But the more relevant reason imo probably is: The market/customers have changed. This is no longer the market of the year 2000-2010. Popular "MMO"s today are Overwatch, Pubg, LoL, Fortnite, Destiny, Battlefield etc. . See any pattern ? People want online games which can be played for half an hour or less. Just hopping in and out having some fun with their friends without much thinking/preparing. .
Hmm, you are correct, there is a pattern there. Looks as if evil Nazi scientists managed to "win the war" after all.
I would say the markets didn't change. Early Gen MMORPGs were never really that popular. Taking WoW out of the equation, Successful MMORPGs were measured by populations in the hundreds of thousands, not millions. This has always been the case excepting WoW.
It's just no one wants to develop a game that appeals to a quarter million people.
The low-end engine can run on all machines, allowing Blizzard to reach a wider audience. The game format (weekly raid resets and daily-chores) seems to keep enough players interested in the game to keep it profitable. The story is being advances through expansions at a much lower price than what a new game would cost.
Considering all the above, I think Blizzard would consider a WoW 2.0 if the players knew they wanted something different, if there was another profitable type of MMO that would cater to more players and make them more money. I am not sure there is. At least there is no guarantee, as in make this type of MMO and you make profit; the market seems to be very fickle and MMO-industry in general to be high risk/random reward.
Because they don't want to spend 5 years and a couple hundred million dollars developing a product in a declining genre that would cannibalize their current product which is still very successful.
Bingo.
It would make no financial sense for Blizzard to do this.
As long as WoW expansions are making $$$ - they have zero reason to even think about WoW2
I'm rather startled that they've even considered creating classic game servers.
Because they don't want to spend 5 years and a couple hundred million dollars developing a product in a declining genre that would cannibalize their current product which is still very successful.
Bingo.
It would make no financial sense for Blizzard to do this.
As long as WoW expansions are making $$$ - they have zero reason to even think about WoW2
I'm rather startled that they've even considered creating classic game servers.
I think opening classic servers is their concession to WOW 2.0, at least as far as they are looking right now.
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
Blizzard has a fairly well established business model:
1) Observe new gaming trends 2) Wait for a trend to show it has staying power 3) Copy everyone else, but make it more accessible and polished 4) Dominate and milk
Blizzard aren't very good at taking on established genres of gaming. They are pretty terrible at innovation. They are just good at making games accessible to the masses.
So, why no WoW 2.0? MMORPGs are not new, there are no emerging trends that they can take advantage of. They would have to innovate all by themselves, but they are not capable of doing so. It is far too risky for them. If we want a WoW 2.0, we're going to have to wait for all these indie MMOs to release with their new innovations, then prove themselves to have some appeal. If they can do that, then Blizzard *might* choose to copy their innovations and create a new MMO.
As things currently stand, my expectation would be to see either a survival game from them - something like Conan Exiles - or a fantasy version of Destiny.
Currently Playing: WAR RoR - Spitt rr7X Black Orc | Scrotling rr6X Squig Herder | Scabrous rr4X Shaman
Blizzard has a fairly well established business model:
1) Observe new gaming trends 2) Wait for a trend to show it has staying power 3) Copy everyone else, but make it more accessible and polished 4) Dominate and milk
Then how do you explain Diablo? It is the first ARPG, no?
And for all the other genre .. accessible and polished are great. It shows that implementation is much more important than for the sake of being new.
Blizzard has a fairly well established business model:
1) Observe new gaming trends 2) Wait for a trend to show it has staying power 3) Copy everyone else, but make it more accessible and polished 4) Dominate and milk
Then how do you explain Diablo? It is the first ARPG, no?
And for all the other genre .. accessible and polished are great. It shows that implementation is much more important than for the sake of being new.
Admittedly I wasn't much of a PC gamer in 96, I was only 11! So, I don't know Blizzards history from back then or what other RPGs were around. A quick Google shows me plenty of raw arpgs that predated Diablo though.
