion.com/content/...age=7#comments

Interesting notes: Q1 we saw resurrection accounts to stop the bleeding. Free expansions upgrade, free 80, free fast flying if you resubscribe. Not to long ago WOW also had a sale where the base game and all expansions were $10 each.






PS: On that note, it appears that Blizzard considers Diablo III a huge success.

[Xyphie]

The F2P is nigh.

lol

[Dark Octave]

F2P in about a month or two?

[Draxal]

What releasing no content for a year will lead to people unsubscribing?

(This hit would of been much larger if it wasn't for Annual Pass).

[KarmaCow]

10 Million D3 copies, jeez.

[nhlducks35]

They didn't lose a single subscriber in Q1? Holy hell...

[vaelic]

How about ppl left due to a lack of updates and when they do update its pure shit?

[Brazil]

Anecdotal evidence, obviously, but many disappointed with Diablo seem to be going back to World of Warcraft.

[StuBurns]

8.8M legitimate Diablo 3 sales? That's pretty amazing.

[Oni Link 666]

It's OK. They just went to play Diablo 3. They'll be back for Panda time.

[SpaceDrake]

F2P in about a month or two?

Eh, it's just pre-expansion doldrums. They'll be back. They all come back in the end.

[Loxley]

Oh shit a World of Warcraft thread in the Gaming side, ABANDON SHIP. GAF's Anti-Blizzard crew is closing in.

[vocab]

They will gain it back once the expansion is out.

[Macattk15]

Why wouldn't Diablo 3 be seen as a huge success by Blizzard? They already got 10 million peoples monies. Not subscription based, so who cares!

Myself, I won't be back until there is an expansion or until I hear some interesting things are added. Still mightily on the fence about MoP.

[Gunsmithx]

Eh, it's just pre-expansion doldrums. They'll be back. They all come back in the end.

This is pretty much it, alot of people always come back for at least the first couple of months when a new xpac is out. The problem now is that there's been nothing new for almost a year and it just burns people out. still pretty amazing since the games been out like 8 years now.

[Brazil]

Oh shit a World of Warcraft thread in the Gaming side, ABANDON SHIP. GAF's Anti-Blizzard crew is closing in.

Pre-emptive defense strikes are just as annoying as "anti-" force posts.

[Griffin]

I'll be back for the expansion.

[Dark Octave]

It's OK. They just went to play Diablo 3. They'll be back for Panda time.

That Kung-Fu Panda expansion still isn't out yet?

[JCizzle]

Pandas will rule us all.

As an annual pass subscriber, I wonder if they'll be offering a new incentive deal since the last one should be expiring for early adopters in the next few months.

[GoofsterStud]

Still the subs are far lower that the low point of Wrath of the Lich King. I really hope GW2 puts some pressure on Blizzard to make the game better. The MMO market really need some competition.

[Trickster]

They will gain it back once the expansion is out.

They will gain some back for sure. But I doubt you are gonna see them get all their lost subscribers back. WoW is at the point where it's past it's prime.

Still the subs are far lower that the low point of Wrath of the Lich King. I really hope GW2 puts some pressure on Blizzard to make the game better. The MMO market really need some competition.

Blizzard is definitely more than happy to keep updating WoW in the same manner they've been doing since release. Just gotta milk the cashcow until Titan hits.

[Won]

Should have never launched with a subscription fee in the first place!

Crazy Diablo 3 numbers. Wonder if that will carry over to the first expansion. *cough*

[Speedymanic]

Wow, Metro/Win8 works fast.

[Mrbob]

That's a lot of Diablo 3.

I want to see Blizzard All Stars.

[Cipherr]

Good luck sustaining that D3 momentum you braindead screwups :lol


WoW on the other hand will definitely rebound a good amount if not all of that 1m at the expansion. They should count their lucky stars they only lost 1m in this fucking lull. No new content has been added to WoW in like a year right? When was the last actual content patch?

[ReaperXL07]

Ok Gaf, question time. I was wondering if WOW is worth jumping into again. My biggest issue is having to pick up everything as I lost my discs for the main game, and burning crusade. Having said that burning crusade is where I stoped playing, and i've been curious in checking it out again since they added the Worgen. So is it worth it?

