Is World of Warcraft Still a Thriving Game?

Yes, many many people are still playing World of Warcraft. The most recent expansion Shadowlands released a couple of weeks ago and has become the fastest-selling game of all time, according to Nielsen. This surge in popularity is evident in-game, with many servers seeing players they haven't had for a long time. Even players who had quit years ago have returned to the game.

Why People Still Play World of Warcraft

So why do people still play WoW? There are several reasons:

TrinityCore and 3.3.5

TrinityCore is the best open source files available for playing World of Warcraft 3.3.5, requiring minimal scripting to have a working server. While some prefer the original vanilla (Vanilla WoW) or The Burning Crusade (TBC), WoW: Wrath of the Lich King (Woltk) is highly favored for its gameplay. It offers a great balance between nostalgia and modern quality of life mechanics.

Content and Gameplay

Before the Cataclysm revamp, WoW had the most content, excluding Naxxramas 40 and Onyxia 40, along with their attunement-related quests and items. The current state of the game provides a perfect blend, being less grindy than Vanilla or TBC, yet maintaining that nostalgic feel.

Historical Context and Future Prospects

It’s often debated whether people still play World of Warcraft, but the numbers clearly show otherwise. Even without the recent hype about Classic, the release of Battle for Azeroth in 2018 broke all previous records for the most numbers sold for a WoW expansion by release date. If players had stopped playing, Classic WoW wouldn’t have seen the rise in popularity it did.

The game’s peak was at 12 million players back in 2010, but as Terenas (a legendary character in the game) once said, “No king rules forever, my son.” Even though player numbers have decreased, the game continues to attract new and returning players. For instance, the introduction of the WoW Classic client has further boosted player numbers, underscoring the game's enduring appeal.

According to recent data, World of Warcraft is currently one of the top 5 most played games in the world. The introduction of WoW Classic has also brought one of the largest numbers of concurrent players in the history of the universe. WoW set a previous record with its Legion expansion two years ago, further cementing its position as a powerhouse in the MMO market.

It's clear that despite the challenges and changing gamer demographics, World of Warcraft continues to thrive. The combination of nostalgia, engaging content, and ongoing support from the community ensures that the game remains a beloved part of the digital landscape.