Blizzard’s decision is good for players. Those who’ve fallen out of love withWorld of Warcraftwon’t have to purchase previous expansions to jump back in. Yet the move sends an even better message to first-timers. No longer doesWorld of Warcraftfeel inaccessible to those who haven’t played for a decade or more.World of Warcraftis better without the battle chest, and other online games should consider following in the game’s footsteps.
No longer doesWorld of Warcraftfeel inaccessible to those who haven’t played for a decade.
OnceBattle for Azerothreleases in August, there will be seven available expansions forWorld of Warcraft, as well as the original 2004 release, giving newcomers 14 years of game to play. That’s a daunting task for even the most dedicated players, but as veterns know, the the current expansion is where the action happens.
By removing the battle chest system, Blizzard acknowledges this. The vast majority of the game coming inBattle for Azerothis aimed at players who have enjoyed the game for years, and rather than make the barrier to entry even greater for newcomers who won’t even enjoy it to its fullest, Blizzard is giving them a running start.
Blizzard’s parent company, Activision-Blizzard, would be wise to consider this strategy for another of its popular games,Destiny 2. This fall, the game will launch its first major expansion,Destiny 2: Forsaken, bringing along a new campaign, weapons, and abilities. Yet those who haven’t kept up so far must purchase not onlyDestiny 2, but also its minor expansions,Curse of OsirisandWarmind. We’re sure Bungie will release a bundle that includes all of the content together, but if prior pricing is an indication, it’ll remain around the $60 price of a new game.
The biggest difference between the two is the subscription cost – buyDestiny 2and you can play it forever, whileWorld of Warcraftsets you back $15 a month. This undoubtedly plays into Activison’s decision to not give away past expansions for free inDestiny 2, but with microtransactions already present in the game, it stands to reason something else could be done.
Another publisher is already one-upping Activision with its own shared-world business mode. Ubisoft’sThe Division 2is doing away with paid expansionscompletely in 2019, instead releasing future expansions for free.
Expect other games to take a similar approach.
As we continue to head further down the “game as a service” route, expect other games to take a similar approach toWorld of Warcraft. Perhaps the only thing more important to publishers than you buying a game is you continuing to play a game, as we see with popular shooters likeOverwatchandRainbow Six Siege. By lowering the barrier of entry for ongoing titles, they’ll have more players, and you’ll have more friends to play with.
That’s as close to a win-win as we see in the video game industry, and until we discover a hidden chest filled with enough gold to fund all future games for eternity, it always will be.
