The beginning of the end...

[Cremate]

I called this a loooong time ago....

http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/07/04/world-of-warcraft-may-add-microtransactions

[Argalin]

Yeah I really feel like for the integrity of a subscription game to stay in tact that the only purchasable things for cash should be purely cosmetic(as they are right now in mounts and pets from the Blizz store and WoW TCG).

Guess we'll find out.

[Nyonjia]

Microtransactions have proven consistently to be more profitable.

I certainly won't mind pay to level. I even think that paying to get a 100% chance at loot of a coin would be something I could stomach the game doing.

You earned the kill, it's a limited # of upgrades a week, if there was just a way to take out the RNG? I could see it.

[Kyliaar]

Well, if anything Blizzard has done well, it has been to manage change.

I see this more of a sign that they are looking at how to keep WoW making a profit margin after taking a backseat to Titan.

[Cremate]

Well, if anything Blizzard has done well, it has been to manage change.

I see this more of a sign that they are looking at how to keep WoW making a profit margin after taking a backseat to Titan.

This game is going to be like Everquest... a large majority of people will be playing it for at least another 6 or 7 years... even if they stop releasing content after the next Expac. Once they stop producing content, and condense servers, it can remain profitable on as few as 250k subscribers. I don't think this has anything to do with remaining profitable... it has more to do with greed imo.

[Bellarionna]

It will be like all the other new games out there on the "free to play" fad...

Free to play, but if you want to do this... pay money
Free to play, but if you want that item... pay money
Free to play, but if you want to be able to compete against people who play more/longer than you... pay money

Planetside is a great example... good game, awesome potential... but i'd rather pay $40 get the game, play it with all the bells and whistles than play a condensed no-frill version with all the "extras" dangling within a credit card swipe away.

It's going to happen with WoW, eventually... but the only good news is when that happens the subscription fee will probably go away...

[Cremate]

It will be like all the other new games out there on the "free to play" fad...

Well that's exactly it, it's going to go free to play at some point... just like SWTOR and half a dozen other MMOs. Setting up a self-sustaining micro-transaction system, allows you to unload responsibility, and shift your workforce to the new focus, Titan. With a paid subscription, they are responsible for providing a gameplay experience that is equal to or greater than our subscription fee.

At the point when they institute micro-transactiosn globally, and do away with the subscription fee, we will no longer be paying for the game and therefore they are no longer responsible for it's upkeep. They are simply responsible for providing you what you paid for... an EXP boost, or mount, or whatever. Would they drop all upkeep on the game like a bad habit? No, that would be silly with the amount of profit sustainable from the 1-2 million people that will still play this game when the other 6 million leave. But it does provide them the ability to shrink the support staff for WoW down substantially.

[Bacontime]

INB4 raid boss drops can be thunderforged for 1$

[Xyonjia]

Hell I'd pay $5 for thunderforged!

Although if this game goes F2P I'd be sad. Sub's keep so many of the dipshits out.

[Bellarionna]

Hell I'd pay $5 for thunderforged!

Although if this game goes F2P I'd be sad. Sub's keep so many of the dipshits out.

Do we play the same game? Tons of dipshits...