[Berordn]

WoW on the other hand will definitely rebound a good amount if not all of that 1m at the expansion. They should count their lucky stars they only lost 1m in this fucking lull. No new content has been added to WoW in like a year right? When was the last actual content patch?

4.3.0 launched November 29, 2011. Yeah, this is seriously no surprise. Pandaria looks great thankfully so it wasn't all for naught, but this was exactly the kind of thing they were supposed to be avoiding.

Ok Gaf, question time. I was wondering if WOW is worth jumping into again. My biggest issue is having to pick up everything as I lost my discs for the main game, and burning crusade. Having said that burning crusade is where I stoped playing, and i've been curious in checking it out again since they added the Worgen. So is it worth it?

As long as you remember your old login info, you don't have to buy anything. Someone can send you a scroll of resurrection that'll bump you up to Cataclysm and give you a free level 80 character. The old discs are more or less worthless now, as 4.0 changed the whole world.

[Trickster]

Ok Gaf, question time. I was wondering if WOW is worth jumping into again. My biggest issue is having to pick up everything as I lost my discs for the main game, and burning crusade. Having said that burning crusade is where I stoped playing, and i've been curious in checking it out again since they added the Worgen. So is it worth it?

Just stay away from WoW, seriously.

[Victrix]

Ok Gaf, question time. I was wondering if WOW is worth jumping into again. My biggest issue is having to pick up everything as I lost my discs for the main game, and burning crusade. Having said that burning crusade is where I stoped playing, and i've been curious in checking it out again since they added the Worgen. So is it worth it?

Don't waste your time or your money. There are a lot of really great free to play games if you want something online, and even GW2 has the initial cost with no monthly fee.

That said, otherwise the fundamental structure of the game remains unchanged, so if you wanted to get in and see all the zones/quests/dungeons and some/all of the raids, you could certainly do so.

For my part, Rift feels like a more aggressively developed WoW (with less, uh, Pandas, which I find stupendously stupid), and Guild Wars 2 just feels more forward thinking in general.

[Alextended]

Does it even matter that much? Obviously they want this cash cow to keep being milked but it's not like they'll be in danger when/if WoW finally dies (which is still a distant possibility, this many millions of subscribers - not for f2p stuff - is still pretty incredible). At most they'd probably reduce their customer support related divisions when it really slows down for good, they've still made insane amounts of money from this one game and its expansions and the only issue is the share holders' desire for profits to keep increasing rather than any real danger to the company considering almost (?) everything they put out goes on to become a massive success in its own right, and that will probably happen with their next MMO too, not to mention the ways they find to monetize non MMO titles like Diablo 3. Anyway, WoW was the first MMO to seriously hook me but I haven't been back since ~2006. On the other hand I also haven't stuck with any other MMO since either, f2p or otherwise, though I check out much of what appears to be interesting or unique (the next pair could be GW2 and maybe DQX depending on how they handle the PAL release of that). Anyway, yeah, I expect a lot of doom and gloom about Blizzard based on WoW in the coming years but it's just going to be a lot like the Nintendo doom and gloom, focusing on the now unreachable - for anyone - heights they once attained over the reality of simply being a very successful company that will continue being more than simply relevant for the foreseeable future.

[JCizzle]

Ok Gaf, question time. I was wondering if WOW is worth jumping into again. My biggest issue is having to pick up everything as I lost my discs for the main game, and burning crusade. Having said that burning crusade is where I stoped playing, and i've been curious in checking it out again since they added the Worgen. So is it worth it?

You should be able to log in and download them if they were associated with your account.

IMO worth it. There will be so much content in MOP.

[secretanchitman]

Ok Gaf, question time. I was wondering if WOW is worth jumping into again. My biggest issue is having to pick up everything as I lost my discs for the main game, and burning crusade. Having said that burning crusade is where I stoped playing, and i've been curious in checking it out again since they added the Worgen. So is it worth it?

if you havent played since bc, i'd say checking out the game from 1-85 is nice. bc is the same old grind from 60-70, but 70-85 is fun. 85-90 looks really fun too.

personally, i stopped playing a month or two after cataclysm came out and havent touched it since. preordered mists of pandaria so i can go through all of that content and then (most likely) quit again after a while (next expansion? who knows).

