Blizzard is taking a new turn with the release of World of Warcraft's forthcoming expansion titled "The War Within," offering early access to those willing to pay more. Set for a fall 2024 release, the standard edition is priced at $50, but for an additional cost, players can opt for either the Heroic or Epic editions. The Heroic edition, at $70, includes in-game currency, a unique set for character appearance customization, and an exclusive mount. At $90, the Epic edition comprises all the prior edition contents and adds on a special toy, a pet, an effect for the hearthstone, a month of gameplay, and guaranteed beta access. Crucially, it grants a three-day head start on the expansion, stirring debate among the WoW community members, many of whom disapprove of a paid advantage.
The community has always enjoyed the extras that came with Heroic and Epic editions; however, they traditionally included cosmetic items or bundled game time. The notion of paying more for advanced gameplay has become increasingly widespread in recent years but remains relatively rare among community-centric MMOs, although some precedents exist. Examples include early access offered by Final Fantasy XIV to those who pre-order and Lost Ark, which, while free-to-play, presented a paid early access.
The three-day advance allows players to progress significantly in the game—ahead of the general player base—by leveling up, accumulating gold, and collecting superior equipment. Nevertheless, the WoW webpage does indicate that during this period, certain endgame content will be off-limits. Despite this limitation, the community recognizes that this early access provision promises a competitive edge to those who pay more.
The WoW subreddit has been inundated with negative responses to the early access announcement. A prevailing sentiment holds that the excitement of a new expansion is the communal experience of starting together. They argue that this approach undermines the collective adventure, with one user expressing disappointment at the disruption of a traditionally unified launch period. Another user criticized the idea as antithetical to the MMO experience, expressing concerns over the pressure to purchase expensive editions for what they see as an unfair advantage, including early starts on rare item farming, reputation building, and priority access to crafting and gathering.
Another player who opted for the Epic edition wondered whether early access was a necessary feature and suggested that it could be offered to all those who pre-order or altogether abolished. Yet, as other players note, altering the offer now would potentially upset customers who have already purchased the edition and are expecting early access.
With announcements during BlizzCon 2023 hinting at faster release cycles for WoW expansions—collectively known as The Worldsoul Saga—some community members are calculating the annual costs if the game moves to a yearly expansion model, which would add to the already required monthly subscription fee.
Despite urgings on the WoW subreddit urging a boycott of the Epic edition to protest the early access offering, it's yet to be seen if Blizzard will address or amend its decision based on feedback. What remains apparent is the dissatisfaction among a portion of the player base, upset over a potentially divisive change to what was once a shared communal experience.
This debate over the early-access model is just one component of Blizzard's planned developments for World of Warcraft, which also include the upcoming 2024 release of Cataclysm Classic, along with a new WoW Classic season, Season of Discovery, scheduled to begin on November 30.