Evaluating the Controversial Pre-order Bonus for World of Warcraft’s Next Expansion
The highly anticipated upcoming expansion of World of Warcraft, The War Within, has sparked controversy with its pre-order bonus, which grants early access to the game.
Disappointment and accusations of exclusionary tactics
Blizzard introduced the early access incentive at BlizzCon 2023, but fans were quick to express dissatisfaction and allegations. They chastised the business for selling a “contrived privilege” and pushing discriminatory techniques against users who could not afford to pay $90 for what they viewed as a fear of missing out (FOMO) fee.
Backlash and Requests for Change
The issue over The War Within’s early access resurfaced lately on the WoW community. Many people expressed their concerns and begged Blizzard to cease “normalizing” the practice of allowing players early access.
One user, Praetor192, the thread’s original poster, expressed displeasure, saying, “Do not let them trick you, this is not paying for early access. This is the game’s release date, or launch. You are paying to avoid playing the game late, and this is an unacceptable business practice that should not be tolerated. The only way to keep things from getting worse in the future is to vote with your cash.”
The Sacred Tradition of Expansion launches
World of Warcraft expansion openings have always been a highly anticipated and community-driven event. It is a rare moment when players of all skill levels and experience get together to begin on a new journey. Witnessing the inflow of gamers onto servers and exploring the immense possibilities of a new expansion has always been one of the most exciting aspects of being a World of Warcraft player. It is reasonable that players are hesitant to pay extra money for early access and are concerned about missing out on the thrill.
The epic version of The War Within comes with a pre-order bonus that gives you up to three days early access to the content of the expansion. This offer has the potential to cause friction between guilds and friend groups, as players may feel excluded from the experience if the expansion quietly releases early for those willing to invest more money.
Another Reddit member, Dwiggins91, highlighted, “Stop funding the company’s greed.” We already pay monthly and have purchased the expansion. [Three] days for $90 now, and [three] months for $180 thereafter. “Do not let it snowball.”
While Blizzard has clarified that the early access period only applies to the new expansion’s leveling experience, not the endgame dungeons and raids, it is reasonable to assume that players who want to get ahead and compete from day one will feel compelled to purchase the epic edition for those extra three days.
The War Within’s early access phase is expected to begin on Friday, followed by the first server reset and the release of Mythic-plus and other endgame features on Tuesday, once the three-day early access period ends and the floodgates open.