Whilst I agree that accessible and polished is great (and is something I expect), it is the timing that Blizzard gets right. They are very good at picking their moments, releasing accessible and polished games at a time when everything else is a bit raw. It allows their games to standout compared to their competitors, despite the lack of innovation.
This is why WoW 2.0 won't happen. There are plenty of polished MMOs already on the market, so Blizzard have nothing to offer us now. Another accessible, polished themepark would only result in mediocre success as we've already had a ton of them. The timing is not right.
Now, if the sandbox / hybrids being developed by indies show themselves to have some staying power, then maybe Blizzard will be the first western dev to release a polished, accessible AAA sandbox MMO. We've never had one before so the first company to get it right could be onto a big winner. But, Blizzard would never take that risk on. I could even imagine how they could fit it into the Warcraft lore - WoW 1 is like your guided history of events that you eventually complete, then WoW 2 releases you into a sandbox to create your own lives in this brave new world you've all just saved.
Currently Playing: WAR RoR - Spitt rr7X Black Orc | Scrotling rr6X Squig Herder | Scabrous rr4X Shaman
Blizzard has a fairly well established business model:
1) Observe new gaming trends 2) Wait for a trend to show it has staying power 3) Copy everyone else, but make it more accessible and polished 4) Dominate and milk
Blizzard aren't very good at taking on established genres of gaming. They are pretty terrible at innovation. They are just good at making games accessible to the masses.
So, why no WoW 2.0? MMORPGs are not new, there are no emerging trends that they can take advantage of. They would have to innovate all by themselves, but they are not capable of doing so. It is far too risky for them. If we want a WoW 2.0, we're going to have to wait for all these indie MMOs to release with their new innovations, then prove themselves to have some appeal. If they can do that, then Blizzard *might* choose to copy their innovations and create a new MMO.
As things currently stand, my expectation would be to see either a survival game from them - something like Conan Exiles - or a fantasy version of Destiny.
I agree, I think the timing is right for Blizzard to create a survival game that is both polished and larger scale, something no one in the subgenre has managed to do yet.
We know they are popular even when a bit raw, imagine the response from the masses if tied to a Blizzard IP and well made.
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
Blizzard are a band-wagon developer not innovators, they observe trends and what hits and make a copy of it. E sport is the new, card games was/is the new, but mmos are in decline at least for the masses and no new trends or successes are showing, to be copied. Also of course why compete with your own product which is still a steady cash cow.
Others have pretty much given you the answer, but I'll give my 2 cents. I have little hope of ever coming back to the MMO genre unless WoW 2 is released or something revolutionary drops.
Ok, so we established there won't be a WoW2 as long as the current version of WoW is still profitable as it would cannibalize the current WoW population and Blizzard would essentially be competing with themselves.
Then why WoW Classic?
WoW classic would also divide the current WoW population between those who like the new version and those who enjoyed the old one more. The only reason I can think of for them to want to host two different versions of WoW is to close the legal loophole private servers hosting old, pre-Cataclysm WoW are using. Shutting down all WoW private servers wherever they may exist has been Blizzard's favorite crusade ever since the first p-servers started popping up. Blizz having an official server for old WoW makes it so private servers can't get away with saying they are running a game that isn't officially hosted anymore.
...or it could be like CocaCola coming out with New Coke and then bringing back Coke Classic after everyone hated the new stuff and then making millions from it? No. because unlike the failure that was New Coke, New WoW is still one of the most profitable MMOs. They wouldn't try to fix something that isn't broken.
with brand new graphics............ or Diablo MMORPG.....
shits boring as fuck......
Milions of players disagree with ya.
I don't. I'd really enjoy a Diablo MMORPG. I can't stand Blizzard, but I would cave in and purchase a Diablo MMO for sure.
