More than half of Conan servers closing

By Oli Welsh Published 12 January, 2009

Funcom merges 49 realms into 18.

Funcom has published the list of planned server mergers for its fantasy MMO Age of Conan, revealing that it will be cutting the total number of servers from 49 to just 18.

The reduction is more dramatic in North America and the Oceanic regions, where 24 servers are being merged into just six. In the US, only one player-versus-player server and two player-versus-environment servers will remain, with each combining the populations of six or seven existing servers.

In Europe, 12 servers will remain, due to the need to provide a variety of server types in each of four languages. English-language European servers are being cut from 13 to four.

Following the successful test merger of two Oceanic servers last week, Funcom expects to do the rest in two job lots - US and European - this week.

With servers in every regional sub-set reduced to the bare minimum of one of each type, the merge list is the clearest indication yet from Funcom of the extent to which Age of Conan's player-base has dwindled since launch.

However, the mergers will certainly provide a better experience for remaining players, with busier and more dynamic surroundings, more combat and healthier economies on the remaining realms.

Funcom will continue to flesh out the game's high-level content this year, and is also forging ahead with the first expansion pack. Although player numbers have fallen, Age of Conan remains Funcom's only way to make money until it releases its next MMO The Secret World - likely to be next year at the earliest - so it's unlikely to go the way of Hellgate and Tabula Rasa just yet.

You'll find more of the Age of Conan gamepage.

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About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (16) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Eraysor #1 3 years ago

    I just hope they don't shut it down, I want to see The Secret World someday.

  • Olemak #2 3 years ago

    Ditto. Secret World looks very promising.

    Thereæs the promised 360 version of AoC tho; reportedly they're still working on that. Could bring in some revenue.

    I seriously hope Funcom will make it, but things are looking rather grim...

  • Pirotic #3 3 years ago

    love the side-bar advert, they still have collectors editions available and they are 70% off? says more about the game than the news article really.

  • dudefella #4 3 years ago

    Dire straits for Age of Conan, no matter what Funcom will have you believe. It might not go the way of Tabula Rasa yet, but it's probably just a matter of time. I hated the game, it was unpolished and had a terrible interface. But it's still sad to see this happen.

    Also having a good laugh at the notion of a 360 version... come on, guys, face it.

  • hula hoops #5 3 years ago

    After several faled attempts into the MMO market, people still 'look forward' to Funcom's next MMO game?

    Man ... some people never learn.
    Edited by 1 at 12/01/09 @ 09:46

  • strelok #6 3 years ago

    After several faled attempts into the MMO market, people still 'look forward' to Funcom's next MMO game?

    Man ... some people never learn.

    Ragnar for president!

  • levitate #7 3 years ago

    AoC their only source of income? What about Anarchy Online?

  • paulf #8 3 years ago

    where's gaol?

  • actionfitz #9 3 years ago

    never has blizzards release philosophy: "when its ready" rang so true.
    maybe the other ass-hat studios that think they can treat customers/players the way FC did with the launch of AoC could learn something from that.
    Or perhaps they just need to reign in their expectations. shocking how much goodwill was squandered.
    I just hope Mythic are paying attention, hope they can keep WAR going strong. Would hate to see a similar article in a few months time about Warhammer.

  • Benno #10 3 years ago

    To be honest, I heard from a few sources that the game isn't half bad now. I guess this merger will only help things

  • FortysixterUK #11 3 years ago

    Maybe they should consider dropping the subs rate ? Currently its £10.34 per month ( as is WAR ) , drop it to a user friendly £4.99 per month and advertise that fact, plus if they say they are working on new content, publish that fact and then actually do it.

    IMO the only MMO that can afford to charge its "expensive" subs price is WOW.

  • Kremlik Verified Co-Founder, Crash To Desktop #12 3 years ago

    @Forty: Did you convert from Euros to pounds there? :) WAR is £8.99 (well now less thanks to the vat change) for UK subbers, Mythic pulled a few strings WAY before it's release to do that, but like AoC it's needing the same thing servers closing and consolidating the playerbase, unlike this I hope it doesnt take nearly a year to do..

  • 1simen1 #13 3 years ago

    AOC is actually doing ok right now.

    It might even have started to bounce back. The number of xfire users are apprantly up by 20% since the all time low:

    [link url= http://forums.ageofconan.com/showthread.php?t=179687
    ]http://fo rums.ageofconan.com/showthread....[/link]

    The mergers are a good thing making populations more dence again. From what i read they will also add one new server per ruleset to allow players that are dissatisfied to find a new home if the mergers are not to their likeing.

    Next update ( late january i think) will bring 2 more highlevel playfields, most likely DX10 will arrive at the same time.

    So it's not exactely all doom and gloom....

  • TheBoyChris #14 3 years ago

    Makes sense to get the servers feeling more populated - I'd say it was a good move.

  • iokthemonkey #15 3 years ago

    Much as I would never gloat over their suffering, Funcom brought it on themselves through their shitty business practices, deception of their audience and attitude toward the people they robbed by releasing a game they KNEW lacked features they claimed were present right up until launch.

    Karma's a bitch.

    So fuck 'em.

  • 1simen1 #16 3 years ago

    Lol, and a marry new year to you to Monkeyboy ;-)

    The hate is strong in this one......