Summary
- World of Warcraft will increase fees for Australian and New Zealand players on all in-game transactions starting February 7.
- Blizzard states that World of Warcraft players who have recurring subscriptions as of February 6 will keep their current rates for up to six months.
On January 7, Blizzard announced that World of Warcraft players in Australia and New Zealand would soon face higher fees for all in-game transactions, including monthly subscriptions, due to global and regional market conditions. The price increases will take effect on February 7, giving players just one month's notice to prepare for the changes.
This isn't the first time Blizzard has adjusted the pricing for World of Warcraft. The company has previously increased fees for services like WoW Tokens and monthly subscriptions in response to global economic shifts. Despite these changes, Blizzard has maintained the monthly subscription price at $14.99 in the US since the game's launch in 2004. It remains uncertain whether this will change in the future.
While the US subscription price has remained steady, players in Australia and New Zealand will soon see an increase in their rates. According to a forum post by Blizzard community manager Kaivax, the current monthly subscription rate in Australian dollars (AUD) is $19.95 and $23.99 in New Zealand dollars (NZD). Starting February 7, these rates will rise to AUD 23.95 and NZD 26.99 per month, respectively. The annual subscription plans will cap at AUD 249.00 and NZD 280.68. The WoW Token, which can be converted to game time or in-game Gold, will increase to AUD 32.00 and NZD 36.00.
New World of Warcraft Service Prices for Australia and New Zealand (Starting February 7)
| Service | Australian dollar (AUD) | New Zealand dollar (NZD) |
|---|---|---|
| 12-Month Recurring Subscription | $249.00 | $280.68 |
| 6-Month Recurring Subscription / 180 Days Game Time | $124.50 | $140.34 |
| 3-Month Recurring Subscription / 90 Days Game Time | $67.05 | $75.57 |
| 1-Month Recurring Subscription / 30 Days Game Time | $23.95 | $26.99 |
| WoW Token | $32.00 | $36.00 |
| Blizzard Balance for WoW Token Redemption | $24.00 | $27.00 |
| Name Change | $16.00 | $18.00 |
| Race Change | $40.00 | $45.00 |
| Character Transfer | $40.00 | $45.00 |
| Faction Change | $48.00 | $54.00 |
| Pets | $16.00 | $18.00 |
| Mounts | $40.00 | $45.00 |
| Guild Transfer and Faction Change | $56.00 | $63.00 |
| Guild Name Change | $32.00 | $36.00 |
| Character Boost | $96.00 | $108.00 |
At the time of writing, the conversion rate from USD to AUD would result in a five-cent discount in USD, effectively aligning the new Australian and New Zealand prices with the current US subscription rates. However, the value of the AUD and NZD remains subject to fluctuations. Some players have criticized Blizzard for this move, while others believe it aligns the AUD and NZD prices with the USD in the short term. Blizzard has confirmed that players with recurring subscriptions as of February 6 will retain their current rates for up to six months.
Blizzard emphasized that these price adjustments were not made lightly. Given World of Warcraft's history of responding to player feedback, it's uncertain what the long-term impact of these price increases will be on players in Australia and New Zealand.
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