Summary
- World of Warcraft is raising prices for Australian and New Zealand players on all in-game transactions, effective February 7th.
- Players with active recurring subscriptions as of February 6th will retain their current rates for up to six months.
On January 7th, Blizzard Entertainment announced price increases for World of Warcraft players in Australia and New Zealand. These increases, impacting all in-game transactions including monthly subscriptions, are attributed to global and regional market conditions. The changes take effect February 7th, giving players only one month's notice.
This isn't the first time World of Warcraft has adjusted its pricing. Global economic shifts have led Blizzard to implement country-specific price adjustments to reflect rising costs. However, the US monthly subscription price of $14.99 has remained unchanged since 2004.
While the US price remains stable, Australia and New Zealand will see increases. According to Blizzard community manager Kaivax, the monthly subscription in Australia will rise from AUD $19.95 to AUD $23.95, and in New Zealand from NZD $23.99 to NZD $26.99. Annual subscriptions will also increase, capping at AUD $249.00 and NZD $280.68 respectively. The WoW Token price will increase to AUD $32.00 and NZD $36.00.
New World of Warcraft Service Prices for Australia and New Zealand (Starting February 7th)
| 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 | $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 |
Currently, the USD to AUD conversion rate suggests a slight USD discount, potentially aligning the new prices with current US rates. However, currency fluctuations remain a factor. Player reactions have been mixed, with some criticizing the move while others see it as a short-term alignment with US pricing. Blizzard assures players with existing recurring subscriptions (as of February 6th) will maintain their current rates for up to six months.
Blizzard emphasizes that this decision wasn't taken lightly. While player feedback has historically influenced pricing decisions, the long-term impact of these changes remains to be seen.
