Today Blizzard have announced that they are seriously exploring the idea of implementing micro-transaction payments into their long-running and highly successful MMO, World of Warcraft.
Blizzard have been one of the only MMO developers to avoid micro-transactions since their growing popularity within free-to-play MMOs. The news arose after players on the public test realms, basically BETA realms for WoW subscribers, listed Enduring Elixir of Wisdom. The Elixir gives a 100% xp boost for killing monsters and completing quests. A Blizzard community manager said on their forums:
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.
This update has shaken the community of World of Warcraft and will likely split opinions within the player base.
What do you think of micro-transactions within MMOs? Are they a way to grab money or a useful tool for players? Let us know in the comments what you think.