WoW Down to 9.6 Million Subscribers

So its lost a few subs, big freakin deal. Its still one of the biggest played MMORPG out there, and all other mmo's still can't compare to it.

Those saying the games dying from this have been saying the same thing at any chance they can, just like end of the world doomsayers.

However, I can speculate several reasons why people quit, mists making the game to grindy, people quitting because they don't feel like special snowflakes, quitting because of the theme. Its the same old stuff.

Originally Posted by Xothic

To be honest, we're at the point in a content patch where there is really fuck all to do apart from logging in thrice a week to raid. For people who don't raid, I really don't think there is enough to do to justify a sub.

Tbh there's alot to do.
Scenarios, Heroics, LFR, Pet battles, Challenge Modes, Daily Quests and PVP.

Originally Posted by Aquamonkey

It's in the Quarterly Reports. All of them. And I rounded up.

Yup and it looks like the "all important" NA/EU portion of their sub base is doing fine thank you very much.

Originally Posted by Fenixdown

Here's my thing. Remember when the sub totals were getting closer to 8 mil, and people were saying "well Annual Pass saved them more losses!".

Sub numbers are still over 1.5 million higher since the long expiration of Annual Pass. What crutch can you use now to explain the fact that they only dipped below 10 million and it's about a month or so before a major raid patch, which will see, you guessed it, an increase in subs?

Ebb and flow of the sub numbers does not mean the game is dying. It means most people that dropped will just come back to see it again when the new raid is released.

The sub numbers have not been below 9 million since TBC and many are still bound by the annual pass. Whilst sub will still ebb and flow if after a launch of an expansion WOW has not held on to its subscribers I fear that the only direction it is going from now is a slow decline.

Oh noes the game is dead what can i ... wait, how many lives does wow have, I'm pretty sure it has died like 10 times already

Originally Posted by Chry

Nope. Game was at its factual best during WotLK. Opinions don't matter, the numbers do.

Yet you try to prove your point with an opinion. A lot of people eat McDonalds every day does that make it good food? Just because more people played to see the LK story finish doesn't mean it was the best. Hell, I know people that think Cata was the best. Claiming any portion of this game as being the best is all subjective.

Originally Posted by Aeluron

WoW isn't going to *die* for years. No matter what haters and "It's still a lot." going to say. It'll come back up I can guarentee it.

I said this recently but I'm pretty sure we just diagnosed it with Cancer this xpac...terminal cancer...of the balls...ghostcrawlers balls (j/K)

Originally Posted by dfjdejulio

Now, "free if you have wow" is something I could easily see happening. Once they have more than one MMO, I could easily see them saying you have a "battle.net" subscription and not a "WoW" or "Titan" subscription. That may in fact be the path they take to mask a decline from investors.

Given the precedent set by WoW, I do not think their investors would accept a straight-up F2P model for "Titan" right from the start, not based on the information we have today.

But Titan will be cross platform and not just consoles, but tablets and phones, so the likelihood of it costing money is pretty low. Remember Titan is not what you think it will be.

bahahaaha oh man

Originally Posted by Exodeus

But then again if you played alot you were exhalted or close to it anyway from baron runs with friends :P

And it still took a lot longer than it ever did to get exalted in MoP.

Since when did the subscription number is the number that the "investors" care the most about? o.O

They didnt drop as much as I expected.

It is so hilarious to watch the pathetic predictions, or should I say pleading, of The Haters.

WOW has AT LEAST 20 Years left.

That is a long time to hate.

Originally Posted by Beefhamer

A lot of people eat McDonalds every day does that make it good food?

Doesn't make it good food... but I don't see McDonalds going out of business any time soon, either?

Originally Posted by Chry

Personally, I don't have issues with rep grinds themselves, I understand they are part of the game and have always been part of the game... I do, however, have an issue with how they were dealt with in this expansion. Shoving copious amounts of dailies down the players' throats was a god-awful, lazy, non-innovative, and overall bad decision made by Blizzard as a whole, which is shown by the massive loss in subscription numbers.

And it was better to have us grind away at specific dungeons only in TBC or any dungeon in LK/Cata? I am certain there are similar numbers of people who do not like spamming dungeons as there are those who do not like doing dailies. I understand the change. I do not mind the change I wish they went for a balanced approach. I offered a suggestion of a total of 10% rep a day weather you grind mobs, do quests, PvP, run dungeons, or scenarios. That way you have multiple choices and you can only gain a certain amount per day no matter what you do.

Originally Posted by chaud

[*]Diablo III was the #1 best-selling PC game at retail, breaking PC-game sales records with more than 12 million copies sold worldwide through December 31, 2012.

How can the worst game ever made be the best selling also? Just goes to show if Blizard puts their name on a pile of poo it will sell.

Originally Posted by Xothic

To be honest, we're at the point in a content patch where there is really fuck all to do apart from logging in thrice a week to raid. For people who don't raid, I really don't think there is enough to do to justify a sub.

^ This is basically it

Originally Posted by Pancaspe

It is so hilarious to watch the pathetic predictions, or should I say pleading, of The Haters.

WOW has AT LEAST 20 Years left.

That is a long time to hate.

I completely agree it is hilarious to watch people's predictions.

Originally Posted by Pancaspe

WOW has sold over 30 million copies, that means there are 21 million ex-WOW players out there. It is not "mad" to think 6 million of that 21 will come back for MOP. That does not even consider new players that Pandas and Pet Battles might attract. Finally, maybe, just maybe, MOP will be popular in China.

How "Mad" do I look now?

Originally Posted by Pancaspe

Oh boy, when MOP goes over 15 mil subs, you may have to avoid the Internet

Originally Posted by Trassk

So its lost a few subs, big freakin deal. Its still one of the biggest played MMORPG out there, and all other mmo's still can't compare to it.

I play games because they are fun not because they have the largest amount of subs. I would play an MMO that only had 100 people if it was fun. No players care how many subs the game has. A MMO will have a healthy population with only 100k players.

Originally Posted by Duster505

The basis of progression is based on those bonus rolls. PPL are not stupid.

In your case and maybe top end raiders in a race. 16/16H this last week finally and many of us never bothered with rep or dailies. Again, it is optional and not required. It is also a bonus chance at loot and people should be expected to put in a bit of time or effort to receive it.

---------- Post added 2013-02-08 at 01:44 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Spammeister

9.6 million subs...which may include people who don't play anymore in the last 3 months. It's the biggest possible spin number that Blizzaro could come up with without outright lying. How many D3 games were selling at the high price of 15$?

Let's go back to the 2 or 3 million from way back in 2005. It doesn't change the way I play or who I play with.

Which could also include many people who have signed up since then as well. Your argument works both ways. Regardless of price, it still sold 12M copies.