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 monthly 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 adjustment for WoW; Blizzard has historically modified pricing in various regions to reflect economic shifts. However, the US monthly subscription price has remained at $14.99 since 2004.
The price increases will see the monthly subscription 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. Other services, including character and guild changes, will also see price increases (see table below).
While the current USD to AUD exchange rate might suggest parity with US pricing post-increase, the fluctuating value of the Australian and New Zealand dollars remains a factor. This price adjustment has drawn mixed reactions from players, with some criticizing Blizzard's decision while others view it as a short-term alignment with US pricing.
Blizzard emphasizes that this decision wasn't taken lightly and acknowledges the impact on its player base. The long-term consequences of these price changes remain to be seen.
New World of Warcraft Service Prices (AUD & NZD - 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 for WoW Token Redemption | $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 |