Think you've got an idea for an MMORPG that could completely kick World of Warcraft's ass? Well Activision CEO Bobby Kotick has some words of discouragement for you. According to the big boss, even attempting to take on WoW would set you back anywhere between $500 million and $1 billion dollars, and even once you've scraped together the cash there's still a chance you'd fail.

"We don't think that even if we made the USD 500 million or billion-dollar investment to get a product out [to compete with WOW] that we would even be successful doing it," he said.

Kotick points to the massive amount of cash that has already gone into the development of failed MMO product, doubting that even a company as well-managed as Activision would have a chance at making a profit in the sector. If you can't beat them, join them, eh Bobby? So is that it? Is World of Warcraft the de facto king of MMOs, never to be dethroned?

$1 billion investment needed to take on World of Warcraft - Kotick [GamesIndustry.biz]