An analyst for brokerage firm Sterne Agee has predicted that the new Electronic Arts Massive Multiplayer Online RPG (MMORPG), Warhammer: Age of Reckoning, will achieve a subscription base of approximately 250,000 to 300,000. The estimate is based on the publisher's intent to "break even" on the new title. The figure, while not as high as the current subscriber base for World of Warcraft, could still be greater than the subscriber base for Everquest during the peak of that game's popularity.

EA is expected to make between 55-60 million off of sales and subscription for the online RPG, which costs $14.99 US per month. A single month of free play is offered with the game's purchase, but subsequent months of online play must be paid for. As of now, the subscriber base is well beyond the projections listed; however, this is expected to change after the first month of free play is over. EA does expect that subscriptions will increase overall once new updates and patches are made available.

Warhammer: Age of Reckoning was released on September 18, 2008 for $49.99 US.

• Edge Magazine