World of Warcraft gets early increase in subscribers in lead up to Warlords of Draenor expansion

Publisher Blizzard Entertainment canceled its next massively multiplayer online game earlier this year, and the company says it might not make another one. And World of Warcraft’s recent performance is making that look like a smart move.

Blizzard’s fantasy MMO saw a huge jump in its subscriber number over the last six months. The game now boasts 7.4 million paying members. That is 600,000 more people actively spending $15 a month to play World of Warcraft than last quarter’s 6.8 million subscribers. Fans of World of Warcraft are likely returning to game in anticipation of the Warlords of Draenor expansion that is due out in Nov. 13.