Wed, Mar 03, 2010 | 13:41 GMT
Activision: WoW could end up “obsolete”
Activision has given a stark warning on World of Warcraft’s future, saying the MMO could end up “obsolete”.
The company said in its K-10 report published yesterday (thanks, CVG): “We compete with other forms of interactive entertainment, such as casual games like iPhone applications and other mobile phone games, and games developed for use by consumers on social networking sites.
It further added: “Future increased consumer acceptance and increases in the availability such games or other online games, or technological advances in online game software or the Internet, could result in a decline in platform-based software and negatively impact sales of our console and hand-held products. Newer technological advances in online game software may also render products such as World of Warcraft obsolete.”
The mention in the report is on page 22 in the “Risk Factor” section.
World of Warcraft’s growth has now stalled, as confirmed by Blizzard boss Mike Morhaime in the publisher’s last earnings call.
The leading MMO’s userbase stands at 11.5 million, as it has done since late 2008.
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16 
Posted in: Activision Blizzard, Hot, MMO, PC
Tags: world of warcraft
16 comments
#1
Tonka
03/03/10, 1:46 pm
Go Acti GO GO GO!
#2
jnms
03/03/10, 1:47 pm
WTF is wrong with Activision. Sounds to me, like they are wanting to push all their games out to a far wider audience. It almost reads as though they believe, if they dilute all of their IPs (dumb them down) so they work on many more platforms – then they will make more money.
Of course World of Warcraft will be ‘obsolete’. Just make a new MMO or two. But that’s not what they seem to want is it. Seems as though they are pursuing an entirely new agenda for gaming.
Reminds me of how all the broadcast networks picked up on ‘reality TV’ shows – because they were cheap to make and millions of people would watch them. Are Activision about to do something similar with gaming?
Fuckers…
#3
Eregol
03/03/10, 1:57 pm
Seeing as gaming trends tend to follow other trends, yes, WoW will eventually be obsolete.
Nothing that can be done about that, people grow, move on and change, that’s what happens.
But, Acti aren’t the ones to trust on this. I bet the guys at Blizzard are sitting there scratching their heads reading this mouthing the word ‘Duh’.
#4
OlderGamer
03/03/10, 1:58 pm
Acti seems to be taking aim at their foot. I bet they pull the trigger.
#5
G1GAHURTZ
03/03/10, 2:01 pm
I think they’re going for a 25 kill-streak.
#6
Eregol
03/03/10, 2:03 pm
‘Activision sack entire Blizzard staff because Starcraft isn’t an FPS and aims to make a third person hack and slash of WoW.’
#7
onyxbox
03/03/10, 2:19 pm
someone’s passing too much crack arround at Acti… palce has gone crazy ape sh!t.
#8
mojo
03/03/10, 2:27 pm
this is getting comedy. realy.
#9
KillerDD
03/03/10, 2:35 pm
If Activision keeps up the way they’re doing business they will end up “Obsolete”.
In my honest opinion games like World of Warcraft (and any other PC or Console game) do not compete with casual ‘games’ on the iPhone or ‘any other mobile platform’. They seem to forget that these games are entirely meant to kill time while waiting for a bus or a dentist appointment.
They also say WoW could end up obsolete because of technological advances. Well, there’s a very simple solution to that. If they want to continue competing with the rest of the games they will have to ‘upgrade’ the game eventually. Just as they are doing now with Cataclysm. I think that could be a serious boost to sales, as there will be an entirely different experience from the start. Which could be fun for players that have seen the whole World of Warcraft as it is now…
#10
aki
03/03/10, 3:20 pm
WoW is dead. The Lich King killed it. :/
#11
Dralen
03/03/10, 4:11 pm
So instead of saying; WoW has got years of life left in it, they say it will be “Obsolete” soon. Who the fuck passed Activision the negative pill? Blizzard makes millions of pounds a year from WoW subs, so don’t go mouthing your crazy shit Acti!
#12
Michael O’Connor
03/03/10, 4:12 pm
Show me *one* thing that didn’t eventually become obsolete.
The game has at *least* half a decade’s life left in it.
#13
Blerk
03/03/10, 4:18 pm
Water. I think we still pretty much need that. Oxygen, too.
#14
G1GAHURTZ
03/03/10, 4:46 pm
I was playing Tetris yesterday.
#15
DeSpiritusBellum
03/03/10, 4:57 pm
“Oh nooo, we only have 11,5 million people throwing set ammounts at us every month, we’re doomed. DOOMED!”
It’s a six fricken year old game, that’s a pretty goddamn impressive subscription base, especially considering how little has changed since Burning Crusade.
#16
jnms
03/03/10, 6:00 pm
@15, yeah Activision are money grabbing turds, and look what it has done to them. The greedy cunts!