World of Warcraft is a landmark game and has been a sensation in its first year of release. As it proceeds through its second year, it is likely to continue its success and see its fan base become even greater. The game world of Azeroth is also set to grow, as a new game expansion is coming to enhance the World of Warcraft experience.World of Warcraft should see its subscriber base grow even further. It is impossible to predict the future, but it is plausible that it could reach a figure of 6 to 7 million subscribers in the course of the new year. It is important to consider that a number of countries received the game later than America, so there is much potential for growth, as in global terms it is a relatively new game. It was only in November 2005 that it launched in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, so to those markets it is still a fresh title.

World of Warcraft's challenge in 2006 will involve maintaining its success. When the game first came out, it wasn't clear how it would perform. Blizzard Entertainment were confident in the game and had great hopes for it, but the gaming world was uncertain, wondering how well the traditional Warcraft elements would fit with an interactive online world. It actually worked brilliantly, and so the game took off. Now the question is whether this is sustainable. It is extremely likely. By this point, it is clear that World of Warcraft is not simply a passing craze but rather a title with serious, long-lasting appeal. The game saw huge international growth in 2005 and in the early weeks of 2006 has already reached 5.5 million subscribers worldwide. The game has built up major momentum and it does not feel like it has peaked. Its sales are in great health, and more and more people are becoming interested in it.