Blizzard Talks Free-To-Play World of Warcraft

[Andy Chalk]

Blizzard Talks Free-To-Play World of Warcraft

Blizzard says that World of Warcraft [http://www.worldofwarcraft.com] could go free-to-play someday, but don't expect that day to come anytime soon.

Free-to-play MMOGs are a relatively new development in the Western videogame market. It was Lord of the Rings Online [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/92293-Dungeons-Dragons-Online-Going-Free-to-Play-UPDATED]. Could World of Warcraft, the industry's undisputed big dog, someday make the same switch?

It's definitely possible, according to World of Warcraft Lead Designer Tom Chilton, but not until another game manages to make a serious play for WoW's crown. "I feel like [free-to-play games] are doing that to compete with other games that are on a similar subscriber level to what they were at," he told PC Gamer [http://www.pcgamer.com/2010/06/30/blizzard-discuss-making-world-of-warcraft-free/]. "I imagine that when one of them went free to play it cannibalized some of the other subscribers."

"I can definitely imagine that being the case with World of Warcraft. If another game comes along and blows us away it may not make sense for us to have a subscription fee," he continued. "Or even further down the line, when we have another MMO out."

Don't expect that to happen anytime soon, however. World of Warcraft is still a hugely successful endeavor, responsible for well over half [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/101552-Kotick-Only-30-of-Activisions-Profits-Come-from-Consoles] of Activision's operating profit, and Blizzard has no interest in messing with it. "We're not spending a lot of time thinking about it," Chilton said. "It's not something that's a reality for us in the near future."



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[Vet2501]

I don't play WoW but I think it's a smart move. Here's hoping BioWare follow suit and do the same for The Old Republic.

 

[Z of the Na'vi]

If they made World of Warcraft free, I would gladly renew my subscription. That was the only thing that I didn't like about playing WoW, was that I had to continuously pay for it.

Seriously, they need to do this. I want to play the game again, but I do not wish to pay that subscription fee.

 

[LewsTherin]

Free to play, but $30 for the game. So, basically, the same as every other game except cheaper. Interesting.

 

[Canid117]

"Or even further down the line, when we have another MMO out."

Is that a promise Blizzard?

 

[Xardas5]

"Or even further down the line, when we have another MMO out."

Is that a promise Blizzard?

They are already working on one

 

[JaredXE]

So instead of making you pay up front for your fix, they'll just inject the heroin straight into your veins and THEN ask for money when you're too high to think straight?

 

[mokachill]

between cataclysm, diablo 3 and starcraft 2 they wont need any more money for a while anyway

 

[TriggerHappyAngel]

they should do like Guild Wars does; "Buy the Game, Play for Free Forever" - that's one of the main reasons why GW is my favorite MMO

 

[Styphax]

So when Blizzard hits the money singularity it goes free to play. Do you know how quickly that is going to addict the world?

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

I'd gladly pay if I had the money. I had good times abound in my trial.

If WoW ever went free to play...well, that'd be awesome.

 

[Tarakos]

Well, with The Old Republic coming out boasting the Star Wars licence, I think WoW has a serious threat to its crown. I could see WoW going the DDO route if they start losing players/revenue. The Old Republic probably won't be free-to-play, what with the game being fully voiced and it is EA's most expensive game yet, so they'll probably hold off for awhile. Oh yeah, and it's EA! What do you think they're gonna do with their MMO?

 

[Jared]

It would make sense, if they come out with something big, huge and better...why not make it free. I mean, by that point it will have already made them a huge wad of cash

 

[Caradinist]

They'll consider it when their numbers are waning. Obviously that won't happen anytime soon, like the article states.

 

[SnugglesPanda]

but not until another game manages to make a serious play for WoW's crown.

So, WoW will be free to play in Spring 2011? After all, thats when SW: TOR comes out.

Lol. I'm just seeing SW:TOR as just another warhammer personally. People will play it and leave.

I'm actually hoping for that a well because I don't want the majority of the population moving to a star wars game. I got enough at galaxies and EQ was way better when that was around.

Also as a poster mentioned above, you make it free to play, you get a shitty in game shop where you can buy items. It will be worse than emblems from heroics and shit, you can just buy your gear, there will be more idiots.
F2P is fail.

 

[Hurr Durr Derp]

I think making WoW free would be a big mistake, now or in the future.

Making it free now is obviously not very smart. F2P MMOs are usually free in order to become more competitive compared to P2P alternatives. Since WoW is already the biggest player on the field, there's no need for any of that. Sure they'd get more players, but the increase would be far less significant than in the case of a relative underdog like D&DO or LotRO. Also, apart from the huge amount of subscription fees, Blizzard is already making money through mircopayments, like in the case of those special mounts, and all the WoW-themed merchandising they sell.

Making it free in the future when they are in danger of losing their top position would, in my opinion, be a colossal mistake as well. WoW is getting pretty old, but it's still going strong. But once it somehow loses the appeal that keeps the majority of players loyal right now, making it free won't help much. These players already pay a fee, so if they move to a new game it won't be because of financial considerations, it will be because the other game is more interesting or just plain better. Making the game F2P is a way to draw in new players, not to keep old players with you. WoW currently has more players than any other MMO, by the time it lose its lead it will be really old, and there will be more and more F2P MMOs as time goes on if the current trend continues. Most players that would make up the potential audience for a F2P WoW will either have quit the game already, will be playing another (newer) game already, or are simply not interested in an outdated MMO.

In my opinion, the best thing WoW can do is continue on the track they're on. It has served them very well so far, and I believe that changing their business model will do them more harm than good.