Many genres have a game or franchise which become synonymous with them. For MMORPGs it’s World of Warcraft. For over two decades, WoW has lived in the public consciousness as the game where players log on to enjoy a rich, diverse fantasy world with millions of other players and countless things to do in WoW.
However, let’s be realistic. Released in 2004, WoW is a 20 year old game. There aren’t that many 20 year old games which are still played or enjoyed today. Thus, the question begs – when will the mighty WoW go offline? This article aims to break down this question.
The Current State of WoW
To understand when WoW might shut down, the best place to look is the current state of the game… Which is surprisingly, still pretty good.
According to mmo-population.com, WoW is still the most played MMO on the market. Boasting an impressive total player count of 155.12 million, and a daily active player count above 300,000.
But this player base should come as no surprise. Blizzard have continued to release updates over the past two decades, keeping players engaged even when they find themselves in WoW waiting on another update. The most recent of which were released in 2022 (Dragonflight) and 2024 (The War Within).
Perhaps more importantly, these updates are not only frequent, but they are consistently very meaningful. Adding new mechanics, items and content to the game while extending WoW’s complex and beloved narrative. Not to mention WoW spin-offs like WoW Classic, which allow players to relive the game’s origins and enjoy a nostalgic experience.
Part of this health can be chocked up to the fact that WoW still features subscription payments – bringing in huge sums of money which fund the development of expansion, real-world events and much more.
For players who want to explore Azeroth without starting from scratch, WoW accounts can be a practical option. These accounts often come with leveled characters and gear, letting you dive into the adventures and challenges the game has to offer.
Ultimately, if we were to line up all MMORPGs, the state of WoW would definitely rank in the top few, thanks to the endless things to do in WoW that keep players engaged. Especially considering its age, dated graphical style and old-school mechanics.
A Gradual Decline
While WoW still sits at the top of MMOs, its player base often reflects on past expansions while waiting on another update to bring new excitement. In the 2000s, WoW had over 12 million monthly subscribers. Which dropped throughout the 2010s, reaching somewhere between 4.5 million subscribers (reported by Statista) and 7.5 million subscribers (reported by IGN). While we don’t know the exact numbers, it’s clear that WoW has declined in overall popularity over the past 15 years.
And while new expansions and content updates will provide spikes in subscribers and general interest, it’s a no-brainer that a game which is over 20 years old will be in decline.
That said, 6 million users paying $13+ per month to access the game most certainly gives Blizzard plenty of reason to keep the game alive.
Factors Influencing WoW’s Future
The question of when WoW will go offline has been one which has plagued the game for over a decade – leaving plenty of room for speculation. Given the game’s long history and the fact that it is still Blizzard’s flagship title, it’s unlikely that WoW will shut down in the near future.
However, since Blizzard was merged with Activision – both of which were purchased by Microsoft – there are new questions about the power structure which could lead to the game being side-lined.
Other concerns come from the simple fact that the game and genre are both quite old, garnering less attention from gamers today in the bustling marketplace that is gaming. If new smash-hit titles or genres are developed, more players may migrate away from WoW causing Blizzard to downsize or throw in the towel.
Finally, there is the question of business model. While players still pay monthly for WoW, subscription models are not popular with gamers today. If Blizzard is unable to keep this method of monetization profitable, the game may close down pretty quickly.
The Inevitability of Server Shutdown
World of Warcraft will go offline at some point. Just like there will be a day where Google and Microsoft are shuttered. There’s no doubt about that. But before we get too existential, it’s clear that time will not be any time soon. World of Warcraft remains one of the most beloved (and profitable) MMORPGs to date. Not only that, but it has left an indelible mark on the culture of gaming. Meaning that even if Blizzard were forced to downsize, WoW would likely go the way of Ultima Online or Everquest – even older MMOs who remain alive with a small but incredibly passionate player base.