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Season of Discovery: Cata Vs SoD Numbers Update #10

Introduction

Good morning, evening, or afternoon everyone! Kago here with another video. As always on Fridays, we’re diving into our usual number breakdown, comparing Classic World of Warcraft expansions, particularly focusing on Cataclysm (Cata) and Season of Discovery (SoD).

Highlight: Mage Tier 2

Before we jump into the numbers, I want to take a moment to highlight something cool. Check out how great Mage Tier 2 looks with the Thunder Fury sword! I had an amazing raid last night, and I finally got the Tier 2 chest, which was my last missing piece. The Thunder Fury weapon, despite being B for Mages, can be used by several other classes as well. It's rare to see Mages sporting the complete Tier 2 set in normal classic play, so it’s pretty exciting to almost be fully geared in it including a powerful weapon.

Thank You for Your Support!

I also want to thank all of you for your continuous support. Recently, I checked my channel statistics, and we've hit an impressive 35 years of total watch time—an achievement I previously noted when we passed the 28-year mark, coinciding with my age. I appreciate every single view, so thank you for tuning in!

The Numbers Breakdown

Now, let’s switch focus to the numbers.

Classic to Cataclysm Player Population

Here’s a breakdown of the player population from Classic through Cataclysm. Back in 2019, we saw about 200,000 players raiding in Classic at its lowest. The transition to The Burning Crusade (TBC) saw an increase to a steady 350,000 players. The peak occurred during the last patch of Sunwell, just before Wrath of the Lich King, with nearly 626,000 players—this was Classic's all-time peak for raiders.

As we moved into Cataclysm, it’s essential to point out some notable trends. Although the first week had a low number of raiders, the second week jumped to approximately 317,000 players. However, that number drastically fell to an all-time low of just 10,290 players after about 12 weeks. This rapid decline is concerning compared to previous expansions, which typically retain or grow their player base in their initial phases.

Season of Discovery Performance

Shifting to Season of Discovery (SoD), phase one peaked at nearly 500,000 players. As the expansion progressed to phase two with Neron, that number decreased to 327,000. Continuing this pattern, the introduction of 20-man raids cut player numbers further to around 20,000. Despite some dips, SoD has been relatively stable, peaking again at 88,000 during phase four.

Currently, we see SoD peaking at 86,000, which is good news in the context of other MMOs that often fail to maintain populations below this threshold. The community around SoD remains active, even enjoying the game during peak hours.

Conclusion and Predictions

As we look forward, I’m hopeful that Firelands will provide a much-needed boost for Cataclysm. However, it’s worrying to witness its swift decline. I suspect that next week, we may see Season of Discovery surpass Cataclysm in player numbers for the very first time, which will be a noteworthy milestone.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. Do you think Season of Discovery will maintain its player count? Will Cataclysm recover or further decline?

Thank you for reading! I appreciate your time and hope you’re having a great day!

Keyword

  • Mage Tier 2
  • Thunder Fury
  • Cataclysm
  • Season of Discovery
  • Player Population
  • Classic
  • The Burning Crusade
  • Raiding
  • Player Counts

FAQ

Q: What is the peak player count for Classic World of Warcraft?
A: The peak player count for Classic World of Warcraft reached nearly 626,000 during the last patch of Sunwell.

Q: How has Cataclysm's player base changed since its release?
A: Since its release, Cataclysm's player base has seen a sharp decline, dropping from around 317,000 in its second week to an all-time low of 10,290 players after about 12 weeks.

Q: What is the current player count for Season of Discovery?
A: The current player count for Season of Discovery is stable at around 86,000 players.

Q: Will Firelands have an impact on Cataclysm's player numbers?
A: Many are hopeful that Firelands will provide a boost to Cataclysm's player numbers, especially since the expansion has seen a rapid decline recently.

Q: Can Season of Discovery surpass Cataclysm in player numbers?
A: There is a possibility that Season of Discovery could surpass Cataclysm's player counts in the upcoming weeks, pending the response to the content releases.

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