A market analysis has now identified the most profitable MMOs of the past year. Unsurprisingly, the genre giant World of Warcraft (WoW) is far ahead. But TERA, Star Wars: The Old Republic (SW:TOR), and Lord of the Rings Online (HdRO) are also performing surprisingly well.
Superdata claims to have received the data directly from the publishers. In recent years, the site has established a reputable standing, which is why the published data is receiving much attention and sparking some discussions.
Noteworthy in the table – besides the impressive dominance of World of Warcraft – is how strongly NCSoft is represented on the list. This includes games that are particularly strong in Asia: Aion, Blade & Soul, Lineage 1 and 2. The most successful game in Europe and North America, Guild Wars 2, does not offer a subscription option and is therefore not accounted for.
Two strong representatives from completely different directions appear on the list with EVE Online and TERA. EVE Online is considered, alongside WoW, the only MMO that has been able to grow continuously for years. TERA seems to be the only Asian MMO that has also managed to attract attention outside the eastern market; in the West, it opted for a free-to-play model – with the option for special advantages through a monthly quasi-subscription.
Star Wars: The Old Republic and Lord of the Rings Online demonstrate that this often-derided transition of a full-price title to free-to-play does not have to mean the end for an MMO. Both games are already several years old, both rely on large licenses, and both generate a substantial amount of revenue for their operators.
According to the market study, the reason for this is not necessarily that more players are joining, but rather that the existing players are spending more money in-game through microtransactions.
The shift from a subscription model to a free-to-play model with a cash shop has recently found some imitators and fans. Notably, SOE’s president John Smedley is a strong advocate and wants to also give players the opportunity to design items and offer them in the cash shop. In 2014, classic subscription MMOs like WildStar and The Elder Scrolls Online have again entered the market, which will likely compete for a place in the top 10 in the coming years. The Final Fantasy XIV, released in 2013 and reportedly having over 2 million accounts, is expected to reappear on this list in the coming years.
