World of Warcraft to test In-game Payments

World of Warcraft: Test the in-game payment system

8 July 2013

World of Warcraft maker Blizzard will begin to experiment with an option that lets players pay real money for items in the game.

Blizzard revealed the experiment in a post to the WoW chat forums.

Players have had to spend real money to buy mounts and pets for their characters in the past.

A potion is the first item players can buy to boost their experience points after looting and kills.

The Enduring Elixir of Wisdom increases the amount of experience points you earn by 100%, but it is only currently available on the game's public testing servers. To be able to use it players must have a character with a level 85 or higher.

Zarhym, a Blizzard community manager, stated that the elixir was one element Blizzard was using for testing in-game purchases. They suggested that other elements could soon be added to those test realms.

"We are currently exploring the possibility of adding a way for players from certain regions to purchase directly from within the game," Zarhym wrote, noting that Blizzard would provide more details soon.

It is unclear who will be first to purchase in-game items during the game in full or when the switch will be made. Industry experts have speculated that it could happen first in Asia where the majority of WoW's players reside.

The move is widely regarded as an attempt by WoW to shore up its player base that is declining. In May, Blizzard reported that 1.3 million people stopped playing the game in the first three months of 2013. The game is currently played by 8.3 million people are now believed to be still playing. In 2010, subscriber numbers reached 12 million.
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Previous attempts to make the game more appealing included making it free to play up to level 20 and adding new races playable.

WoW is being challenged by other online games that are free to play. A lot of these games have already taken the same route as Blizzard and allow players to pay real money for gear boosters, upgrades, and other items for their characters.

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