[Nirolak]

Does it even matter that much? Obviously they want this cash cow to keep being milked but it's not like they'll be in danger when/if WoW finally dies (which is still a distant possibility, this many millions of subscribers - not for f2p stuff - is still pretty incredible). At most they'd probably reduce their customer support related divisions when it really slows down for real, they've still made insane amounts of money from this one game and its expansions and the only issue is the investors desire for profits to keep increasing rather than any real danger to the company considering almost (?) everything they put out goes on to become a massive success in its own right, and that will probably happen with their next MMO too, not to mention the ways they find to monetize non MMO titles like Diablo 3.

To staying in business? Obviously not.

To Activision's shareholders? Absolutely.

[Lothars]

For my part, Rift feels like a more aggressively developed WoW (with less, uh, Pandas, which I find stupendously stupid), and Guild Wars 2 just feels more forward thinking in general.

I am just waiting for Guild Wars 2 to be released to see the huge amount of backlash that it will recieve like most things get, I am looking forward to it since I loved the first Guild War.

[GoofsterStud]

Ok Gaf, question time. I was wondering if WOW is worth jumping into again. My biggest issue is having to pick up everything as I lost my discs for the main game, and burning crusade. Having said that burning crusade is where I stoped playing, and i've been curious in checking it out again since they added the Worgen. So is it worth it?

Honestly, I have so many friend who play that I still play. Just once a week during our social raid. I even have more fun playing DC Universe Online atm. Luckily most of my friends already bought GW2, so for the first time I will be able to play something more enjoyable on Thursday. :-)

Short Answer: NO

[Cipherr]

Ok Gaf, question time. I was wondering if WOW is worth jumping into again. My biggest issue is having to pick up everything as I lost my discs for the main game, and burning crusade. Having said that burning crusade is where I stoped playing, and i've been curious in checking it out again since they added the Worgen. So is it worth it?

The bolded isnt an issue, just download it, they have all of the clients and whatnot online now. You wont need the discs.

As for whether or not its worth it, thats dependant on the gamer. Did you enjoy it when you played it in the past? Because its still WoW like it was when you left, just more content now, and an expanded endgame for casual players with the Raid Finder that will allow you to do all the raids even without a raiding guild (it scales the difficulty down).

If you enjoyed the core of the game back then, you'll likely enjoy it now. WoW's issues were mainly slow delivery of new content, but you stopped in BC, so theres a good deal in game now you havent seen, and the expansion is in a month which will just push that much more content out.

[Thoraxes]

After how long 4.3 has dragged on, it basically the same thing that happened in every expansion before the new expansion hit. 5.0 will easily bring back that number, and depending on their patch pacing, it'll go down from there again.

I think they'll have a lower number this time, but the number will probably pop the hell back up after this dearth of content.

I also wonder when they'll learn their lesson on content pacing. They really need to stop doing this after how shitty it's been in pre-expansion lulls. I always quit playing when that happens.

[Trickster]

The bolded isnt an issue, just download it, they have all of the clients and whatnot online now. You wont need the discs. As for whether or not its worth it, thats dependant on the gamer. Did you enjoy it when you played it in the past? Because its still WoW like it was when you left, just more content now, and an expanded endgame for casual players with the Raid Finder that will allow you to do all the raids even without a raiding guild (it scales the difficulty down). If you enjoyed the core of the game back then, you'll likely enjoy it now.

Understatement to put it mildly. It removes the difficulty completely.

[ReaperXL07]

Honestly, I have so many friend who play that I still play. Just once a week during our social raid. I even have more fun playing DC Universe Online atm. Luckily most of my friends already bought GW2, so for the first time I will be able to play something more enjoyable on Thursday. :-) Short Answer: NO

lol, well I mainly just asking for opinions, so thanks everyone for the feedback. I mainly play Eve Online, and DC Universe (on PS3) so i'm still not entirely sure I should bother. Will probably still give it some consideration if I can figure out my old login information.

[HarryDemeanor]

Ok Gaf, question time. I was wondering if WOW is worth jumping into again. My biggest issue is having to pick up everything as I lost my discs for the main game, and burning crusade. Having said that burning crusade is where I stoped playing, and i've been curious in checking it out again since they added the Worgen. So is it worth it?

