Warhammer Online army 750,000 strong

Mythic touts latest registration figures from recently released massively multiplayer online role-playing game.

The eyes of the massively multiplayer online role-playing game world are no doubt trained on Blizzard Entertainment's BlizzCon this weekend, but the World of Warcraft publisher is not the only MMO company making headlines these days. Turbine CEO James Crowley delivered a keynote address yesterday at the 2008 Tokyo Game Show, and today EA Mythic revealed some early stats for its recently released Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning.

After racking up 500,000 subscribers in its first week on shelves in mid-September, Warhammer Online has padded out its stats in the intervening weeks. EA Mythic now puts its registered player total for the fantasy MMO title at 750,000.

While the first-week numbers were enough for EA Mythic to dub Warhammer Online "the fastest-selling new MMO of all-time," the trick for any new game in the genre is to hold on to those subscribers. For comparison, Funcom's fantasy MMO game Age of Conan tallied 400,000 subscribers in its first week on shelves. Three months after launch, it had sold more than 800,000 copies, but boasted only 415,000 subscribers.

Despite the strong start, Warhammer has a long way to go to catch WOW. The planet's top MMORPG now boasts roughly 11 million subscribers, a number which will likely jump when its second expansion, Wrath of the Lich King, arrives on November 13.

For more on Warhammer Online, check out GameSpot's review.

40 Comments

  • 8NP4iN

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 1:17 pm PT

    no company will ever beat blizzard...

  • Gunman710

    Posted Oct 14, 2008 6:08 pm PT

    Servers are finally balancing out and the game is starting to show much more promise then the first few weeks. I'm excited to see how everything turns out. PvP is the best I've played in any MMO

  • spOOoOOn

    Posted Oct 13, 2008 2:42 am PT

    That's just due to people not knowing when to quit WoW. I've played WAR since beta and it in no way even comes close to those magic first weeks of WoW.

    I just don't get where all the hate for the game comes from.

  • fairlypriced

    Posted Oct 13, 2008 2:04 am PT

    Considering Warhammer is launching at a time when people are really concerned about finances and it's subscription is more than WOW it's done really well. I know I've had more fun with it in just a couple of weeks than I had with WOW in a couple of years.

  • CureForLiving

    Posted Oct 13, 2008 1:56 am PT

    Not a WoW killer but hey nice to see that there is some room left in the MMO market.

  • shnull

    Posted Oct 12, 2008 9:50 pm PT

    we shall conquer

  • Chaos_Prince

    Posted Oct 12, 2008 5:42 pm PT

    js0823 Posted Oct 11, 2008 3:50 am GMT "I only hope Mythics learn from Funcom on treating their game and customers well. AoC look incredible at the beginning, then after a month you realize you paid for a game that's half-finished.
    It doesn't matter if there are no contents at which I have yet to reach, but when I reach there I want to see a finished area for me to enjoy. Same goes for Warhammer. I want to try Warhammer but I'm in Asia atm."

    I agree in every way possible, Funcom treated us like crap, and the game WAS only half done when it came out.

  • Chaos_Prince

    Posted Oct 12, 2008 5:40 pm PT

    i really want to try out the game, but i dont want to end up buying it and not liking it, anyone know if a trial will come out?

  • Josheo

    Posted Oct 12, 2008 4:27 pm PT

    The main thing is that the people playing Warhammer are actually enjoying their experience. I played WoW since day 1 of the European Release and it is an amazing game and I had some really good times on there.. But after all that time things do really become boring. Tried Age of Conan..cough..fail.. I'm glad to say that I am really enjoying Warhammer, I think they have put alot of effort into making the game and can't wait to see what they have planned for the future. Keep up the good work Mythic!

  • Lord_Regnier

    Posted Oct 12, 2008 9:40 am PT

    Good news, but it wont catch up with WoW.