I don't think I would play a DIablo MMO. Even the single player game is quite repetitive. My favorite is actually the first game. They got away from the dark theme and chaotic nature of the first and second game in the third to hit mass market appeal. It is more cartoony and less scary. The story suffers from this as well IMO. If it was a Diablo MMO similar to the first and second games I might try it, but I don't think that would ever happen. The game would be aimed towards the largest common denominator. It would probably be exactly like DIablo 3 so I doubt there is much of a point. The only draw might be if they used a third and first-person view instead of an overhead view.
Ok, so we established there won't be a WoW2 as long as the current version of WoW is still profitable as it would cannibalize the current WoW population and Blizzard would essentially be competing with themselves.
Then why WoW Classic?
WoW classic would also divide the current WoW population between those who like the new version and those who enjoyed the old one more. The only reason I can think of for them to want to host two different versions of WoW is to close the legal loophole private servers hosting old, pre-Cataclysm WoW are using. Shutting down all WoW private servers wherever they may exist has been Blizzard's favorite crusade ever since the first p-servers started popping up. Blizz having an official server for old WoW makes it so private servers can't get away with saying they are running a game that isn't officially hosted anymore.
...or it could be like CocaCola coming out with New Coke and then bringing back Coke Classic after everyone hated the new stuff and then making millions from it? No. because unlike the failure that was New Coke, New WoW is still one of the most profitable MMOs. They wouldn't try to fix something that isn't broken.
Perhaps it's to draw in those more hardcore people who play a lot and quit due to not liking the modern conveniences of the game. They can appease both more hardcore and casual audiences at the same time.
Just to add one part that I think hasn't been brought up, I think WoW2 could happen if another company actually came out with an MMORPG that went huge. Then the team at Blizzard could actually pitch a new game and have their investors get behind the idea. But then I think WoW2 would fail. Because for a new MMORPG to be huge, it would actually have to be super well done, deep, have lots of facets, and be polished shinier than a supernova. With Blizzard only being able to polish well, they wouldn't be able to make a better game, and with their recent track record, they probably wouldn't be able to improve on anything, just equal it in some areas at best. Add to that they wouldn't be releasing their game at the same time, the game would have to be out and successful, which leaves them behind trying to play catchup.
On another note on "the way it is". With games like Overwatch, Destiny 2, etc being successful currently. Some stated in this thread those types of games are more popular now that MMORPGs are. I disagree. I think right now those games are fun, don't require any real commitment, and are only being played because of the lack of good MMORPGs out. I know I wouldn't have bought Destiny 2, Fortnight, or Conan Exiles if there was a good MMORPG I wanted to play.
Just to add one part that I think hasn't been brought up, I think WoW2 could happen if another company actually came out with an MMORPG that went huge. Then the team at Blizzard could actually pitch a new game and have their investors get behind the idea. But then I think WoW2 would fail. Because for a new MMORPG to be huge, it would actually have to be super well done, deep, have lots of facets, and be polished shinier than a supernova. With Blizzard only being able to polish well, they wouldn't be able to make a better game, and with their recent track record, they probably wouldn't be able to improve on anything, just equal it in some areas at best. Add to that they wouldn't be releasing their game at the same time, the game would have to be out and successful, which leaves them behind trying to play catchup.
On another note on "the way it is". With games like Overwatch, Destiny 2, etc being successful currently. Some stated in this thread those types of games are more popular now that MMORPGs are. I disagree. I think right now those games are fun, don't require any real commitment, and are only being played because of the lack of good MMORPGs out. I know I wouldn't have bought Destiny 2, Fortnight, or Conan Exiles if there was a good MMORPG I wanted to play.
Blizzard is a large company
1) WoW 2 could already be in development. 2) WoW 2 could already have a full flushed out idea on paper ready to execute.
Just to add one part that I think hasn't been brought up, I think WoW2 could happen if another company actually came out with an MMORPG that went huge. Then the team at Blizzard could actually pitch a new game and have their investors get behind the idea. But then I think WoW2 would fail. Because for a new MMORPG to be huge, it would actually have to be super well done, deep, have lots of facets, and be polished shinier than a supernova. With Blizzard only being able to polish well, they wouldn't be able to make a better game, and with their recent track record, they probably wouldn't be able to improve on anything, just equal it in some areas at best. Add to that they wouldn't be releasing their game at the same time, the game would have to be out and successful, which leaves them behind trying to play catchup.
