So I think by now everyone knows I hated the story, but what about gameplay?

[TheEconomist]

Eight million was what they put on their last quarterly earnings so I'm going with that. I don't know when or how they calculate that but I assume they've been using the same methods since the beginning.

I doubt WoW will become F2P anytime soon. There's just too much money being made. They make about twice as much as League of Legends off subscriptions alone and that doesn't include all of the other monetarizations and other things. I do think, however, (not that that's a leap since Blizzard's own statements confirm) they'll be making more F2P games like Hearthstone and Heroes of the Storm. Although, I'm not sure that Blizzard can compete in that space as well as it used to, since, well, you know, arrogance is killing them.

-- Just noticed WoW on that list. They must be including the revenue from China and other F2P areas as the F2P earnings for that year because their own quarterly earnings rocket past that.

[NikoMyCousin]

Eight million was what they put on their last quarterly earnings so I'm going with that. I don't know when or how they calculate that but I assume they've been using the same methods since the beginning.

I doubt WoW will become F2P anytime soon. There's just too much money being made. They make about twice as much as League of Legends off subscriptions alone and that doesn't include all of the other monetarizations and other things. I do think, however, (not that that's a leap since Blizzard's own statements confirm) they'll be making more F2P games like Hearthstone and Heroes of the Storm. Although, I'm not sure that Blizzard can compete in that space as well as it used to, since, well, you know, arrogance is killing them.

-- Just noticed WoW on that list. They must be including the revenue from China and other F2P areas as the F2P earnings for that year because their own quarterly earnings rocket past that.

I don't think its a coincidence that within a year's time, Hearthstone's popularity explosion (before it has even launched on Android of all places) has coincided with Blizzard adding a lot of items to WoW's in game shop.



I could be wrong, but I think these decisions point to F2P for WoW pretty soon. Granted, giving up the subscription model would be an admirable thing to do because it does net them an incredible income, but I honestly think that standalone expansion packs and more mounts and cosmetics on the store would make the decision easier to make in this F2P heavy industry.

I still find it hilarious that Blizzard seems intent on adding options for WoW players to spend their money on, yet for StarCraft 2 they haven't added any options (even something as simple as paid name changes) when SC2 players are the ones that want it the most to help the scene out.

[TheEconomist]

They may do it but it won't be a financial decision. Maybe as a way to regain favor or something, I don't know. It's been over a year since I even looked at Activision as an investment, and I definitely don't play the games, so I really have no grounds to argue, just saying I've beard it before and I'm jaded.

I doubt I'd play WoW even if it were free though.

[Gradius]

Here are my predictions for Blizzard's financial future:

Hidden Content:

[DemolitionSquid]

[ragnarok]

I suggest someone tell the guy all the money around him is counterfeit.

- - - Updated - - -

[TheEconomist]

The guy? The guy? I think you mean THE guy.

You know, the one the prophecies spoke of.

[DemolitionSquid]

[Nissa]

The guy? The guy? I think you mean THE guy.

You know, the one the prophecies spoke of.

The prophecies of "He Who Shall Ruin Computer Gaming Forever and Run Away with Vast Sums of Money"? I've heard that one. It ends with him getting bludgeoned to death by nerds with obsolete computers.

[TheEconomist]