Bioware: SWTOR has lost 24% of its subscriber base since December. What now?

[Gadian]

According to recent financial reports, SWTOR has lost 24% of its subscribers since December. Put another way, 400,000 people unsubscribed, bringing the total number of active subscriptions worldwide from 1.7 million to 1.3 million:

 

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/ea-sales-beat-targets-star-wars-takes-hit-2012-05-07?dist=afterbell

 

I have hundreds of complaints about this game; I could take the next few hours and compile a list of the many failures of Bioware, but I, and the rest of the 1.3 million subscribers (with more dropping out daily), have been willing to overlook these so far.

 

But there is one issue that will single-handedly sink this game if not immediately rectified: there are way too many empty servers! An MMO without a community is not an MMO, and certainly not worth $15/month.

 

My server is completely dead: it is not uncommon to have LESS than 10 level 50's in the Republic Fleet (although to be fair, the Imperial Fleet has considerably more (usually 4-5 times as many people)). Queue times commonly approach 20 minutes. I regularly spend more time in the fleet waiting in the queues than in actual WZs while attempting to complete my daily.

 

1.2 killed off a lot of our player base. Asia-Pacific transfers almost wiped out the server.

 

So, what are your plans to a) retain your current player base; b) entice the 400,000 former-subscribers to renew; and c) successfully market this game to new customers and convert them into active subscribers? You have a plan right? Right?

 

/signed These queues are getting lonely.

[CrunkShizzle]

An MMO without a community is not an MMO, and certainly not worth $15/month.

 

except id rather have no community.then the same bunch that were the reason why wow's community was so bad

Edited May 7, 2012 by CrunkShizzle

[HurricaneXXIV]

The good thing about MMO's is they are a living game. Things can always change or be improved.

 

In all honesty I think a lot of people have found the MMO grind to be too much and have moved away from MMO's in general. WoW is losing player base so where are they all going?

[Vales]

The good thing about MMO's is they are a living game. Things can always change or be improved.

 

In all honesty I think a lot of people have found the MMO grind to be too much and have moved away from MMO's in general. WoW is losing player base so where are they all going?

 

If you can believe a couple of gaming forums: Guild Wars 2. It is the next holy grail of these MMO players like so many before it.

Edited May 7, 2012 by Vales

[paratroopc]

/signed

[HurricaneXXIV]

Wow is down 6 million players (correct me if I'm wrong). I can't even place 6 million people into other MMO's. WoW also has a good player base who plays both games. Where did all the MMO players go?

 

I'd be amazed if GW2 has half the player based of TOR when it gets going. MMO's come down to money and EA and Activision have a hand up on everyone.

[ItGetsAllOver]

except id rather have no community.then the same bunch that were the reason why wow's community was so bad

 

Then why even play an MMO? Just go play KOTOR.

[Noviru]

Hello Everyone

 

We ask that threads posted in PvP stay focused on player vs. player interaction in Star Wars™: The Old Republic™. Since this thread is off-topic, we're closing it for being off topic.

 

If you would like to discuss the recent subscription numbers from today's earning call, please use the following thread in General Discussion:

• Subs down 25%

Additionally, here are a few more topics discussing the possibility of server merges and when character transfers will be available:

• FREE Character Transfers are Coming!
  
• When will there be a SERVER MERGE?

Thank you for understanding!