On another note on "the way it is". With games like Overwatch, Destiny 2, etc being successful currently. Some stated in this thread those types of games are more popular now that MMORPGs are. I disagree. I think right now those games are fun, don't require any real commitment, and are only being played because of the lack of good MMORPGs out. I know I wouldn't have bought Destiny 2, Fortnight, or Conan Exiles if there was a good MMORPG I wanted to play.
Blizzard is a large company
1) WoW 2 could already be in development. 2) WoW 2 could already have a full flushed out idea on paper ready to execute.
True, it could have been both those, it could also have been 'titan'd' and scrapped because they didn't like it, and that might be why they are bringing out a version of the Vanilla WoW rather than something new, after all WoW still is the biggest MMO out there so they aren't going to throw that away just yet.
Because they don't want to spend 5 years and a couple hundred million dollars developing a product in a declining genre that would cannibalize their current product which is still very successful.
Bingo.
It would make no financial sense for Blizzard to do this.
As long as WoW expansions are making $$$ - they have zero reason to even think about WoW2
Yep but still in the future World OF Warcraft could lose quite a bit of it's player base to another MMORPG like Ashes or another U.S Company that makes a decent MMORPG worth playing with better graphics?
1. The minimum requirements of WoW allow for many more players
2. The average PC is not that much stronger than the last few years
For me personally I would try WoW 2.0 but then there is the grind to have access to content. I am so past the grind and not going to enjoy that.
So if I can pvp and only play the main story arc then I would enjoy the game. Unfortunately to do that I would have to lose on PvP tokens I believe since they probably dont stack till end game.
Also I think the kind of pvp is also limited, so duels are for certain brackets as well.
Write bad things that are done to you in sand, but write the good things that happen to you on a piece of marble
Just to add one part that I think hasn't been brought up, I think WoW2 could happen if another company actually came out with an MMORPG that went huge. Then the team at Blizzard could actually pitch a new game and have their investors get behind the idea. But then I think WoW2 would fail. Because for a new MMORPG to be huge, it would actually have to be super well done, deep, have lots of facets, and be polished shinier than a supernova. With Blizzard only being able to polish well, they wouldn't be able to make a better game, and with their recent track record, they probably wouldn't be able to improve on anything, just equal it in some areas at best. Add to that they wouldn't be releasing their game at the same time, the game would have to be out and successful, which leaves them behind trying to play catchup.
On another note on "the way it is". With games like Overwatch, Destiny 2, etc being successful currently. Some stated in this thread those types of games are more popular now that MMORPGs are. I disagree. I think right now those games are fun, don't require any real commitment, and are only being played because of the lack of good MMORPGs out. I know I wouldn't have bought Destiny 2, Fortnight, or Conan Exiles if there was a good MMORPG I wanted to play.
Blizzard is a large company
1) WoW 2 could already be in development. 2) WoW 2 could already have a full flushed out idea on paper ready to execute.
True, it could have been both those, it could also have been 'titan'd' and scrapped because they didn't like it, and that might be why they are bringing out a version of the Vanilla WoW rather than something new, after all WoW still is the biggest MMO out there so they aren't going to throw that away just yet.
People tend to associate success with actual insight and even genius, when in actuality a lot of it comes down to luck. Blizzard isn't a group of geniuses. They are a very good group of developers, agreed. But Overwatch was probably one of the luckiest things to happen in the game industry in recent history, the last one was WoW, so someone at Blizzard has a horseshoe up their . . . back to the point . . . I'm sure the guy who pushed Overwatch as an idea to recoup some of the costs lost in Titan is walking tall now. Because I'm sure it would have been an uphill battle to get that signed off by the company. If they were such a genius company, the would have realized that the game they invented, the MOBA, was worth running with and even now wouldn't only be one of the runner-ups in the genre.
