World of Warcraft: A Monumental Game with Enduring Popularity
In the 2010s, ‘World of Warcraft’ claimed more than 10 million active accounts.
A Rare Longevity
As it celebrates its 20th birthday, online video game “World of Warcraft” has demonstrated a rare longevity thanks to its loyal following and constant evolutions. “It is inspiring to be able to work on this rare game that has touched so many lives, and to also feel the burden of carrying that forward,” Ion Hazzikostas, the current director of the game, told AFP at the Gamescom trade show in Germany in August.
A Precursor to Modern Gaming
Although it was not the first massively multiplayer online role-playing game (a genre known as MMORPG) when it was released in 2004, “World of Warcraft” was an instant success, quickly attracting several million players worldwide. It benefited from the popularity of the Warcraft brand, a saga of real-time strategy games launched ten years earlier by Blizzard, which was bought by Microsoft in 2023.
Social Aspect of the Game
The social aspect of the experience, still in its infancy at the time, that appealed to players. “It was a precursor,” said Olivier Servais, a specialist in online communities. “Blizzard focused on guilds and communities on a human scale, bringing together between 30 and 200 players.” In these groups, “people flirt, they confide about their daily lives,” weddings and funerals are organised, and the game becomes “a pretext to socialise,” he said.
A Monument in the Gaming Industry
At its peak in the 2010s, “World of Warcraft” claimed more than 10 million active accounts, though the number could be higher because many people often share one account, in Asia, in particular. Blizzard no longer reveals the number of accounts, but “WoW” remains popular across the world. “We are not resting on our laurels, or coasting gently off into the sunset,” Hazzikostas said.
Constant Evolution
Its 10th extension, “The War Within,” was released in August with new domains to explore and other changes. “Twenty years later, it remains a monument but in a gaming market that has completely changed,” Servais said. Hazzikostas said Blizzard is “trying new ambitious things to shake up what we’ve done and keep that vibrant.” “I don’t see an end point to ‘World of Warcraft’ on the horizon today,” he said, drawing parallels with franchises such as Marvel or Star Wars.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many active accounts did World of Warcraft have in its peak in the 2010s?
A: More than 10 million active accounts.
Q: Why was World of Warcraft so successful in its early days?
A: It benefited from the popularity of the Warcraft brand and the social aspect of the game, which allowed players to connect and cooperate with each other.
Q: What is the current number of active accounts in World of Warcraft?
A: Blizzard no longer reveals the number of active accounts, but the game remains popular across the world.
Q: What is the future of World of Warcraft?
A: Blizzard is trying new ambitious things to shake up what they’ve done and keep the game vibrant, with no end point in sight.