Cataclysm, extending the network game from Blizzard Entertainment, has sold 3.3 million units during its first day of sale. Vivendi's game wins the prize for most PCs bought in the world.

It's like Christmas for the publisher of the first network game in the world, Blizzard Entertainment, a subsidiary of Vivendi. Cataclysm, the third expansion of the role play World of Warcraft (WoW), offered since December 7 in Europe and the United States, is "the PC game the fastest-selling of all time," says the company. It sold 3.3 million units in twenty-four hours. Cataclysm broke the previous record held by the earlier version: 2.8 million copies for Wrath of the Lich King (Wrath of the Lich King) sold in November 2008. The first recipes Cataclysm can be evaluated around 120 million euros. In one day, Blizzard has certainly dampened its development costs, the publisher and its parent are not communicating. Design costs can be estimated around 30 million, reflecting a team of 140 people who worked for a little over two years designing the latest installment of WoW. For a game of this size, whose budget rivals that of a film, the marketing investments weigh as much as design. In one day, Blizzard would have doubled the ante. The project is long term.

About one in four active player in the virtual world, with over 12 million subscribers, rushed to acquire the third expansion of the game's interest for the editor is to renew the appeal to aficionados are willing to pay 5 to 20 euros per month, depending on the country to venture into the dream world of WoW, where the dragon kite Death prowls again.

Loyal fans

Mechanics lies not so much in selling a game box in the subscription and credit cards which give hours of play So many recurring revenue for the publisher. Following this principle, Bobby Kotick, Activision Blizzard's boss this summer, remained calm despite the increase of 0.5 million subscribers in a year and a half. What counts above all is to "retain" its population of amateurs.

To get the latest version, 10,000 stores open worldwide until midnight the day before the commercial launch. About 15,000 players have attended the events organized for the occasion, including a costume contest character of the game "It was a huge success, thanks to the excellent collaboration between our teams and those of Blizzard," said Fabien Sfez, Director Fnac, who opened his store on Dec. 6, on the Champs-Elysees.

Such success will be studied closely by the Japanese Square Enix, who missed the launch of its network version of Final Fantasy. The problems are so numerous that the Japanese publisher will extend the period for free without subscription, delaying the release of its version for consoles and renewed team. "We want to show you our most sincere apologies," wrote Yoichi Wada, president and CEO of Square Enix, players unhappy.