As a WoW player since launch (I literally grew up playing this game) I can say that now, at this point I am very ready for a World of Warcraft II as long as long-time players are honored in the sequel similarly to how ArenaNet did with theirs, leading into GW2 so that the many years of time and effort put into the first game is rewarded with titles and cosmetics, which also gives incentive for new people to play WoW to try and get some of them even after the sequel is released.
I would absolutely love a Diablo MMO, as long as it is done properly. By properly I mean I don't think it being an ARPG like all 3 previous Diablo's have been will necessarily work well, Path of Exile exists already and most other ARPG MMO's aren't very good.
But back on track, I generally look forward to WoW expansions, but it's obvious that in many ways they have reached a bunch of limitations on pushing forward with innovative ideas. The combat is painfully dated, and while they do keep upgrading the graphics, it only goes so far. I've been relatively against them going the route of a sequel until relatively recently, it just seems like the logical next step now.
As for how likely it is that they will do it? Probably not all that likely in the near future, it would not surprise me if they were conceptualizing it, but nothing they will come close to announcing for the next few years, yet. Right now MMO's are in a transitional phase, hybrid-MMO's such as Destiny 2, Anthem, and probably similar games are out/coming out/probably going to be announced soon and I don't see a WoW2 going that route at all. After this phase, I think the hunger for the next generation of full blown MMORPG's will be present enough in the gaming community that it would be an opportune time to introduce the sequel. World of Warcraft had the benefit of perfect timing, which really kicked it off and Blizzard was able to quickly build on that and keep pushing it forward. They're going to need perfect timing, and an absolutely massive plan to try and replicate anything of what they did with the first game. All that being said, I am really looking forward to a sequel one day, and I think it's almost inevitable.
Note: I disagree that MMO's are in a decline, a transition and on the current outer rim of the cycle the gaming industry runs in, yes, but there will be a time where they come back full force again, and on and on the cycle will go.
Note: I disagree that MMO's are in a decline, a transition and on the current outer rim of the cycle the gaming industry runs in, yes, but there will be a time where they come back full force again, and on and on the cycle will go.
They are in decline (in the west) at the moment but that doesn't mean at all that they aren't coming back. Just look on the budget of western MMOs today and compare it with 5 or 10 years ago, the ones in the making now have 20% of the budget of MMOs in that making 2010, if even that much. That is decline in my book.
There is several ways you can count MMOs generation. You could count trinity combat as one generation and action combat as another. You could count the games were almost all game are about leveling up and games were most players hit the endgame in a couple of weeks. Or something else but it is clearer and clearer that the publishers and financers don't believe in the current generation anymore no matter how you define it.
The kickstarter games are trying to figure out how the next generation should be and it is possible one of them gets it rigght or that one of the countries still making AAA MMOs like Japan and South Korea figures it out.
I don't think MMOs are going away and once someone figures out a good system for the next generation they will come back with a vengeance but until that happens I don't think we will see Wow 2 unless Blizz plan to cash in on nostalgia which isn't likely.
A Wow 2 that is just like current Wow but with fewer levels and better graphics would fail and Blizz know it.
Players have largely moved on from the MMO genre. The payment model has evolved. Too much has changed in the last, what 14 years?
I would imagine they would do a Warcraft 4 before another World of Warcraft. And I could imagine it being in the style of PUBG rather than another RTS, since that's the new FOTM and that's what Blizzard does. Takes FOTM, distills it and refines it, and is very successful at it.
They haven't invented or been a market leader in a new genre since ... Diablo in 1996, well over 20 years ago and pre-Activision days.
Comments
It's just no one wants to develop a game that appeals to a quarter million people.
The game format (weekly raid resets and daily-chores) seems to keep enough players interested in the game to keep it profitable.
The story is being advances through expansions at a much lower price than what a new game would cost.