I'd say it's worth it to check out everything that is new for you. If you remember your old login information just PM me with your e-mail address that is attached to the account and I'll send you a Scroll of Resurrection. That'll give you 7-days free, Wrath of the Lich King, Cataclysm, and a free level 80 character to get you straight to the Cataclysm content.

Scroll of Resurrection FAQ

[GoofsterStud]

After how long 4.3 has dragged on, it basically the same thing that happened in every expansion before the new expansion hit. 5.0 will easily bring back that number, and depending on their patch pacing, it'll go down from there again. I think they'll have a lower number this time, but the number will probably pop the hell back up after this dearth of content. I also wonder when they'll learn their lesson on content pacing. They really need to stop doing this after how shitty it's been in pre-expansion lulls. I always quit playing when that happens.

Not really. ICC had more bosses, more interesting mechanics, was longer. ICC also had Ruby Sanctum, which was actually a lot of fun on hard mode, and really challenging at first.

So we get ICC light, and no Ruby Sanctum... That's a big difference to me.

I'd say it's worth it to check out everything that is new for you. If you remember your old login information just PM me with your e-mail address that is attached to the account and I'll send you a Scroll of Resurrection. That'll give you Wrath of the Lich King and Cataclysm for free along with a free level 80 character to get you straight to the Cataclysm content. Scroll of Resurrection FAQ

What a sales pitch to get a FREE MOUNT. :-P

[Cipherr]

Understatement to put it mildly. It removes the difficulty completely.

Perhaps, but it doesn't matter. Raid Finders purpose isn't to be difficult. The absolute removal of certain boss mechanics makes that pretty clear. Its a vehicle to let casual gamers see end game content, it succeeds at that and its a good addition to the game as it doesn't remove Normal and Heroic difficulties from existing. Might not matter to us, but if he is a casual player, he will likely appreciate it, that's why I mentioned it.

Not really. ICC had more bosses, more interesting mechanics, was longer. ICC also had Ruby Sanctum, which was actually a lot of fun on hard mode, and really challenging at first. So we get ICC light, and no Ruby Sanctum... That's a big difference to me.

Its really something else. This drought has been pretty absurd, and they lose 1m that they will likely recover. Pretty tough to convince myself that they wont do that shit again when they dont seem to ever actually get punished for the shit. Not that I care much these days, I just cancel when Ive eaten through the content and come back when theres something to do.

[GoofsterStud]

I don't understand the beef with Raid Finder right now. DS10 normal is easier atm.

[evangd007]

Lost subscriptions in the light of new competition and no new content? Expected.

I'm still subbed due to the D3 online pass but haven't played in months except for dabbling in the Mists beta.

[HarryDemeanor]

What a sales pitch to get a FREE MOUNT. :-P

I already got a mount! Just passing the info along. =P

[Berordn]

I don't understand the beef with Raid Finder right now. DS10 normal is easier atm.

...except the bosses actually have mechanics and a group going through the first time will actually have something to learn. I'm bored of DS as much as the next guy but let's not go overboard here.

[Yoshichan]

Mists of Pandaria.

[Aguirre]

why is no one up for buying activision from vivendi.

would it be like catching a falling knife?

[Cipherr]

I don't understand the beef with Raid Finder right now. DS10 normal is easier atm.

Nah. Not even close. You are forgetting that Raid Finder strips mechanics from boss fights, and if it doesn't strip them, it makes the penalty for handling them incorrectly negligible. Its an order of magnitude easier because of that. No contest. Raid Finders only difficulty is teaching the players who are new or never done anything outside of a 5 man how to handle stuff like jumping platform and other raid staples.

After that you can pretty easily cruise through it. Even still, its the best thing they have added to the game in a long time. Its going to be a hit for them with the folks they are aiming it at going forward.

[JCizzle]

The purpose of the Raid Finder is to potentially match 25 players who have never played together and who undoubtedly have varying skill levels. It had to be easier with removed mechanics or it would have been a huge failure for its targeted audience. If you were in a raiding guild, it wasn't aimed at that type of player for much more than a distraction during a week where your guild might not raid.