  • matte989

    Posted Oct 11, 2008 7:37 pm PT

    Having a ton of fun with WAR. I'm also a big Blizzard fan. Mythic has a real epic idea with this fused pve/pvp advancement system. I would have to give that the best MMO related idea of 2008. Only thing I would of done is bring real noobs in before the launch to run through the quests and try and knock out the frustrating ones. Really, some of the quests might make you want to bash a hole through your monitor. I learned fast just to drop thise quests because it's not worth getting so pissed off. I know there are some people though that will hit one of these quests and just throw in the towl to go back to their other game(sad truth). All in all, Mythic has some really innovative systems in WAR. I only wish the world had more personality(referring to bland npc's).

  • BloodMist

    Posted Oct 11, 2008 4:31 pm PT

    Well the Forsaken don't give a crap about any of the rest of the races.Are they pure evil?Does it matter?No.

  • majere613

    Posted Oct 11, 2008 4:25 pm PT

    2 things making me smile most in WAR at the moment:
    1) Bad guys who admit they're the bad guys and don't care. WAR Orcs don't moan about being oppressed by those mean Alliance humans, they get out there and kill some Stunties because it's a laugh. Not to mention that half of the Destruction quests involve screwing over the personal rivals of the quest-giver
    2) Almost total lack of grind. I hit level 20, the level at which you can buy a mount, with 35g from normal play. The mount cost 15g. On with the game!

  • GodzillaX8

    Posted Oct 11, 2008 3:17 pm PT

    The black screen crash error is fixed. Come back and play blueliquidplus.

  • sammoth

    Posted Oct 11, 2008 2:28 pm PT

    blueliquidplus
    Funny most of us don't have that problem. Must be yo check your system req. Also have you even look at some of the forums for advise ? Sad that people pass and opinion about a game based on one problem. Mythic has been very supportive of there game. Did you even try calling them and not EA.

  • St33lblad3

    Posted Oct 11, 2008 1:59 pm PT

    I really hope this gets more popular then WoW.

  • CoupeD

    Posted Oct 11, 2008 12:12 pm PT

    Hey thefrogcatcher is cause the noob doesn't know how to set his graphic setttings. There is a setting in the game where it changes that. Its misc./animations. If you set it to fastest frame it will limit distant animations

  • blueliquidplus

    Posted Oct 11, 2008 7:53 am PT

    subtract 1 from that, I cancelled mine due to constant crashes and horrible support from EA. Crashes to a black screen that forces reboot from the reset button on the front of your computer gets old.. as it happens every other Scenario. oh well I got a art book from the CE lol. Fun game if it wasn't for the crashes =\

  • Zoldaire

    Posted Oct 11, 2008 7:00 am PT

    WAR is very addictive. I've played it ever since the CE live-game headstart began and I've loved it for every minute of every day. The Scenarios are very fun to play, Keep sieging is just fabulous, as well as Keep defence and the PQs are lovely. The only thing I haven't experienced yet is the City siege, and I doubt I'll get too see that very soon. Not a lot of Rank 40 people on the European RP server Burlok.

  • BloodMist posted Oct 10, 2008 11:58 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    BloodMist

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 11:58 pm PT (hide)

    7050k...why would anyone be impressed?

  • Thefrogcatcher

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 10:08 pm PT

    EtherealTML said:
    "No HDR, bloom, or antialiasing (though AA can be forced through drivers). The game renders objects in the distance at a reduced framerate, which makes the gameplay feel clunky. If you are a ranged combat user, and all your targets beyond 20m or so have their animation reduced to half speed or even less, you tend to notice. I'm running a 2.4GHz Core2duo w/ 9800GT and 2gb ram in win XP sp3."

    ....how??? I'm running considerably worse spec, and this doesn't happen to me.
    Did you break your computer? Try underclocking if you've OC'd it too much; the heat can cause massive slowdowns.

  • y_roland

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 10:04 pm PT

    What is to be remembered is that wow may have 11 million accounts but LOADS arent active anymore (mine included).