Considering all the above, I think Blizzard would consider a WoW 2.0 if the players knew they wanted something different, if there was another profitable type of MMO that would cater to more players and make them more money. I am not sure there is. At least there is no guarantee, as in make this type of MMO and you make profit; the market seems to be very fickle and MMO-industry in general to be high risk/random reward.
Why bother? The current Diablo is close enough.
"True friends stab you in the front." | Oscar Wilde
"I need to finish" - Christian Wolff: The Accountant
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
Plus, it is a low cost, almost no downside move.
1) Observe new gaming trends
2) Wait for a trend to show it has staying power
3) Copy everyone else, but make it more accessible and polished
4) Dominate and milk
Blizzard aren't very good at taking on established genres of gaming. They are pretty terrible at innovation. They are just good at making games accessible to the masses.
So, why no WoW 2.0? MMORPGs are not new, there are no emerging trends that they can take advantage of. They would have to innovate all by themselves, but they are not capable of doing so. It is far too risky for them. If we want a WoW 2.0, we're going to have to wait for all these indie MMOs to release with their new innovations, then prove themselves to have some appeal. If they can do that, then Blizzard *might* choose to copy their innovations and create a new MMO.
As things currently stand, my expectation would be to see either a survival game from them - something like Conan Exiles - or a fantasy version of Destiny.
And for all the other genre .. accessible and polished are great. It shows that implementation is much more important than for the sake of being new.
Whilst I agree that accessible and polished is great (and is something I expect), it is the timing that Blizzard gets right. They are very good at picking their moments, releasing accessible and polished games at a time when everything else is a bit raw. It allows their games to standout compared to their competitors, despite the lack of innovation.
This is why WoW 2.0 won't happen. There are plenty of polished MMOs already on the market, so Blizzard have nothing to offer us now. Another accessible, polished themepark would only result in mediocre success as we've already had a ton of them. The timing is not right.
Now, if the sandbox / hybrids being developed by indies show themselves to have some staying power, then maybe Blizzard will be the first western dev to release a polished, accessible AAA sandbox MMO. We've never had one before so the first company to get it right could be onto a big winner. But, Blizzard would never take that risk on. I could even imagine how they could fit it into the Warcraft lore - WoW 1 is like your guided history of events that you eventually complete, then WoW 2 releases you into a sandbox to create your own lives in this brave new world you've all just saved.
We know they are popular even when a bit raw, imagine the response from the masses if tied to a Blizzard IP and well made.
"True friends stab you in the front." | Oscar Wilde
"I need to finish" - Christian Wolff: The Accountant
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
"I am my connectome" https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HA7GwKXfJB0
Remember that it is not even in top 5 PC games by online revenue in 2017 anymore (January - October period):
Ok, so we established there won't be a WoW2 as long as the current version of WoW is still profitable as it would cannibalize the current WoW population and Blizzard would essentially be competing with themselves.
Then why WoW Classic?
WoW classic would also divide the current WoW population between those who like the new version and those who enjoyed the old one more. The only reason I can think of for them to want to host two different versions of WoW is to close the legal loophole private servers hosting old, pre-Cataclysm WoW are using. Shutting down all WoW private servers wherever they may exist has been Blizzard's favorite crusade ever since the first p-servers started popping up. Blizz having an official server for old WoW makes it so private servers can't get away with saying they are running a game that isn't officially hosted anymore.
...or it could be like CocaCola coming out with New Coke and then bringing back Coke Classic after everyone hated the new stuff and then making millions from it? No. because unlike the failure that was New Coke, New WoW is still one of the most profitable MMOs. They wouldn't try to fix something that isn't broken.
Then the team at Blizzard could actually pitch a new game and have their investors get behind the idea.
But then I think WoW2 would fail. Because for a new MMORPG to be huge, it would actually have to be super well done, deep, have lots of facets, and be polished shinier than a supernova. With Blizzard only being able to polish well, they wouldn't be able to make a better game, and with their recent track record, they probably wouldn't be able to improve on anything, just equal it in some areas at best.
