Blizzard reveals Real Money Auction House Fees

[Qitz]

So for anyone who wasn't aware, Diablo 3's RMAH (Real Money Auction House) will have a chunk of your profits removed for Blizzard, they've finally revealed the actual fees.

Heres the breakdown:

If you're selling weapons, armor, accessories, or unique items using the in-game currency, Blizzard expects 15 percent of your profits. If you would rather receive real-world cash for the item, Blizzard will take $1.00 per transaction. With a minimum sale price of $1.25, that would net you a cool quarter. If you sell an item at the maximum value of $250, however, you get to keep $249.

When selling commodities like gems, dyes, or recipes, Blizzard takes 15 percent of the final transaction price regardless of whether you want in-game currency or real-world cash in return.

Once your transaction for real-world money is finalized, you can choose where to distribute your new funds. Electing to move the money into your Battle.net account accrues no additional fees. This balance can be applied toward other Auction House transactions or digital purchases of other Blizzard products. If you'd rather transfer the money into a PayPal account, Blizzard takes an additional 15-percent cut. That would turn your $249 into $211.65.

So it doesn't make a huge impact on your ability to make any sort of profit but it's still a pretty good chunk of money for Blizzard, especially if you decide to transfer it into anything other than your BNet account.

Source [http://us.battle.net/d3/en/services/auction-house/how-to#fees]

 

[Sixcess]

Interesting. I've no real interest in D3, but I'll be watching this with interest... and a little trepidation.

They've basically legitimised RMT and... I dunno, perhaps I'm old fashioned but this just feels wrong.

 

[Saviordd1]

Meanwhile at Blizzard Headquarters....



I mean really? Not even giving a fuck now Blizzard? Just saying "Fuck it, as long as we make money who cares?"

 

[Ranorak]

As long as those items CAN be obtained in the game. I'm not complaining.
If someone really wants to spend 250 dollars on a in game armour, then so be it.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

So...the reason I can't play Diablo 3 offline is so Blizzard can have the auction house, which I won't use, in order to make more money for themselves without doing any additional work.

Yeah...fuck that.

 

[RJ 17]

Ahhhh and Blizzard makes it's next great move in the battle to prove that they are still the undisputed champions in screwing over their fanbase. The contender, EA, is like the short scrappy fighter, landing many blows in a short period of time. Blizzard is like the heavyweight, slower to come out with such bullshit, but when they do it's a big punch.

 

[Ranorak]

Ahhhh and Blizzard makes it's next great move in the battle to prove that they are still the undisputed champions in screwing over their fanbase. The contender, EA, is like the short scrappy fighter, landing many blows in a short period of time. Blizzard is like the heavyweight, slower to come out with such bullshit, but when they do it's a big punch.

How is this feature screwing over people!?
You can buy the gear with in-game currancy.
You can still get the gear by killing the boss yourself (and with a bit of luck)

It just gives people that want the easy way out, a chance to do so. At the risk of losing money.

It's ALL OPTIONAL!

 

[RJ 17]

Ahhhh and Blizzard makes it's next great move in the battle to prove that they are still the undisputed champions in screwing over their fanbase. The contender, EA, is like the short scrappy fighter, landing many blows in a short period of time. Blizzard is like the heavyweight, slower to come out with such bullshit, but when they do it's a big punch.

How is this feature screwing over people!?
You can buy the gear with in-game currancy.
You can still get the gear by killing the boss yourself (and with a bit of luck)

It just gives people that want the easy way out, a chance to do so. At the risk of losing money.

It's ALL OPTIONAL!

It really doesn't matter to me. For my personal situation, Blizzard has gone the way of Square-Enix: I've lost faith in them and will likely never purchase one of their games again. However...

So...the reason I can't play Diablo 3 offline is so Blizzard can have the auction house, which I won't use, in order to make more money for themselves without doing any additional work.

Yeah...fuck that.

Certainly seems that he feels like he's getting screwed over.

 

[Atmos Duality]

With the added incentives for REAL MONEY, I could see people playing for hundreds of hours (most likely not having any fun, knowing grind) for all the wrong reasons. And Blizzard is going to lap all of it up.

Yeah, no. I don't need to waste that much of my life grinding away for nothing.
I did my time in Diablo 2, thanks.

 

[DoPo]

Well I suppose they noticed how much people like to sell their online items for money and decided that instead of just trying to stop them they'd make money off of it. Kind of sensible, I guess.

Yes, that literally was their initial intention. They just cut out the middleman. I must applaud Blizzard - that is one smart move. I don't like it but it's smart.

 

[DoPo]

I have to admire it in a way. The market is out there, can't stop that. So instead they use it. Not so great, but good thinking.

Yeah, the same here. Not only will D3 will be a success and be played a lot (let's face it, it's a Blizzard game - they are known for that stuff) but they also take an immediate cut of all transactions in the game. And the transactions are legalised, not that it was a problem before, it's just pretty much free money now that it's official. Furthermore, since players can now earn cash (but let's face it, they'll also spend a lot) that would also kick up the use of the market. Besides, it helps combat duping. It's a win situation for Blizz. They are evil geniuses. Well, I wouldn't call them "evil" but still something to that effect.

 

[The Lunatic]

I have absolutely no intention of buying any items from the market.

However, I will try my luck at making a few.

Although, given my tendency to favour playing with international friends, I likely will not be able to use the market.

 

[Rack]

Ahhhh and Blizzard makes it's next great move in the battle to prove that they are still the undisputed champions in screwing over their fanbase. The contender, EA, is like the short scrappy fighter, landing many blows in a short period of time. Blizzard is like the heavyweight, slower to come out with such bullshit, but when they do it's a big punch.

How is this feature screwing over people!?
You can buy the gear with in-game currancy.
You can still get the gear by killing the boss yourself (and with a bit of luck)

It just gives people that want the easy way out, a chance to do so. At the risk of losing money.

It's ALL OPTIONAL!

The problem is there are no good options.

1) Spend extra money on items to be able to keep pace with other players. In doing so destroy one of the most appealing aspects of the game (looking for loot) and have the feeling of being gouged. Additionally make the game incredibly easy.
2) Refuse to spend the money and play multiplayer. Have absolutely no opportunity to affect the game in any way as other players deal 20x as much damage as you and have 20x as many hit points.
3) Play single player only. Put up with lag, the inability to pause or mod the game for absolutely no benefit. Occasionally need to grind the everliving fuck out of the game to proceed.

 

[Kyr Knightbane]

I intend to use the ingame auction house and undercut everything. That way blizzard gets their money and whoever wants the item gets it. If i can make some money, great, if not, No worries. I won't charge an exorbitant amount for a few pixels and some stats

 

[Kahunaburger]

Blizzard makes another Diablo game, and takes the opportunity to design all sorts of evil stuff into the game? It's like... so meta, man.

 

[Seishisha]

My only real problem with this whole scenario is that the currently listed rates seems to be totaly borked for internationals like myself, allow me to explain in america the transfer fee is one dollar, in england its one pound.

One British pound is about the equivilant of 1.6 US dollars, so basicly anyone buying or selling items in the UK is paying blizzard 60% more in fees than someone in the US, this seems totaly unjustified.

Add to this the fact that you cannot use the real money auction house outside your own region, as it is locked to your battlenet account. Im sure im not the only person in a country outside the US who will end up paying more 'blizzard tax' just to use this service.

Bottom line blizz needs to unify the cost based on exchange rates so that everyone is taxed equally, leaving it in its current state is basicly a form of favoritism/discrimination depending on where you live, your region of the world should not effect the amount of money you have to give blizzard on every transfer, that is to me unacceptable.