Tom Chilton - Subscribers at 10,1 mil

[Queen of Hamsters]

It's really pathetic to me just how obsessed you people are with the amount of subscribers. Like you're so insecure you desperately need some solid validation so you can securely keep playing WoW.

These are also the same group of people who insulted and demeaned the fuck out of the people who wanted to see lower subscription numbers. As if it wasn't already ironic as fuck.

I see the opposite, people want bad sub numbers so that they can validate their doomsaying in regards to the game...

[Tharkkun]

Hahaha, that's cute. The reason (99% of the reason) they stopped is because they don't want to release poor sub numbers. Do you honestly believe Tom Chilton just let the sub count "slip" to that magazine?
Blizzard will keep reporting good sub numbers, and they won't report the bad ones. It really is that simple.

They didn't *report* any numbers. I don't see any press release or info at their quarterly meeting for all of Activision Blizzard. This was said casually during an interview.

[Dhrizzle]

where is the proof?
tom only recently said 10.1mill subs

It's not unlikely, both MoP and WoD boosted up to the 10 million mark but were back below the previous expansions low-point within 6 months. It wouldn't surprise me if Legion's subs were in the 3.5-4m range by March.

[Kithelle]

Counting tokens as subs doesn't count.

That is quite stupid...they're valid just like everyone else...someone payed money for that token.

[Mafic]

FFXIV content is better than WoW's IMO and has just as much to do. Game is far more graphically impressive/complex (new raid is the most graphically impressive looking raid I've seen in any MMO to date) as well and they do all of that with less devs and resources than WoW does.

So yes, Blizzard could definitely throw out the same amount of content or close to it with 600-1.2 million subs (FFXIV's apparently fluctuating numbers) if they really cared about their customers.

I am inclined to agree. Patch 7.1 is going to be a big referendum on all these decisions since Legion alpha.

[Darsithis]

Step 1: Refuse to report subs when subs are massively declining.
Step 2: Report subs after an expansion launch.
Step 3: Repeat from step 1.

And that is how you maintain the illusion that your game is more popular than it actually is. Just something I find funny, even though I understand why they're doing it.

They're not really reporting it. They've stopped doing it during calls. They just gave a rough figure during an interview.

[Tharkkun]

FFXIV content is better than WoW's IMO and has just as much to do. Game is far more graphically impressive/complex (new raid is the most graphically impressive looking raid I've seen in any MMO to date) as well and they do all of that with less devs and resources than WoW does.

So yes, Blizzard could definitely throw out the same amount of content or close to it with 600-1.2 million subs (FFXIV's apparently fluctuating numbers) if they really cared about their customers.

Yet it's sub count is less than 1 million so what does it say for the game as a whole? Better graphics and less engaging, far less complex raids doesn't make a better game.

[Low Hanging Fruit]

Can't say I am shocked. It skyrockets at the start of an expansion. The real test is how fast and far it falls off because it will. As long as it's a healthier curve than WoD then the game is in an ok state. Close or worse to WoD and it's a good indication of shit.

[Darsithis]

Counting tokens as subs doesn't count.

Anyone using a token is using it in place of a sub, so yes they do, when they're spent.

[Queen of Hamsters]

FFXIV content is better than WoW's IMO and has just as much to do. Game is far more graphically impressive/complex (new raid is the most graphically impressive looking raid I've seen in any MMO to date) as well and they do all of that with less devs and resources than WoW does.

So yes, Blizzard could definitely throw out the same amount of content or close to it with 600-1.2 million subs (FFXIV's apparently fluctuating numbers) if they really cared about their customers.

"If they really cared about their customers"... Um, so flashy graphics = caring? Newsflash, but people playing WOW in general want the WoW experience, not that of some other entirely unrelated mmorpg with a different style altogether... To you FFXIV might have better content and "just as much to do", but to someone who can't stomach the game that's not exactly the case.

