There are few MMOs out there that don’t have in-game stores, most of them that do are buy to play, after which it becomes free-to-play with micro-transactions and an option to subscribe for extra bonuses. A developer has confirmed that micro-transactions are now being added to the PTR (Public Test Realm). Does this mean that World of Warcraft too will be shifting to the free-to-play model?
Community rep Jonathan brown posted on the Battle.net forum, saying”
“We are currently exploring the possibility of adding a way for players in certain regions to make purchases directly within the game. As part of this process, elements related to this will be appearing on the PTR. We’ll provide additional updates on our plans as development progresses.”
As pointed out on VG24/7, Polygon has added that rumours of the paid in-game items had begun after some one was spooted with an XP boost buff, something, which is evident of an in-game store similar to games like Rift that also went free-to-play recently.
It is only a matter of time now before World of Warcraft joins the free-to-play business model. Even though the game still has millions of subs monthly, it’s sure to increase the number of players should the game go buy to play, or even free-to-play. Its probability of the game surviving for many more years as a subscription MMO is decreasing as more free-to-play MMOs pop up every couple of months. And with Blizzard is working on a new MMO, Titan, they are sure to shift resources of development to the new project. Or at least, that would be the good move to make. The reality is that while WoW was incredible for almost a decade, it’s time to move on. The game cannot compete with other MMOs when it comes to graphics and convincing new players to start subscribing to the game. Many might say that graphics aren’t important, but it’s one of the first things people criticise when comparing the game to MMOs like Guild Wars 2.
It wouldn’t make sense for the game to have in-game microtransactions and remain subscription based. World of Warcraft already has an online store, paired with the subscription model. Why would they add an in-game store to that too?
But this is just me speculating, what do you make of it?
Last Updated: July 5, 2013
Admiral Chief Groot Wors
July 5, 2013 at 11:06
Meh
Charles Du Plessis
July 5, 2013 at 11:06
loli can also believe that they just want even more money. If they go f2p i might play again.
Ultimo_Cleric N7
July 5, 2013 at 11:06
It was only a matter of time. And with the new MMO’s like Destiny coming to console soon, WoW is nearing the end of its lifespan.
Tarisma
July 5, 2013 at 11:37
I think it won’t end. It may not be as successful as it was but people will still play. I would love to see the current numbers.
But alas if it goes FTP I wont be going back. But I think a lot of others will. Life keeps me plenty busy and I have gw2 also I have 6 months of my life gone and I don’t want that to happen again. also as you said there are a ton of new mmo’s coming out, destiny does look good. But a always I’m skeptical of the hope train.
Theo Steenekamp
July 5, 2013 at 11:39
Blizzard is stupid in more than one way. But they know the largest part of the community will stop playing if the game goes F2P, people are really too elitest in that game.
Trevor Davies
July 5, 2013 at 11:10
I would make a movie out of it 😉
Theo Steenekamp
July 5, 2013 at 11:37
No… it won’t go free to play, if you followed the entire PTR feature lists and even the interviews online with the developers. They just wanted an ingame store for stuff like pets, mounts etc. The same as they did with their ingame support, you basically open a mini browser in which you can log a ticket or follow up on other things or even few the battle.net support page.
Craig Henry
July 5, 2013 at 12:43
I don’t play WOW, but I like their graphics much better that GW2.
TeroBowBoo
July 5, 2013 at 14:36
Just make everything free!!!!
Natty Dave
July 6, 2013 at 18:00
I wouldn’t mind playing again if it went f2p, but i’m not into paying a monthly fee to be trolled by 15 year old kids. I would be willing to pay to play if they offeerd mature servers that were 18+ as well, but then it would just end up being a bunch 35 year old moms basement perverts trying to cyber with everything with a nice set of pixels
Captain Minion TallTwit
July 8, 2013 at 15:42
Personally, I would be happy if they got rid of the monthly subs (I played on US servers).
blizzardemployee
July 23, 2013 at 03:16
well blizzard i hear is going to announce there new mmo so they might end wow once the get low members probably and replace with there new one
Luis Contreras
August 6, 2013 at 20:20
I just got really bored with the game, especially when they started introducing lfr and nerfing the game over and over again. It was definitely a good move on their end to appease the masses and although their hard mode option is available, I still have an issue with the loot that drops. It’s the same look, just a different color. If they made hard mode items look much more uber, I may get into it again. Free to play upto level 60 wouldn’t be a bad idea for them.
John Mc
August 7, 2013 at 19:49
They have around what? 7 millions subscribers? and they pay what is it? £10 a month? or something? 7 million people paying £10 a month, right? you really think they are just going to give that up?
Josh Harrison
August 8, 2013 at 18:59
I stopped playing retail world of Warcraft when the locked my account that was hacked and still refuse to give it back so now i play at http://freetoplaywow.com
Steven Shearing
August 9, 2013 at 12:58
I Might play it again if they go free to play, currently I quit the changes are to much its destroyed the game for me, I check for change each month but nothing yet to take my fancy.