  • js0823

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 7:50 pm PT

    I only hope Mythics learn from Funcom on treating their game and customers well. AoC look incredible at the beginning, then after a month you realize you paid for a game that's half-finished.
    It doesn't matter if there are no contents at which I have yet to reach, but when I reach there I want to see a finished area for me to enjoy. Same goes for Warhammer.
    I want to try Warhammer but I'm in Asia atm

  • crazymoose99

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 7:21 pm PT

    I like the game. It's fun and interesting and Mythic put some good time into it. If your looking at an mmo for it's graphics, you probably shouldn't be playing mmo's in the first place. I mean really the only mmo with good graphics is Conan, and that was a poor choice on the dev's part. I also think WAR has a long way to go, I mean WoW didn't even have pvp when I first started (3 months after launch.) It took them almost a year and a half to put in any real good pvp. They also had a hell of alot of problems to with graphics, ui, server stuff, but now look, its a great game. I just think giving WAR some time will be well worth it, besides thats why everyone is paying 15 bucks a month neway.

  • downinkashmir

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 5:56 pm PT

    jbengeii Posted Oct 11, 2008 12:14 am PT "I've tried it I can't get past the graphics! Maybe later on, WOTLK !!!"

    Can't get past the graphics yet you support Wrath of the Lich King, are you blind? or just a wow brown noser. War may not compare to any games coming out this year in graphics but compared to wow it $h!ts all over it. Fanboys make me sick.

  • EtherealTML posted Oct 10, 2008 4:51 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    EtherealTML

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 4:51 pm PT (hide)

    No HDR, bloom, or antialiasing (though AA can be forced through drivers). The game renders objects in the distance at a reduced framerate, which makes the gameplay feel clunky. If you are a ranged combat user, and all your targets beyond 20m or so have their animation reduced to half speed or even less, you tend to notice. I'm running a 2.4GHz Core2duo w/ 9800GT and 2gb ram in win XP sp3.

  • jbengeii posted Oct 10, 2008 4:14 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    jbengeii

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 4:14 pm PT (hide)

    I've tried it I can't get past the graphics! Maybe later on, WOTLK !!!

    http://files.filefront.com/WOW+Wrathgate+1024avi/;11881764;/fileinfo.html

  • WombatGuy

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 4:11 pm PT

    I'm loving the game, and Mythic deserves the praise. It had a good launch, and they seem to be on top of the few problems it has. As for it catching WoW, who cares? WoW's subscription numbers are crazy insane. An MMO doesn't have to beat (or even match) WoW to be a successful money-maker.

  • MidniteShadow

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 3:48 pm PT

    Good for Mythic, they made a great game and more is to come. I believe WAR can hold onto those numbers. The reviews and bashers although, are keeping this game from reaching its potential Subscription number. Keep up the good work though Mythic. Btw INC WoW FANBOYS!

  • stevo_360

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 3:41 pm PT

    Trying to beat WoW is sort pointless. It's not going to happen, at least for a while.

  • Durhamster

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 3:34 pm PT

    AOC had a huge population but that all crashed and burned. The real test for an MMO is it's first 6 months IMO.

  • bountydog

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 3:16 pm PT

    If any thing AOC showed us its not how many buy your mmo its how many subscribe after the first month that counts

  • Gunman710

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 2:57 pm PT

    competition will be good for WoW and WAR players alike. Let the battle begin!!!

  • GrimGravy

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 2:18 pm PT

    good for them

  • denter21

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 2:17 pm PT

    There are sooo many servers. Don't just join the high pop servers! Tier 1 and 2 are booming right now, unfortunately I'm already in Tier 3 (CE headstart) so things are a little slow.. waiting for people to catchup!! What are you waiting for? Get out there and WAAAAGH

  • CYSYKO

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 2:10 pm PT

    Glad to see they are getting the recognition they deserve for making a great game

  • ColdfireTrilogy

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 2:01 pm PT

    Good stuff finally another MMO to make it off its feet and into the spotlight!

  • Innos007666

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 1:51 pm PT

    Agree with pal.

  • Blitzman

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 1:38 pm PT

    I personally love the Public quests idea. The only bad thing is that the upper chapters have less people focused on the public quests, so many times you can't complete them

  • baystatethrashr

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 1:27 pm PT

    Its an amazing game so im not suprised that there are so many people playing right now. if you like WOW at least give this a shot dont get turned off by the amount of PVP there is. Trust me the RVR is awsome and so are the Public Quests

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