World of Warcraft hits 7 million subscribers
by Elizabeth Harper 
{ Sep 7th 2006 at 11:15AM }
Elizabeth Harper is covering the MMO-heavy Austin Game Conference for Joystiq and our WoW-obsessed friends at WoW Insider.
Wednesday morning at the Austin Game Conference it was announced that World of Warcraft has hit 7 million active subscribers world-wide. While the number doesn't surprise us -- as we've yet to see an MMO present a serious challenge to WoW's dominance of the genre -- such large figures are rather staggering. Despite all of the technical issues and player complaints, the game's popularity has continued to grow on a large scale (the game only announced it hit 6 million active subscribers at the beginning of March, this year). So congratulations, Blizzard, on another million players!
Wednesday morning at the Austin Game Conference it was announced that World of Warcraft has hit 7 million active subscribers world-wide. While the number doesn't surprise us -- as we've yet to see an MMO present a serious challenge to WoW's dominance of the genre -- such large figures are rather staggering. Despite all of the technical issues and player complaints, the game's popularity has continued to grow on a large scale (the game only announced it hit 6 million active subscribers at the beginning of March, this year). So congratulations, Blizzard, on another million players!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Martin @ Sep 7th 2006 11:28AM
congratulation to Blizzard, although i dont like the game at all or any mmorpg for that matter.
dazsly @ Sep 7th 2006 11:22AM
maybe they should put some of their profits into an addiction fund to help all those millions that are addicted (I broke free!)
Ritz @ Sep 7th 2006 11:27AM
...I don't know what it is about this game. Did I not give it enough time? I played a 14 day session and really disliked it. Where GW never has a cue line, all characters are centralized, quick leveling etc, WoW did not have this. One time I waited 75 minutes to get in so I could play with my best friend.
Either I am the only one experiencing these issues and everyone is able to enjoy WoW just fine, or there is something else about the game that makes it so attractive regardless of the initial inhibitions to play. What would that be?
bm @ Sep 7th 2006 11:29AM
So there are millions of people who play WoW. There are also millions of people with a drinking problem. I place them in the same catagory.
eskwyre @ Sep 7th 2006 11:40AM
congrats blizzard, now lets not dwell on WoW, wheres our daym Starcraft 2!?!?!
Todd @ Sep 7th 2006 11:42AM
Uh, scientists have determined that alcoholism is a genetic trait. No evidence has been discovered which links playing MMO's to any kind of genetic defect resulting in addiction.
You should give the game another chance, Ritz. The queue issues have been fixed for a long time (to my knowledge) while upgrading servers and getting new servers all the time. WoW recently hit the $1 billion mark so I'm sure there is plenty of money to fix problems and upgrade systems.
http://www.cinescape.com/0/editorial.asp?aff_id=0&this_cat=Games&action=page&type_id=&cat_id=270351&obj_id=52187
Thryon @ Sep 7th 2006 11:45AM
I like this post, as most predicted that WoW had already jumped the shark, but it is now obvious that it is still enjoying huge gains and popularity.
The one thing that confuses me, is that I cannot figure out why so many people play it. Like the other post so far, I also found the game rather boring. In it's defence, all MMORPG are boring to me, as I do not like to sit around waiting/listening to other strategize/curse/joke, while wasting my percious playtime (I only do have limited playing time per day, because of stuff like work and family always seem to get in the way).
Null Infinity @ Sep 7th 2006 3:07PM
Wow, 7 million people still live in their parent's basement?
If it wasn't for World of Warcraft, the deodorant industry would skyrocket.
Josh* @ Sep 7th 2006 11:48AM
IT FARMS GOLD!
Lorben @ Sep 7th 2006 11:48AM
Congratulations to Massachusetts, Indiana, and Washington for joining the list of states with a population smaller than WoW.
greatslack @ Sep 7th 2006 12:15PM
@#6, There probably is a gene that makes a person more likely to be addicted to MMOs, it's just that since MMOs haven't been around long enough for a family to have two generations of addicts, it can't be observed, only speculated upon. I'd say it's probably the same gene that makes people prone to becoming gambling addicts. Similarly, the gene that makes a person more likely to become an alcoholic was probably in place before mankind discovered how to make alcohol. So I would say alcoholism and gaming addiction are quite similar.
