In the meantime, all eyes remain not on the executive of FunCom, but on their most charismatic employee, and his newest creation.

FORBES: FunCom: As The Secret World Launches, CEO Steps Down

The Old Republic, created at huge cost, launched to considerable fanfare in late 2011, but could not sustain its subscription-only model and, although profitable, is now largely free-to-play, as is the EA-published FunCom MMO The Secret World.

FORBES: John Riccitiello Steps Down As EA CEO - Why, And What Now?

However, by retaining the entry cost of the client, Funcom have maintained both an initial payoff from each player, which is good, and a significant speedbump to entry by curious players, which is not, in particular when The Secret World has a user number problem.

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