Blizzard is still investing in WoW so there is no reason to think that it will end anytime soon.
It is not unreasonable to see WoW going strong for another 10 years and even after that, as long as Blizzard keeps the servers going it might very well keep a playerbase for at least another 10 years after that. Just keeping the servers up is also not that costly as long as the IP remains owned by Blizzard.
That said, it is not the same game and with the same amount of players as it had in Wrath. WoW has been in a steady decline since then.
Blizzard themselves have said 2024 minimum.
https://www.polygon.com/2014/10/30/7...around-in-2024
I don't have a link handy. I should probably go through my post history and dig one so that I can use it as a shortcut in replies, this is a good idea. I might do this later.
I do have a link with my opinion about the upcoming expansion though, it is in my signature. Two disclaimers: I am a dev (so I can see what takes what kind of effort, etc) and the thing I value most is gameplay (the main source of the proverbial 'fun').
I think WoW is ready to go the way Everquest went if someone makes a really solid alternative. The problem is companies are afraid to even try since an MMO is a huge investment and Blizzard doesn't really have a reason to start up another MMO when their old one is still selling.
Other MMOs tend to settle on finding a particular niche where they can out-do WoW so we've seen games like SWTOR which had better single player storylines (by far) but which in other aspects (PvP, dungeons, raids etc) was just a WoW clone that didn't really reach WoW quality. Companies seem to think that that's the safe bet.
But once someone is willing to risk it and create a solid new trinity MMO with a new engine its easily going to feel like an upgrade to WoW because it doesn't need to build upon ancient code and a world that has gone stale for many old players (IMO the story of WoW was finished with the death of the Lich King). New MMO players will default to that game and WoW will transition into a "legacy" game with a very dedicated old fan base chasing achievements, pets and so on but few new players and much less support for endgame.
Blizz could honestly end this game with the next xpac
They could leave a open ended war that will never have a outcome then we fight Ashzara which we know is gonna be a boss then fight N'zoth at the end.
With Classic coming it seems Blizz could put this game to bed then leave the servers open for decades to come.
Besides who else is left? We honestly cant defeat the void anymore than we could defeat the light we know both must exist to balance out the universe.
Till i die
WoW will continue until as long as there are people with an internet connection it is just such easy money for Blizzard: monthly fee, expansions AND cash shop
I doubt Blizzard would pull the plug on WoW. I'm sure by the end of BFA the population (Classic included) will have wound down to the last dedicated >1,000,000 subs, but that's still more than enough to allow Blizzard to continue running the game. The PVE/PVP realm changes coming with BFA will help them draw down on the number of servers, and with smaller/less frequent expansions they could stay profitable with several 100k subs. Why end the gravy train when the last group of passengers are pretty much hooked for life?
The IP is already being used in other games so it's not like they NEED to end WoW to continue developing Warcraft content, but it would definitely make it much easier to develop story driven content. I'd very much like WoW to be brought to a close with BFA and would hope that Blizzard bring the story back to an RTS medium. Don't think that'll happen, unfortunately.
WoW ain't going anywhere.
Hell, maybe Blizzard are working on a WoW re-work (Not wow2), but turning WoW into something even better, with better engine, new mechanics, etc.