've got that end of expansion feeling. You know the one. It feels like the expansion is winding down, people are leaving “until the next one”, things are finishing up. The mood of the game is slow and sleepy. This is especially notable to me, a writer who writes about the game, when there is simply nothing to write about. No guides, no major content, and news? Forget about it. Even though we are only months into this expansion, it feels like things are wrapping up and that end of expansion feeling is in full force.

The Beginning of the End

So when did Warlords start feeling like it had been out for years, rather than just a few short months? I can't pinpoint an exact time, but if I had to make a guess it would be just a month or so after Warlords of Draenor was released. Probably, around the time that most players started finishing up the initial content that was released with the expansion.

While Warlords brought us a gorgeous world to explore. There wasn't much in the way of content and finishing it up took most players little to no time at all. It really was just a bare bones expansion that left players little to do but complete their daily Garrison chores. Add in the fact that one of the major story lines; Garrosh Hellscream, was concluded before the first patch was even released and we were left feeling like this was the end of an expansion rather than the beginning of one.

Winding Down with Patch 6.1

Then Patch 6.1 was announced. This was the chance to remedy it all, pull our attention back into the game. Exciting new content, a continuation of the compelling story line, new raids and dungeons, anything at all to rid the player base of that sleeping end of expansion feeling would have sufficed. Of course, as we know, Patch 6.1 did not deliver.

Probably doomed to go down in history as one of the least exciting patches in World of Warcraft history, Patch 6.l fell painfully short. Instead of heralding in exciting and compelling content, we ended up with S.E.L.F.I.E cams and instant access to Twitter. Not that these things aren't cool little tidbits, but they also aren't huge things that should be the hallmark of an entire patch. Especially the first patch of a new expansion. Players are uninterested and barely logging on or; not logging on at all.

In the Numbers

Don't believe me? If you haven't noticed that end of expansion feeling or noticed that your friends may be feeling it, then you might be a little incredulous at these claims. However, the proof is in the numbers. According to the Weekly Player Activity Graph (presented by Warcraft Realms) the activity level has fallen drastically since the launch of the expansion.

Of course, we can't be Chicken Little and think the sky is falling. Some loss of players is to be expected. A new expansion means lots of hype, the return of old players, and the introduction of plenty of new players. However, the amount of loss is pretty significant and combined with the forum posts, in game messages, and personal experiences with other players leaving I think we can safely say that the declining numbers are not just from those that jumped on the new expansion bandwagon.

Patch 6.2

So what is the answer here? How do we put a stop to this downward spiral that is making Warlords of Dreanor feel like it is at the end of its lifespan rather than at the beginning? Can it be stopped? The saving grace of this expansion will come in the next patches. If they can deliver content that makes the players stand up and take notice, they will return.

We also have to consider the possibility that perhaps this is the end of the expansion. Maybe this holding pattern many of us feel like we are in is on purpose. Blizzard has made a point to note that they want to push out expansions at a faster pace. Also Tom Chilton also made comments saying they were toying with the idea of only a two tier expansion. However, if this is the case, with no new expansion on the horizon tantalizing our interest, it really seems like a bad call on Blizzard's part.

The only thing we know for sure is that end of expansion feeling is real. The player base of World of Warcraft is restless and we are all waiting for the answer. Like Sleeping Beauty after pricking her finger, the players are all slowing falling into a deep slumber. Whether it be a new expansion or a new patch, something needs to happen to rouse us from our long sleep and make us remember that this is the beginning of an expansion and not the end. Hopefully our prince will show up soon.