For the past few financial years and months there has been a common thread running through all reporting and that is what World of Warcraft as a business entity is doomed. When WoW was first released t blew everyone out the water and quickly sky rocketed to a massive 12 million subscribers.
That’s 12 million people paying a monthly fee to experience your game so it’s absolutely not the least bit surprising that a ton of other pay to play and free to play competitors arose and since then the subscriber count for World of Warcraft has been on a continuous decline leading many industry analysts to write the proverbial obituary notices.
Fast forward to late 2013 and World of Warcraft only has 7.6 million paying subscribers a month. Yes even writing that made my eyes roll. What people wouldn’t do for that amount of loyal customers.
Anyway into the run up to Christmas the predictions were quite dour for Blizzard, the company responsible for WoW, but lo and behold the latest financials are out and they have shocked the industry. Not only did World of Warcraft bring in an extra 200 000 subscribers but the parent company, Activision, reported a mammoth $1.5 Billion revenue over the holiday quarter.
They also revealed that Skylanders has now netted the company over $2 Billion and Call of Duty: Ghosts was reported to be the top seller in both units and revenue over the last 3 months.
I can’t see any of those three pillars failing anytime in the next 3 years and with Activision also having Diablo, Destiny, StarCraft and Hearthstone in their immediate future you have to be at least a little impressed at how Activision dominates the landscape and the breadth of their portfolio.
EA may be the biggest publisher but take away their sports division and they start looking a little lacklustre.
- In North America and Europe combined, Activision Publishing was the #1 console and handheld publisher for the calendar year with the #2 and #3 best-selling franchises—Call of Duty and Skylanders, including toys and accessories.
- In North America and Europe combined, for the calendar year, Activision Publishing had four of the top-10 titles overall.
- For the fourth quarter, in aggregate across all platforms in the U.S. and Europe combined, Activision Publishing’s Call of Duty: Ghosts was the #1 best-selling title in both units and dollars and the #1 best-selling game on both next-gen platforms in both units and dollars. Additionally, for the calendar year, Call of Duty: Black Ops II was the #9 best-selling title in both units and dollars.
- For the calendar year, in North America and Europe combined, Skylanders Giants™, including toys and accessories, was the #4 best-selling handheld and console game in dollars overall and Skylanders SWAP Force™, including toys and accessories, was the #6 best-selling handheld and console game in dollars overall.
- As of December 31, 2013, the Skylanders franchise has generated, life-to-date, more than $2 billion in worldwide sales1 and, at the end of the year, Activision had sold approximately 175 million Skylanders toys worldwide.
- For the calendar year in North America, Blizzard Entertainment’s StarCraft® II: Heart of the Swarm® was the #1 best-selling PC game.
- As of December 31, 2013, Blizzard Entertainment’s World of Warcraft remains the #1 subscription-based MMORPG, with approximately 7.8 million subscribers.
Last Updated: February 7, 2014
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 7, 2014 at 11:41
This just made me realise something, I don’t own any new(ish) Activision games. The newest one is Vampire Bloodlines, and that’s from 2004. I guess I’m not their target market.
Hammersteyn
February 7, 2014 at 11:43
Doom 3 BFG edition. But I almost just play Doom 1 and 2
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 7, 2014 at 11:49
Never got that because I already had Doom 3. I am in control of my Steam addiction heh.
The first Activision game I thought of was Deathtrack – I played the crap out of that. In monochrome woohoo.
Norm
February 7, 2014 at 11:50
Geezwhizz I remember that game.
Johan du Preez
February 7, 2014 at 12:40
I got the new one from steam 🙂 It was my very first game I managed to pirate it was 135mb over a 33.6kbps modem.
I was quite chuffed at myself lol. Although it took over 4 days to download.
Johan du Preez
February 7, 2014 at 12:25
Doom 3 is published by Bathesda
ToshZA
February 7, 2014 at 12:28
*Bethesda
Johan du Preez
February 7, 2014 at 12:36
phanx dick tionary police 😛
ToshZA
February 7, 2014 at 12:40
haha, won’t find that in the dictionary. Would you like your name spelled incorrectly?
Also, jah bru, it can be a pleshure. 😀
Johan du Preez
February 7, 2014 at 12:40
rofl 🙂
Hammersteyn
February 7, 2014 at 12:33
oops
RinceThis2014
February 7, 2014 at 11:51
No. but you are many peoples target…
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 7, 2014 at 11:54
I know. I think it’s my humility & modesty that invites it. But I won’t change, it’s just the way I am.
