WoW Continues to Bleed Subscribers

As reported by Massively, World of Warcraft is down to a Whopping 9.1 million subscribers, about a million lower than a quarter ago in May.  This has to be making big-cat Activision-Blizzard anxious, despite the admittedly positive tone of the report.  Between Diablo III’s impressive launch (for both positive and negative reasons), and Mists of Pandaria’s impending launch, the company is lined up for a strong quarter.  

My concern is the staying power of WoW.  The responses I’ve heard in the blogosphere, even the fansites, has been decidedly “Meh.”  about the next expansion.  I don’t think this has anything to do with the topic of the expansion (pandas — loosely tied to lore), I think it has more to do with Blizzard painting itself into a proverbial corner with their game-design and a few other reasons I covered previously.  That, combined with the fact that the first round of Annual Pass subscribers is coming up real quick (and I know of at least 2 people who will be cancelling when that hits.)  I have to wonder what their numbers will look like come November.  

Regardless, Ghostcrawler and company might be showing their age a little bit.  

Via: World of Warcraft has 9.1 million subscribers, down by a million since May on Massively