According to an analysts report, World of Warcraft's revenues have dropped 54 per cent over the last seven months.
SuperDataResearch estimates that Blizzard's MMO made $93 million in April, down from $204 million in September 2012. That said, the analysts put a positive spin on WoW's recent shift towards micro-transactions.
"Despite major declines in total revenues between September 2012 and April 2013, the game has seen an increasing conversion rate for the its current, add-on, extra-game store, and its microtransaction revenues have held pat overall," they explained in their report.
"What it tells us is that dedicated WoW players are interested in - and will spend money on - microtransactions. By bringing this system into the game, and allowing for powerups and performance-based microtransactions, WoW hopes to further entice players to spend."
The analysts also suggest that a complete switch to free-to-play wouldn't be a remedy for WoW's dwindling player base and revenues. According to their estimations the MMO "would have had to convert 53% of the total free-to-play audience in the US at the time" to have the kind of financial success that the game enjoyed back in 2011. No matter what they do now, it seems, the glory days are long gone.