Adam @ Sep 8th 2006 1:04PM
I'm a casual WoW player, or at least what passes for one with this game (usually don't play more than a four hours a week). In general I would say that I am not an MMO person, but this game is just so well-made that it keeps me playing. MMO developers are really going to have to work hard to differentiate themselves from this game, because wherever they're similar Blizzard probably did it better. Unfortuneately for those developers it would seem that the Tolkeinesque high-fantasy, orcs vs. humans setting which is so appealing to the video game playing masses is now more or less off-limits (at least for the next few years). In my opinion no other game had quite so good a shot at competing as Star Wars Galaxies; it is a crime that SOE botched that game to the degree that they did. I can only hope the BioWare rumors are true - they couldn't do much worse.
That8 @ Sep 7th 2006 12:30PM
The main reason I still play WoW is b/c of my friends. Its easy to keep in contact, when a lot of them play on a regular basis. I don't think any of us really love WoW... we just shit talk on vent while our raid group is gettin pwned.
The fun is when you have cool ppl to talk to and do stuff with. And when it comes to other mmos... WoW just doesn't feel like a second job. Well, lol... most of the time. Atleast it doesn't have the UNGODLY GRIND of Lineage 2... I still cry at night due to L2
Sean @ Sep 7th 2006 12:32PM
Now Blizzard has money to fund DIABLO 3!
pdxdood @ Sep 7th 2006 6:37PM
I'm not a fan, but those are impressive numbers. Frankly I LOVED Star Wars Galaxies (scifi, realistic and not cartoon-ish, with point-shoot space flight) but left only because the population dwindled /sniff. But I'm looking forward to (or scared of becoming addicted to) the next Star wars MMO, or another great futuristic sci-fi MMO. I can't get into those Tolkin-esque fantasy themes.
That8 @ Sep 7th 2006 12:40PM
@13
Diablo 3 is most likely already in the works
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3147733
http://www.blizzard.com/jobopp/artist-ui.shtml
Todd @ Sep 7th 2006 12:40PM
I could see a correlation to gambling and gaming with regards to addiction, but not gaming and alcoholism. Alcoholism is a chemical dependant and psychological state of mind... gaming and gambling don't involve eating the cards and receiving an added chemical substance introduced to the body, causing the brain to "feel" a certain way. Alcoholism is right along side other drug addictions, including smoking. Gambling and gaming addictions are more habitual "highs" resulted in winning, or losing, which become addictive due to the obscene amount of endorphins pumped into the brain. Like going sky diving.
Alcoholism is physical dependancy, while gambling is purely a psychological addiction. However I'd much rather see a 16 year old addicted to a game than selling his lunch money to play poker after school... or shoot up.
Pixelantes Anonymous @ Sep 7th 2006 12:46PM
How much is that per month? Almost $100M?
BklynKid @ Sep 7th 2006 1:02PM
7 million losers.
Aaron @ Sep 7th 2006 1:02PM
I've never played World of Warcraft, nor will I ever, but it has created zombies out of my friends.
One dropped out of college last January, doesn't have a job, and plays WoW all day long.
The other stopped hanging out with all of us because he's been absolutely addicted to WoW.
Hell, even my roommate from college doesn't talk at all because he's playing WoW from the moment he gets out of class until the moment he goes to bed.
Thanks a lot, Blizzard, for ruining lives.
Matt @ Sep 7th 2006 1:02PM
$105,000,000 a month. Of course, there are other costs such as paying GMs, electricity, bandwidth, server maintainence... but still, that's a crap-ton of cash.
As far as those who didn't like it, it is my strong belief that MMOs are about preference. WoW is by far the most popular MMO ever, but that doesn't mean everybody and their grandmother is going to like it. Sames with EverQuest 2, PlanetSide, Dark Age of Camelot, and so on.
I loved WoW, was uncertain on EQ2, loved EQ2, loved Planetside, hated Guild Wars, hated Star Wars Galaxies, etc.
susi @ Sep 7th 2006 1:12PM
I avoided WoW for years and just finally picked it up the other day. I love the game. I've tried most of the MMORPGS and WoW has to be the the most rounded out MMO I've played in years.
I was talking to a guy at PAX and he said he had to come alone because his buddy had to play WoW on Saturday. Now that's pretty sad when your buddy won't come with you to PAX (!) because he takes his WoW obligations too seriously.
Don't blame the game because your friends stop hanging out with you, though. Your friend's the jerk with problems, not the game.
