Blizzard's transformation is still not as smooth as expected, and the player's complaints about Diablo 3 are overwhelming.

the has dominated the world's half game, and Blizzard has recently plunged into crisis. Rumours of a 61% per cent stake in Vivendi's intention to sell have been intensifying for months. Tencent, Microsoft, Time Warner,KKR, Providence, Black stone ... The list of prospective buyers is still growing.

Starting in 2007, Vivendi and Blizzard two companies became the parent company of the combined dynamic Blizzard, holding a 61% stake in the merger. But this year, Vivendi's share price hit a 9-year low, prompting investor discontent, and Vivendi CEO Bernard Levy was also ready to leave. It is rumoured that, as the largest liquidity asset, the blizzard will be Vivendi sold, the latter has begun to test the potential buyers intention.

Tencent was seen as a strong bidder for its domestic proxy in "Call Ol", and then Microsoft, Time Warner and blizzard rivals KKR, Providenc and Blackstone were listed. But the truly powerful and widely bullish buy-out parties have not yet emerged, as bidders need to consider whether Blizzard's game development cycle and huge investment can be connected to its own business in the short term.

This makes the movement to see the situation of blizzard is quite embarrassing, the former game Empire founder, also has inevitably embarked on the downhill.

"Warcraft" is difficult to hide the "Panda Man Mystery" into a lifeline

Why? This problem to the player, the muzzle is pointing to the "World of Warcraft" (hereinafter referred to as "Warcraft"). The game, which has brought blizzard and the view of Blizzard's endless splendor and wealth, has been hard to hide in recent years.

Until July 2010, before the launch of StarCraft, "Warcraft" was still contributing most of the revenue to Blizzard for the first 2009 years, bringing in 1.2 billion dollars in sales. But the situation began to change in 2011. In the fourth quarter of 2011, "Warcraft" lost 100,000 players, the total number of players dropped to 10.2 million, plus the first few quarters of the decline, the game last year the total loss of 1.8 million players.

The Chinese market is no exception. In February this year, Ding Lei, for the first time in earnings meeting, admitted that "Warcraft" in China's sales performance fell. "Warcraft" server is also reduced to "ghost clothing", since May this year, NetEase has announced the National Service two times server consolidation plan, total shutdown of 12 groups of servers. Even the individual server before the integration of online players only for Single-digit, many old players in the state has become AFK.

In order to save the situation, NetEase is actively preparing the "World of Warcraft: Panda Mystery" of the domestic listing matters, the latest information film has been launched in early June and sent to the Department for approval, is expected to be the fastest three quarter of the end of the official online operation. "Panda mystery" is undoubtedly netease to be expected, or even on the operation of NetEase "Warcraft" "Lifeline", because for many already AFK loyal players, the new content is likely to attract them to return.

"Brotherhood" "Diablo 3" streaming Warcraft players

The straw has not come, but also born dangerous "Diablo 3" the appearance has aggravated "the Warcraft" the faded. Because of their similar types, the Diablo 3 social elements and other more versatile join, many players began to give Up "Warcraft" to "Diablo 3." According to data from Xfire this May, "Warcraft" has the most serious decline in the number of players since the launch of Diablo 3. In Xfire, "Warcraft" was only the number of players "Diablo 3" before the launch of the 1/4, ranked 5th.

In the face of this problem, Blizzard uses "from the left hand to the right hand theory" to argue. "It's very important for Blizzard to realize that at some point in the future, a game is going to take away a lot of Warcraft players," said Frank Pearce, vice president of the company, Frank Piers. So, would rather be our own game to steal a lot of Warcraft players, but not other online games. Even though most players have gone to Diablo 3, they are still blizzard players. ”

A person familiar with the matter said that as the number of Warcraft online began to slide before the launch of Diablo 3, Blizzard might not continue to develop. In addition to a few years ago, blizzard in the development of a new large-scale multiplayer online game "Titan" Wind, now may have entered the beta. "In the long run, the Decline of Warcraft is a predictable and prepared event for blizzard." The discussion of the "Diablo 3" diversion to the player may no longer be meaningful. ”

Interestingly, the original "Warcraft" also has a large number of players from "Diablo 2." "I was streaming from Diablo 2 to Warcraft, and now it's time to return it," he said. One player said.

Is blizzard sold out or is the best way out?

From the left hand to the right hand, unfortunately, Blizzard's transformation is still not as smooth as expected. From the initial server crash to the repair overhaul time is too frequent, players on the "Diablo 3" is overwhelming. Under pressure, Blizzard community manager Bashiok publicly admitted in the Diablo 3 official forum that the "after-game duration" of the ARPG series, which has been waiting for a long time, is not that satisfying, and despite the progress of the game, it has failed to increase the gameplay.

Blizzard may have been prepared for the Decline of Warcraft, but it is undeniable that it directly or indirectly affects the company's future. "Warcraft" led by the entire game product line is difficult to avoid the development cycle is too long, the problem of model aging, in the fierce competition, this recession is also directly reflected in the Victoria Di's share price.

Analysts say reluctantly is one of the quickest ways to lift debt worries. But for now or longer, it remains to be seen whether Blizzard can get out of the downturn.