Research Summary
The report discusses the recent updates to World of Warcraft (WoW) Classic, including the Season of Discovery (SoD) and its impact on the game’s relevance and growth. It also explores the future of WoW, including strategies for diversification and expansion, and highlights the performance of a new survival RPG game, Enshrouded.
Key Takeaways
WoW’s Lifecycle and Declining Player Engagement
- Declining Player Base: WoW’s player base has been declining over the past decade, with the number of active players falling from a peak of 12 million in 2010 to an estimated 4.5 million in 2023. This decline is attributed to increased competition and the natural churn of players.
Season of Discovery’s Impact on WoW
- Revitalizing WoW: The SoD update, which introduced new gameplay elements and a phased approach to leveling, has been well-received by players. However, it is not expected to significantly increase subscriber numbers or attract new players in the long term.
Viewership Trends and Community Response
- Viewership Trends: The report notes a decline in viewership with each new WoW Classic release, although SoD managed to reverse this trend. The community response to SoD has been positive, but the game’s ability to retain players and attract new ones remains uncertain.
Future Strategies for WoW
- Diversification and Expansion: To maintain WoW’s competitive edge, the report suggests that Blizzard should diversify its strategy by expanding the Warcraft IP with new games, implementing cross-platform play, and exploring transmedia storytelling. User-generated content (UGC) is also suggested as a potential growth strategy.
Performance of Enshrouded
- Enshrouded’s Success: The report highlights the performance of Enshrouded, a new survival RPG game that has sold 728K copies since its launch in January 2024. The game’s success is attributed to its unique voxel-based building system and its developer’s experience in the genre.
Actionable Insights
- Exploring New Gameplay Elements: The positive response to SoD’s new gameplay elements suggests that introducing innovative features can revitalize a game and engage players. Game developers should consider experimenting with new gameplay mechanics to keep their games fresh and exciting.
- Expanding Game IPs: The report suggests that expanding a game’s IP with new titles can help keep the franchise relevant and growing. Game developers should consider creating new games within their existing IPs to attract a wider audience.
- Implementing Cross-Platform Play: Making games available on multiple platforms can help attract a larger player base. Game developers should consider implementing cross-platform play to tap into different gaming markets.
- Utilizing Voxel-Based Building Systems: The success of Enshrouded shows that voxel-based building systems can be a unique selling point for games. Developers should consider incorporating such systems into their games to differentiate them from competitors.