Todd @ Sep 7th 2006 1:16PM
I'm not defending Blizzard here. Just looking at a bigger picture. I read a lot about how people have become addicted, or becoming addicted, and what the rest of the community has to realize is that if it wasn't for this "game" than it would have been something else. Humans are innately creatures of habit, and when people are even worse off in life and looking to retreat, addictions can form. For all those who know people and blame Blizzard for having a game, causing others to become addicted, keep in mind that the problem was there to begin with... the game is merely the current focus for blame. If it wasn't for the game, then the addiction would be something else.
Rondo @ Sep 7th 2006 1:22PM
$105 million a month! They will probably make $3 billion over the next few years.
Todd @ Sep 7th 2006 1:27PM
They generate $1 billion already, according to this article:
http://www.cinescape.com/0/editorial.asp?aff_id=0&this_cat=Games&action=page&type_id=&cat_id=270351&obj_id=52187
Chrysee @ Sep 7th 2006 1:39PM
Um. Addiction and dependency -technically- occur when a substance causes your brain to change how many receptors are available to a particular neurotransmitter. For example, caffeine use can change the # of adenosine receptors in about two weeks. Then you are "technically" addicted to or dependent on caffeine, although I doubt many of us would admit to at at that point. So saying someone is addicted to WoW? Or any game for that matter? I think there needs to be another term than "addiction" available for things like that. It's probably more of a personality thing than anything else, like how people with "fantasy-prone" personalities are highly suggestible and may in fact be more easily subjected to things like hypnosis. There's nothing chemical about that.
Uh, anyway.. Horde FTW!
Shady @ Sep 8th 2006 3:54PM
That's so sad. Think of all the lives ruined.
Marc @ Sep 7th 2006 2:55PM
#24. What about people who are addicted to gambling? Or who have eating disorders like bolemia.
Mad Giggler @ Sep 7th 2006 3:27PM
"Wow, 7 million people still live in their parent's basement?"
Looked in a mirror lately, Null Infinity?
GrenadesAndHam @ Sep 11th 2006 1:03PM
WoW has a few things that make it stand out in the crowded MMO market: It is very well designed, easy to play, plays well on lower end computers and has enough content out of the box to keep gamers happy for a couple of years without a major content enhancement. While EQ and EQ2 have been augmenting their revenue with expansions at a fast clip, WoW has simply captured he market and made it on the subscriptions. Of course it will get an expansion soon, which is likely to bring more curious gamers into the fold.
As to GW, it just doesn't have the depth or massive open feel of the bigger MMO's like WoW. It's an interesting game, but it has too much of a solo or 6 player game feel.
And for the record, I'm back to playing CoH/CoV because it has FLYING and SUPERSPEED. Who can resist being able to zip across zones at speeds that make epic mounts feel like donkeys?
Widget9k @ Sep 8th 2006 5:09PM
Doesn't Ragnarok Online boast like 17 million or 25 million subscribers worldwide? I know I've seen these numbers...
Rich @ Sep 7th 2006 4:28PM
I suggest all of you who are dismissing the possibility of being addicted to gaming go do a little research on the subject. (e.g. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Citation&list_uids=9621722 ) Also, for all of you who are citing the lack of a chemical/physiological side to gaming addiction you can stop because you are just plain wrong. There are plenty of studies that indicate the pattern of dopamine release in the brains of gamers looks very much like that of an addict who just had a dose of cocaine. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Citation&list_uids=9607763
You really should not be so quick to dismiss things you know almost nothing about and certainly do not use completely false statements as if they were facts to support your arguments.
Vincent Avatar @ Sep 7th 2006 5:43PM
@ 17.
Clearly your friends are humongous losers who never learned how to differentiate or balance real life from fantasy realms. Way to blame their problems on anything but themselves.
Fischsticks @ Sep 7th 2006 6:40PM
@17
Yay! way to be a crappy friend! if these people were your "friends" why didn't you stop them? get them help? take their computers? called the internet company? contacted their parents? there is a million things you could have done to help your friend and it sounds like you didn't do any of it.... don't blame the game blame the horrible friendsfamily
also bashing people for playing a videogame on a videogame blog is kind of pathetic
Cubemario @ Sep 8th 2006 3:12AM
You can most certainly blame the game, because these games are designed to keep the people addicted to the game. I for one have a brother who's addicted to WoW and my dad seems to be dependant on it. My brother used to play other games that were better. Now he ONLY plays WoW and no other game. The only other things he does with his time are work and watching a movie or TV show while playing WoW when he's not in a raid. Or he looks at a video related to WoW, or goes on WoW related forums, or watches a movie/TV show before he sleeps. When TV shows are on that are worth watching the whole family enjoys my brother watches it together with us, but we had to force him to do it, otherwise he'd just watch it in his room. Although if he's in a raid or something important like that for WoW, then you won't see him join us.
