By on 10 Nov, 2011 at 10:15 AM
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World Of Warcraft Experiencing Sharp Decline In Players

World Of Warcraft Experiencing Sharp Decline In Players

It seems to have been a tough year for World of Warcraft. The mighty MMO giant has experienced a near 2 million player loss in this year alone, lowering the active player base to just over 10 million.

Ok, so 10 million is still a hell of a lot of people, but I think a decline of nearly 2 million players should not be taken lightly, especially when you consider the time frame it occured in. Blizzard, announced yesterday that between July and September 800,000 players left. This is a sharp decline compared to October last year, when the game reached a peak with 12 million users.

Blizzard CEO, MIke Morhaime, revealed yesterday in a conference call, attended by Gamasutra, that the decline originated mainly from the East, but was quick to reiterate that WoW remains “one of the most popular online games in China, and by far the most popular subscription-based MMO in the world.”

It was also revealed that Blizzard aren’t taking this lightly either, with Morhaime stating “That said, we know there are improvements that we can make in the game content.”

The recently annouced expansion, Mists of Pandaria, is sure to lure a few more people into Azeroth, but Blizzard aren’t going to wait that long either. Blizzard is set to release a content update pack within the next few weeks, and although the pack isn’t directly aimed at bringing back players, Morhaime does feel that it will contribute, as existing players spread the word on what is new in the World of Warcraft.

Are you still lost in the world of Azeroth? Or has it’s flair faded a long time ago? Be sure to let us know below.

Source: Gamasutra
Via: IGN

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Name: Alessandro Barbosa
Location: Johannesburg
Position: Editor, Tech

Alessandro has published 1239 posts. Read all of Alessandro's posts.
  • lol

    Well, you can only feed the consumer repetitive crap for so long, this was kind of obvious.

  • James

    WoW used to be great back in the days of TBC but I feel it has slowly decliend since then. Personally, the flare has gone: I no longer really feel any sense of excitement or achievement when progressing in the game and I fail to see Blizzard implementing anything to help rectify this.

    All good things have to come to an end and WoW seems to be desperitely holding onto its title as “best MMO in the world” and sadly by doing so, is just making the game seem more repetitive and childish.

  • Ruann

    WIth the price of WoW subscription not really falling and the outdated engin and gameplay one has to wonder if blizzard is not keeping this little nest egg until it turns rotten and stinks up the whole gaming society. We all get it world of warcraft is an epic game with an epic community. Thats great and all but how long until you decide oky enough leveling enough grinding enough everything and then you go play solitare becuase at least that looks better on every new windows release. If they really want to get people back they need a engin overhual. They can keep the exact same world and exact everything but just start at a better engin. Why do I say this? A better newer engin would equal better graphics, new features and possibilities. With all the new possibilities better instances and features would be easier to produce and to implement and another small feeling I have had the last say 2 years, why am I upgrading my pc to play all these new games with great graphics and then when im bored logging into world of warcraft to admire the”stunning” graphics

    • Anonymous

      Ruann, the large majority like the cartoony like graphics of WoW, myself included. I like WoW just the way it is right now.

      Anyway this article is over-analysing this. It’s been a trend with every expansion ever since WoW first came out. Game comes out, subscribers come en masse. Over time, subscribers fall as people get bored… EXPANSION! Subscribers come back. Rinse repeat. Well done Blizzard on keeping your mindless zombies within your grasp.

  • Anonymous

    I read that as 2 million people who discovered that there was a world outside and are now living happy, married lives with kids and a pet otter and all the rest. :D