Rumor has it that Age of Conan sports less than 100,000 paying subscribers. This according to analysts at DnB NOR Markets, who are bringing this up as a follow-up to chief financial officer Olav Sandnes resignation due to the poor performance of the company. Funcom is reporting a loss of $23.3 million, whereas Age of Conan is responsible for $22.8 of those. Ouch.
On the other hand, Funcom is estimating that the first quarter of 2009 will bring in revenue in the range between $6 and $8 million from Age of Conan. That’s assuring for the players at least, the game shouldn’t be in peril just yet, and with a movie on the way, along with the Russian expansion and whatnot, the game’s just not over for Age of Conan just yet.
We mentioned earlier that Funcom was about to merge their Age of Conan-servers, but now we have actual numbers on how many there will be left when the merging and cutting has been done. From a total of 49 servers, only 18 will stand their ground. Still a lot compared to other mmo games (no, fuck World of Warcraft), but it’s not exactly the direction in which Funcom wants to go. Anyway, it’s a required move to a position from where they can grow.
Craig Morrison is the new producer and game director for Age of Conan, after Funcom founder Gaute Godage have chosen to leave the company. This from a press release, regarding the Morrison appointment:
“Taking on the position as Producer and Game Director on Age of Conan is a great challenge but also one I welcome. I have a clear conviction I can lead the further development in a good way, evolving Age of Conan into something even better. My main priority now is therefore to listen to, and act on, player concerns, while ensuring we add additional great content to the game,” said Craig Morrison. “At heart I will always be a gamer, and the coming changes and additions to Conan will always be done with the gamers in mind. Together I am certain we will shape an amazing future for Age of Conan.”
Godager commented in the same press release, as to why he’s stepping down and leaving the company:
“I have done my very best making this fabulous game, but I have concluded there are elements which I am dissatisfied with. I have decided to act on this, and as a result I have chosen to leave Funcom. It is time to get new, fresh eyes on Age of Conan, and I wholeheartedly support the appointment of Craig. I have had a fantastic time these last 16 years, and I am very proud of the many things Funcom has achieved. Funcom and Conan will always be a big part of me, but as I now look to new ventures outside the gaming industry I am certain Age of Conan’s future is in the best of hands.”
I wonder if there’s something else behind this as well?
Remember the Games Convention event in Leipzig that we wrote about some two weeks ago? For those of you who couldn’t attend, here’s a video tour of some of the new content in the game, presented by Funcom’s Erling Ellingson. Enjoy!
Funcom’s Q2 financial papers reveals that Age of Conan has got 415,000 subscribers, and have sold over 800,000 copies. Not too shabby. The same papers points to World of Warcraft expansion Wrath of the Lich King, and Warhammer Online, as the major competition. The latter looks really good, by the way.
