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Since November 2004, World of Warcraft has piqued the interests of global gamers. According to Digital Initiative, there’s a case to be made that WoW is the most successful game of all time. The website states that, over the past 17 years, over 100 million accounts have been created, and, at its peak, World of Warcraft had over 11 million users active.
In seeking to expand the franchise, the title’s developers have recently announced that the mobile crossovers are pending. However, Activision Blizzard isn’t stopping at one smartphone game, with several in the making. Their upcoming creations pose numerous questions, including how successful WoW phone adaptations can be. Well, let’s explore the creators’ plans.
Striving for Mobile Expansion
In recent years, increasing numbers of developers have sought to explore the mobile market. Thus far, however, Activision Blizzard has ignored the sector’s potential. Although, that looks set to change in 2021 and beyond. In October 2019, the developers published Call of Duty: Mobile, which recorded more than 100,000 downloads in just over a week following its release, as per the Independent. Because of the shooter’s success, Activision is now “investing meaningfully” to capitalize on the mobile market, and that includes plans regarding Warcraft crossovers, as per TechRadar/uk/activision.
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Due to the popularity of WoW, it’s hardly surprising that developers are centering their mobile plans around the online role-playing game. It speaks volumes about the title’s sustained popularity that, in 2020, the franchise’s full-year net bookings were up 40 percent, reaching a near-decade-long high, according to VideoGamesChronicle/news.
Ultimately, the development of numerous free-to-play mobile titles are seeking to expand the franchise’s existing audience base. Not only that, but Bobby Kotick, Activision’s CEO, believes that smartphone crossovers will attract a handful of new players with forward-thinking in-game experiences.
How Successful Could WoW Smartphone Crossovers Be?
On paper, few can argue that mobile adaptations of Warcraft won’t be a success. The reason for this is the sustained appeal that the franchise’s downloadable expansion packs have enjoyed since the late 2000s. There are currently eight DLCs, the newest being World of Warcraft: Shadowlands, which hit the shelves in October 2020. Despite being released 16 years after the game’s launch, Shadowlands became the fastest-selling PC game ever, with 3.7 million first-day sales, as per VentureBeat/world-of-warcraft.
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Given the recency of Shadowlands’ success, it showcases that WoW is still one of the most popular PC games despite being released in the mid-2000s. The franchise’s community continues to immerse itself in recently-unveiled content, and there’s nothing to suggest that mobile crossovers would be any different.
If Activision continues to offer players reward opportunities, such as 100 percent XP bonuses, this incentive-driven strategy could ensure favorable long-term results. In terms of existing mobiles crossovers, adopting a promotion-offering approach has proved fruitful to a handful of new no-deposit casinos listed at BonusFinder/uk/announced. For example, at Jackpot Mobile Casino, where players don’t have to make a deposit before receiving their bonus, users can enjoy a £5 no-deposit offer to use at the smartphone-friendly operator. Incentives like this are a great way to bring in new players.
Potential to Flourish on Remote Platforms
Although there are no guarantees that WoW titles will succeed on smartphones, the future looks promising. The popularity of mobile games, combined with Warcraft’s sustained appeal, indicates that the franchise’s community will explore forward-thinking crossovers. If Activision continues to implement a reward-driven system, then attracting new players is also a possibility. In turn, this may positively impact the series’ long-term audience base because of its free-to-play nature