Add to that they wouldn't be releasing their game at the same time, the game would have to be out and successful, which leaves them behind trying to play catchup.
On another note on "the way it is". With games like Overwatch, Destiny 2, etc being successful currently. Some stated in this thread those types of games are more popular now that MMORPGs are. I disagree. I think right now those games are fun, don't require any real commitment, and are only being played because of the lack of good MMORPGs out. I know I wouldn't have bought Destiny 2, Fortnight, or Conan Exiles if there was a good MMORPG I wanted to play.
Blizzard is a large company
1) WoW 2 could already be in development.
2) WoW 2 could already have a full flushed out idea on paper ready to execute.
2. The average PC is not that much stronger than the last few years
For me personally I would try WoW 2.0 but then there is the grind to have access to content. I am so past the grind and not going to enjoy that.
So if I can pvp and only play the main story arc then I would enjoy the game. Unfortunately to do that I would have to lose on PvP tokens I believe since they probably dont stack till end game.
Also I think the kind of pvp is also limited, so duels are for certain brackets as well.
Write bad things that are done to you in sand, but write the good things that happen to you on a piece of marble
If they were such a genius company, the would have realized that the game they invented, the MOBA, was worth running with and even now wouldn't only be one of the runner-ups in the genre.
I would absolutely love a Diablo MMO, as long as it is done properly. By properly I mean I don't think it being an ARPG like all 3 previous Diablo's have been will necessarily work well, Path of Exile exists already and most other ARPG MMO's aren't very good.
But back on track, I generally look forward to WoW expansions, but it's obvious that in many ways they have reached a bunch of limitations on pushing forward with innovative ideas. The combat is painfully dated, and while they do keep upgrading the graphics, it only goes so far. I've been relatively against them going the route of a sequel until relatively recently, it just seems like the logical next step now.
As for how likely it is that they will do it? Probably not all that likely in the near future, it would not surprise me if they were conceptualizing it, but nothing they will come close to announcing for the next few years, yet. Right now MMO's are in a transitional phase, hybrid-MMO's such as Destiny 2, Anthem, and probably similar games are out/coming out/probably going to be announced soon and I don't see a WoW2 going that route at all. After this phase, I think the hunger for the next generation of full blown MMORPG's will be present enough in the gaming community that it would be an opportune time to introduce the sequel. World of Warcraft had the benefit of perfect timing, which really kicked it off and Blizzard was able to quickly build on that and keep pushing it forward. They're going to need perfect timing, and an absolutely massive plan to try and replicate anything of what they did with the first game. All that being said, I am really looking forward to a sequel one day, and I think it's almost inevitable.
Note: I disagree that MMO's are in a decline, a transition and on the current outer rim of the cycle the gaming industry runs in, yes, but there will be a time where they come back full force again, and on and on the cycle will go.
There is several ways you can count MMOs generation. You could count trinity combat as one generation and action combat as another. You could count the games were almost all game are about leveling up and games were most players hit the endgame in a couple of weeks. Or something else but it is clearer and clearer that the publishers and financers don't believe in the current generation anymore no matter how you define it.
The kickstarter games are trying to figure out how the next generation should be and it is possible one of them gets it rigght or that one of the countries still making AAA MMOs like Japan and South Korea figures it out.
I don't think MMOs are going away and once someone figures out a good system for the next generation they will come back with a vengeance but until that happens I don't think we will see Wow 2 unless Blizz plan to cash in on nostalgia which isn't likely.
A Wow 2 that is just like current Wow but with fewer levels and better graphics would fail and Blizz know it.
Players have largely moved on from the MMO genre. The payment model has evolved. Too much has changed in the last, what 14 years?
I would imagine they would do a Warcraft 4 before another World of Warcraft. And I could imagine it being in the style of PUBG rather than another RTS, since that's the new FOTM and that's what Blizzard does. Takes FOTM, distills it and refines it, and is very successful at it.
They haven't invented or been a market leader in a new genre since ... Diablo in 1996, well over 20 years ago and pre-Activision days.