World of Warcraft Price Hikes for Australian and New Zealand Players
Effective February 7th, Blizzard Entertainment will implement price increases for all World of Warcraft in-game transactions in Australia and New Zealand. This adjustment, attributed to global and regional market fluctuations, affects recurring subscriptions, WoW Tokens, and other services.
Players with active recurring subscriptions as of February 6th will retain their current rates for a grace period of up to six months. This isn't the first price revision for WoW; Blizzard has historically adjusted pricing in various regions to reflect economic shifts. However, the US monthly subscription price has remained at $14.99 since 2004.
The price increases for Australia and New Zealand are as follows: monthly subscriptions will rise from AUD $19.95 to AUD $23.95 and from NZD $23.99 to NZD $26.99. Annual subscriptions will cap at AUD $249.00 and NZD $280.68 respectively. The WoW Token will increase to AUD $32.00 and NZD $36.00. A full breakdown of the new pricing is provided below.
New World of Warcraft Service Prices (Australia & New Zealand - Effective 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 | $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 |
While the price adjustments, according to current exchange rates, roughly align with US pricing, the fluctuating exchange rates have prompted mixed reactions from the player base. Blizzard emphasizes that this decision wasn't taken lightly and acknowledges player feedback in its pricing strategies. The long-term impact of these changes remains to be seen.