RinceThis2014
February 7, 2014 at 11:55
And some love you the way you are. Sure, they rock themselves to sleep in padded cells, but at least it’s something! 😉 John and I are going for a drink at Hudson’s at 1745 if you are in the area.
Hammersteyn
February 7, 2014 at 11:55
I need to move to Cape Town.
RinceThis2014
February 7, 2014 at 11:57
Hehehe! You would be more than welcome to join us too man! Met some awesome people through LG and @disqus_DoEH3TsffU:disqus
TiMsTeR1033
February 7, 2014 at 12:29
I would be there in a heart beat if I could!
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 7, 2014 at 12:03
Nope, at 17:45 I will be ramming my chainsword into an Ork’s face while wondering why I did that second circuit at the gym.
RinceThis2014
February 7, 2014 at 12:04
Nice one 🙂 But will see you tomorrow?
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 7, 2014 at 12:06
Indeed. John said he & I will play on the PS4 while you stand outside with your face pressed against the glass.
RinceThis2014
February 7, 2014 at 12:07
So a regular Saturday then?
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 7, 2014 at 12:11
Pretty much. Although this time we hope to avoid that unfortunate dead hooker situation. Really need to stop doing so much coke.
RinceThis2014
February 7, 2014 at 12:14
I have NO idea what you are talking about… I was away, on a fishing trip…
Hammersteyn
February 7, 2014 at 11:57
No one should change who they are, same goes for tastes in video games. Most of us swims upstream while the majority floats down stream.
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 7, 2014 at 11:58
Floaters tee hee.
No Avo, you can’t post a related pic, & if you do I’m not going to refresh.
Unavengedavo
February 7, 2014 at 12:06
How about an informative Wikipedia link instead?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floater
RinceThis2014
February 7, 2014 at 12:08
Nope. I will NOT do it!
Unavengedavo
February 7, 2014 at 12:11
Hey, there is nothing wrong with Wikipedia… Plus I know curiosity will get the better of you
RinceThis2014
February 7, 2014 at 12:11
I… Must not… GAHHHHH!
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 7, 2014 at 12:12
lol
ToshZA
February 7, 2014 at 12:01
So you’re saying more people prefer oral then?
Hammersteyn
February 7, 2014 at 12:05
rofl sies XD
ToshZA
February 7, 2014 at 12:03
Diablo 3 on console, love it. Hearthstone (Ok, this one’s free, but it counts). Those are the recent ones.
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 7, 2014 at 12:04
No Warcrafts, no Starcrafts, no Diablos, no CODs. I’m fairly surprised by that.
ToshZA
February 7, 2014 at 12:07
Well, I did spend 2 years on WoW. Quit 3 years ago though, so its not recent.
But still, each of those games has their target market. If it doesn’t suit you, it just doesn’t suit you. Fairly simple really.
Norm
February 7, 2014 at 12:18
I agree on Diablo 3 (Xbox 360)… aso love it.
I also played WoW and stopped almost 2 years ago. Took an exchange rate to the knee (played on a US server).
ToshZA
February 7, 2014 at 12:29
Lol, I just got tired of how much time it required from you to do anything or get anywhere. I wanted to do other things, like sleep.
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
February 7, 2014 at 12:00
In other unrelated news I recently got gifted a Guild Wars 2 account 🙂
ToshZA
February 7, 2014 at 12:02
Well there goes your spare time.
Also, nice one 😀
Norm
February 7, 2014 at 12:16
Enjoy it! 😀
Tarisma
February 7, 2014 at 12:33
Nice, its lotsa fun
ElimiNathan
February 7, 2014 at 12:46
This is a sign, I must start playing again
RinceThis2014
February 7, 2014 at 12:04
Activison are clever bstds. Like, pedlar, pimp clever…
LollydaLolDragon
February 7, 2014 at 12:12
COD and WoW and Skylanders.. Crack for Kids..
Unavengedavo
February 7, 2014 at 12:21
Don’t forget Pokemon
Tarisma
February 7, 2014 at 12:33
Pokemon is for adults silly
Estian Hough
February 7, 2014 at 13:48
I still play wow every now and then. I’ve never managed to completely get over the game… I iz too addicted :<, and I've been playing since Vanilla.