Blizzard has announced that World of Warcraft has surpassed the 10 million subscription mark this week as a result of the release of World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor.
Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime had the following to say about the news:
We’re thrilled that so many players jumped in to play Warlords of Draenor on day one and are having a great time with the new content. We poured a lot of hard work and passion into this expansion, and we appreciate all the kind words from players and the overwhelming support they continue to show for World of Warcraft.
World of Warcraft’s subscription total hit its lowest point since launch during a 14 month content drought preceding Warlords of Draenor, rendering the total around 6.8 million. Shortly before the release of Warlords of Draenor it was pushed to 7.4 with the advent of a massive 6.0.2 (a.k.a Iron Tide) patch. Now, despite a rough technical launch, it is finding itself with a healthy player base despite its 10 year age.
World of Warcraft‘s highest point for subscriptions was in 2010 during Wrath of the Lich King when it hit roughly 12 million. It hasn’t been in a slow decline since, but may be finding itself in a much better situation than during the eras of either Cataclysm or Mists of Pandaria.
Also See: 7 Things That Have Surprised Me About WoW: Warlords of Draenor
After playing Warlords of Draenor for a week, it doesn’t surprise me that people are coming back. This is a fantastic expansion that finds a plethora of ways to make the game feel fresh and exciting.
