Additional Worlds & Data Centers
A fundamental solution to congestion is an increase in World servers, as well as the addition of data centers. As we have already announced, we are currently in the final stages of preparing our new Oceania data center. At the same time, we have been moving forward with plans to expand even further─
putting wheels into motion in the form of approving budgets, securing funding, and purchasing equipment. We intended to assess user numbers and planned content after the release of 6.0, and then work to have new servers or data centers prepared for 7.0.
The current situation, however, has compelled us to reevaluate this timeline and determine if it is possible to speed up the process. There are, however, two obstacles that stand in our way.
Problem 1: Insufficient Servers Due to Semiconductor Shortage
The COVID-19 pandemic has seen an extreme drop in semiconductor production in factories across the globe. This, coupled with an increase in demand for electronics due to more people working at home, has resulted in an international shortage of semiconductors that, in turn, has resulted in a prolonged delay in the delivery of
the servers we ordered for our data centers.
We have even looked into investing more than market value to speed up delivery, but to no avail. We are not giving up, however, and are in continued talks with vendors from around the world to find a timely solution to this problem.