Blizzard: Over Half of Ex-World of Warcraft Players Returning from Warhammer Online

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Over half of the World of Warcraft players that left the popular PC MMO for Mythic's recently launched Warhammer Online have since returned to Azeroth, Blizzard claims.

"We've seen a significant number of people, well over half, that cited Warhammer as their reason for leaving--they've already returned." Blizzard COO Paul Sams told GamesIndustry.biz. "It surprises me because Mythic is a very good company and it doesn't surprise me at the same time because it's really hard [to make an MMO]."

"I think Warhammer is best positioned to succeed out of the various products that have come out thus far since World of Warcraft has come out," he explained. "It seems to be a good game, certainly a great company, Mythic and Mark [Jacobs] over there and his team, they're very, very talented."

"We respect those guys over there a lot and certainly wish them well to succeed but having registration troubles, having server troubles, these are things that come with the territory."

Since its September 18 debut, Warhammer Online has amassed over 750,000 players. World of Warcraft, launched back in 2004, currently has 10.9 million subscribers, with a new expansion pack, Wrath of the Lich King, due out November 13.

"Each time an MMO has come out we've seen some amount of reduction of use," Sams noted, adding that the company saw a drop when Funcom's Age of Conan launched back in March. About 40% of those that left for Age of Conan had returned by July, according to Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime.

Chris Faylor was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    October 16, 2008 8:37 AM

    McCain vs. Obama part 2?

    Bring on MMO mud slinging!

    zzzzzz

    • reply
      October 16, 2008 8:49 AM

      I know World of Warcraft.
      I have played World of Warcraft.

      Warhammer ... You're no World of Warcraft.

      • reply
        October 16, 2008 12:41 PM

        World of warcraft? I don't trust the game cause it's arab.

        • reply
          October 16, 2008 12:52 PM

          You sir, have ZERO stats. ZERO

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