I'm a little late posting this since, well, the merger has already happened and a lot of the changes announced at Funcom are already starting to roll out. But...
The Anarchy Online Worlds were merged together on February 26th 2013. Marking the end of a multi-world system for Anarchy Online. The population of the game has shrunk over the years, what with expectations declining with the length of time it has taken Funcom to produce an Updated Graphics Engine which was first promised around 2004. The merger marks a change to the game with all players now logging onto the same server. As well Funcom has promised to give more character slots away instead of just allowing the 8 total currently allowed. When this will happen is up to Funcom.
As well Funcom announced an Internal restructuring of the Company. With this restructuring all games are moving under a single development team. As well the Development teams in Montreal are being moved to Raleigh-Durham North Carolina in the United States to join those from any other location. This basically makes the Montreal Studio which opened in 2008 be left with only Mobile Gaming Development. Where this leaves us is anyone's guess. 3 titles are currently live and this new Team will have to maintain all three titles, Anarchy Online, Age of Conan and The Secret World. Joel Bylos has been named the Game Director for the new merged team, he was previously the Game Director for The Secret World, and before that he was Creative Director for The Secret World and Lead Designer for Rise of the Godslayer expansion for Age of Conan.