Legion is plenty of proof so far that the devs care just fine about us customers, it's a 10/10 WOW experience which is sort of the thing those of us playing are looking for...

[Mendzia]

This game cant die.

'At the bottom of the ocean even light must die.'

[Mafic]

artifact weapons give them an opportunity to have sustained grind content for future expansions
if they add extra traits or add prestige artifact traits that resets and increases item level
blizzard could shave months off their development time by continuing to make artifacts usefull and class hall usefull for quest hubs

- - - Updated - - -



where is the proof?
tom only recently said 10.1mill subs

Tom is looking at sub numbers before the end of Sept or a snapshot. The number of subs is higher than WoD but not that much higher based on realm activity. It is in the 7 mil range but still dropping. By winter it will be around WoD levels again (5 mil).

Patch 7.1 is the only way to stop this same big decline for Legion as WoD saw.

[skannerz22]

Where did you get this nonsense? Of course they included game cards & now they include WoW Tokens.

from reading..
it's amazing what "nonsense" you find after reading nearly everything a blizzard employee has said or leaked

they weren't included because they don't automatically renew so they technically aren't active
the only type of gametime they do include is for china where some people can pay per hour but that service is still a subscription because it's actively set on their account untill they disable it manually

wow tokens is still included in their revanue
but when they brag of sub numbers they are very lazy they don't want to count every game time currently active that could expirer because some could be trials

in cataclysm? they released subscriber numbers for anyone who subscribed for a beta test of mop for tyreal mount
they didn't include gametime for that bonus mount

[Gimlix]

FFXIV content is better than WoW's IMO and has just as much to do. Game is far more graphically impressive/complex (new raid is the most graphically impressive looking raid I've seen in any MMO to date) as well and they do all of that with less devs and resources than WoW does.

So yes, Blizzard could definitely throw out the same amount of content or close to it with 600-1.2 million subs (FFXIV's apparently fluctuating numbers) if they really cared about their customers.

Depends on what you find better.
WoW content can take a bit sometime, but 9 out of 10 times you know, the things they deliver is 10/10.

[Eleccybubb]

15 milions in 7.4. Remember my words.

I extremely doubt that.

[Queen of Hamsters]

Tom is looking at sub numbers before the end of Sept or a snapshot. The number of subs is higher than WoD but not that much higher based on realm activity. It is in the 7 mil range but still dropping. By winter it will be around WoD levels again (5 mil).

Patch 7.1 is the only way to stop this same big decline for Legion as WoD saw.

How do you figure that when Legion doesn't suffer from the same problems that WoD did? Wishful thinking?

[Gimlix]

Tom is looking at sub numbers before the end of Sept or a snapshot. The number of subs is higher than WoD but not that much higher based on realm activity. It is in the 7 mil range but still dropping. By winter it will be around WoD levels again (5 mil).

Patch 7.1 is the only way to stop this same big decline for Legion as WoD saw.

So where are you randomly pulling the -3M sub from?
You CAN'T compare legion with WoD.
WoD had alot of problems, they were valid reasons for people to stop paying.
Legion has yet to get any massive complaint. Legion is in a good shape.

Even a better shape then MoP was and MoP was stable for 12 months with 7M subscribers.

[Eleccybubb]

"If they really cared about their customers"... Um, so flashy graphics = caring? Newsflash, but people playing WOW in general want the WoW experience, not that of some other entirely unrelated mmorpg with a different style altogether... To you FFXIV might have better content and "just as much to do", but to someone who can't stomach the game that's not exactly the case.

Legion is plenty of proof so far that the devs care just fine about us customers.

I have to agree here. Graphics don't make the game better. Gameplay does. Imo both WoW and FF14 have stellar gameplay experiences.

[Glaziola]

Counting tokens as subs doesn't count.

Why not, someone is paying 20 euros instead of 13 euros for one month, its literally 1.5 subscriber.

[DarkAmbient]

WoD had 10 million also.