CJ_Parker wrote on May 22, 2012, 19:45:
- 2 million x US$ 40 (conservative ASP) = US$ 80 million
- On average 1.5 million subs since release = 1.5 million x US$ 13 (conservative average sub price) = ~US$ 20 million per month x 6 = US$ 120 million

So we're already at around US$ 200 million just from game sales and subs alone (no merchandise, digital goods or anything else included). Subs are dropping slowly and they are now supposed to be around the 1.2 million mark. Let us assume another six months at an average of 1 million subs then that's another US$ 80 million for them and they might be making quite a bit of extra in case there is DLC or expansions released in the meantime.
They'll get their ROI in due time. No game of this caliber will fully recoup the investment within a year's time. It will take a little longer but eventually they will (unfortunately) be making phat profits from this POS.