This interesting article accurately describes how MMORPG studios are increasingly turning their IPs into franchises and relaunching, developing, and managing more and more versions. With six versions, ArcheAge is one of the franchises with the most versions, but other IPs are also increasingly focusing on offering modified versions of their IPs for specific target audiences, rather than a single, large version for everyone.

Some well-known examples:

**1. World of Warcraft:** Retail, Classic Era, Anniversary, Hardcore, Season of Discovery, Classic Mists of Pandaria, (and soon Classic Plus)

**2. Runescape:** Old School Runescape, Runescape 3, Runescape Dragonwilds (i know, not really a mmo)

**3. Guild Wars:** Guild Wars: Reforged, Guild Wars: Reforged Mobile, Guild Wars 2, Guild Wars 3

It makes financial sense. Instead of investing in costly, large-scale expansions for just one version or developing a new, full-fledged large-scale MMORPG (which ultimately won’t reach all potential target audiences) you can use fewer resources to revitalize an already successful product by modifying it or by undertaking smaller-scale projects, thereby reaching significantly more target audiences.

Of course, this isn't an entirely new strategy in the MMORPG genre, but the focus on how new content is produced has shifted significantly in recent years.

"How Every MMO Is Seemingly Becoming A Franchise"