World of Warcraft announces price hikes for Australian and New Zealand players. Starting February 7th, all in-game transactions will see increased fees. This includes monthly subscriptions, which will rise to AUD $23.95 and NZD $26.99 respectively.
Blizzard cites global and regional market conditions as the reason for the adjustment. Players with active subscriptions as of February 6th will retain their current rates for a grace period of up to six months.
This isn't the first time WoW has adjusted pricing. While the US has enjoyed a consistent $14.99 monthly subscription since 2004, other regions have seen fluctuations reflecting economic changes. The current price increases, while initially seemingly aligning with US rates after currency conversion, are subject to the ongoing volatility of the AUD and NZD.
The new pricing structure, effective February 7th, is detailed below:
New World of Warcraft Service Prices (Australia & New Zealand - February 7th Onwards)
Service | Australian Dollar (AUD) | New Zealand Dollar (NZD) |
---|---|---|
12-Month Recurring Subscription | $249.00 | $280.68 |
6-Month Recurring Subscription | $124.50 | $140.34 |
3-Month Recurring Subscription | $67.05 | $75.57 |
1-Month Recurring Subscription | $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 & Faction Change | $56.00 | $63.00 |
Guild Name Change | $32.00 | $36.00 |
Character Boost | $96.00 | $108.00 |
The price changes have prompted mixed reactions from the WoW community, with some criticizing Blizzard's decision while others see it as a necessary alignment with US pricing in the short term. Blizzard emphasizes that the decision wasn't taken lightly and that player feedback is always considered. The long-term effects of this price adjustment remain to be seen.