No matter how often I recommend him to try out X game because I think he'll enjoy it, he never does and has no intrest in it. My brother also got very angry when I confronted him about his addiction.
I used to play the game a lot, and I stopped playing for a long time. Then I got back into it and now i've quit for good realising how bad the game is at lvl 60. The game is designed to make you grind on a regular basis for hours on end. Why? So you can engage and have a chance in those rare occasions you'll experience a fair PVP situation. Sure, the burning crusade will let you gain powerful gear through this point system in pvp. However, you'll be able to gain more points to purchase more powerful stuff, so in the end your still going to be grinding with the rest of those zombies playing the game so you can engage and have a chance in those rare occasions you'll experience a fair PVP situation.
This is what world of warcraft is, the destroyer of lives and one of the most unbalanced games ever made. I hope your happy, Blizzard.
kevo @ Sep 8th 2006 10:00AM
Yeah.. you know, it IS possible to play WoW and not be addicted, like any other computer game. I play it, maybe 2-4 hours per week. Its fun, I enjoy it. But paying per month DOES blow. I do not regret starting my account or playing the game. Its been quite an experience.
Those who can be mature enough to know that getting that epic set isn't going to matter 10 years from now(it doesn't really matter anyway), probably have a good shot at not getting "addicted".
Oh.. and I could care less about the social aspect of the game. I hate chatting in game..
Colin @ Sep 8th 2006 9:45AM
For those of you who are bashing World of Warcraft. "Get a Life" I love WoW and I enjoy playing it but I think the main reason I do is because I socialize in game and have made some true friendships. I also have RL friends who play WoW and I think that truly helps to enjoy the game. I HATED MMO's until I tried WoW. Now you can say I am "addicted" but most people who you say are WANT TO BE ADDICTED. The game is just so much fun because there is such a variety of things to do and you are doing it with your friends (In game and people you know in RL) For those of you also who don't understand how fun it is or played it for a couple days and quit. I say if you really wanna enjoy WoW then talk a couple of your close friends in RL to play and level with you, it will defenitely change the way you feel and look at the game.
Anyhow GL HF and WoW FTW!
djmob @ Sep 19th 2006 2:01PM
To the above who call those who like to play WoW or any other MMORPG losers, addicts etc... they are just behind the times. Many people who choose to spend some of their free time being entertained in a 3-D, interactive and very social virtual world like WoW do this instead of sitting in front of a TV. How many hours do most people "waste" doing that? TV is not interactive, is not very social and requires little or no skill beyond being able to operate a remote control. The same could be said for listening to music, reading a book or any other number of activities people enjoy. Good games, like WoW, have great story lines, music and are much more engaging than sitting in front of a TV not to mention the ability to socialize with hundreds of people from across the world.
WoW Widow @ Oct 10th 2006 5:06PM
I 'get' both sides. However, though I would love to blame Blizzard for my (ex)husband's dependence, I know that it is ridiculous. He is responsible for his own actions. I divorced him because he was/is emotionally unavailable. We reconciled, with an agreement of a 'play schedule'. As soon as I let him back into my house, and the lives of my children and I, it reverted to the same old thing. As much as I love him, I know it is a choice to be in the WoW world, and not the real one. The only reason I don't break it off again, is that it would devastate my children. So, I am now, and maybe forever, one of many...
WoW Widow(s)
GG @ Oct 24th 2006 5:12PM
Anybody ever hear about that kid that stayed up all night playing WoW, then in the morning an airplane crashed into his house and killed him when he was sleeping in past noon? Or that kid (in China I think?) that stayed up for like eight days straight without any sleep playing Diablo, and just fell dead on his computer?
BLIZZARD ARE MURDERERS
--For the record, that's a true story (happened near my house in Cali). And I read the second story in some article ages ago.
P.S. There is only one FAULT in addictions -- YOU.
Don't blame the tabacco industry, the gaming industry, alcohol, drugs, parents, friends, because in the end it all comes down to the choices YOU make. Nothing else.