SWTOR is proof subscription MMOs have peaked, says Pachter

Analyst Michael Pachter believes subscription MMOs have peaked, stating that if BioWare couldn't make a success out it with Star Wars: The Old Republic, "then no one can."

"I thought SWTOR would make it big, but it didn't," he said. "It looks like subscription MMOs are as big as they're going to get - there are only 6-7 million people willing to spend $15 a month.

"If Star Wars couldn’t do it, made by Bioware, then no one can do it."

Pachter said during a lunch with John Riccitiello, he told the EA CEO the reason no one was buying stock in the firm was do to being in the "fifth year of a three year turn around."

Riccitiello reportedly told the analyst: "I thought new consoles would be out around 2010-2011," but Pachter said the reason publishers like EA and Activision are unwilling to take risks on new IP is due to the "over-stretched console cycle."

Thanks, PCGamesN.