Cash Shop Should Give Gameplay Advantages

[Zvyrhol]

This essay is my thought about business model chosen by company (whether Blizzard or private server owners) towards their customers in WoW and its consequences for the players. I compare the differences of Blizzard's policies from 2004 (Vanilla release) and 2026 (WoW Forever). I found it interesting so why not to share it on the forum? Even if it doesn't concern Octo that much, I think some people here might find it interesting, too.

So what business model is better for the player? Cheaper base game with optional additions (mounts, QoL features like summonable vendor, bank etc) or expensive game for everyone but with all this "optional" content included?

In 2004, there was only one way to buy Vanilla WoW: you buy the game and monthly subscription. Each player who played WoW back then, spent the same amount of money to play the game. Game was expensive at that time and everyone paid the same price but it was enough money not to add any DLCs or other forms of additions. WoW was egalitarian product, you paid for one box of plenty features. Your in real life status didn't matter; you could be a billionaire or minimum wage guy but in Azeroth both types of players were equal.
All features were included in this unknown box. You didn't like battlegrounds? Your problem because it was included in the game. Or if you never reached lv 60, you founded money for Blizzard employees to design raid encounters.
All in all, note that all customers belonged to one group that consisted of 100% WoW players: the sub-payers.

2026 is the release of WoW Forever. Players only need to pay for the subscription if they want the base game. Or they can also spend another $30 to have access to the new race. At the moment I'm writing this, it's perhaps the only addition in the game so far but the cash shop will likely be expanded in the following months.
One can argue it's content locked behind paywall but someone else might say it's ok since it's optional feature.
All in all, note that NOT all customers belong to one group as in 2004 example. Instead, the company divides the customers into different groups. In this case, there is group of players who only pay for base subscription and there is a group who addtionaly has access to new race (quantity of these groups will rise with more additional content added over time).

We know that company's main goal is to earn as much money as possible. Comparing these 2 models ask yourself: which business model allows Blizzard to rise the price of their product with the least push-back from the customers?

If they decided to increase the monthly subscription price in 2004 of let's say $1, they would piss off 100% of their customers. That would be a risky move for the company. Who knows how many people would quit? So total revenue could be even worse than before.

If they decided to grab cash from WoW Forever players in 2026, they would just add one mount to the cash shop that was planned to be obtainable in the game in the next patch but whatever, why not to add it to the cash shop anyway?
And here is a clue, there is no risk included for the company. No usual customer is directly pissed off since all of them pay the same monthly sub and mount is optional. The only people who might be pissed off are the 1% who really wanted to get that mount from the game without paying. But it's small group, they can't push-back Blizzard. Think how much more efficient this model is for the company if they want to withdraw money from their customers.

But what can we - customers - do about it? I just want you to know the conclusion of this essay. If we are all in one group, the company can't milk us that easy. If they divide us into multiple customer groups by adding multiple optional features in the cash shop, nobody will react since it doesn't really concern majority of playerbase. And company won't miss this opportunity. Think about private server scene examples like Everlook or Ascension where something unthinkable became the norm. Think how many private servers start with nothing in cash shop and expand it in the following months.

2004 model wasn't perfect for Blizzard but it was good for the customers because they were ONE.
2026 model (I know something similar existed earlier on retail but such shameless locking race behind paywall is a new chapter) is flexible and very efficient in long-term for Blizzard but the usual customers are deeply fucked. And if you look at r/classicwow, majority of players seem to support this model, they naively believe it won't happen. Boiling frog mindset.

Turtle WoW and now Octo WoW have 2026 model. We trust in Kestrel but can Kestrel trust in his strong will against the temptation of easy money? Should he favour owner's interest or customer's interest?
And yes, the title is clickbait. I'm afraid with proper title name nobody would read it.

[Stunt]

WoW Began character boosts after MoP with boosts in 2014 and wow token in 2015. The game was already dead by cataclysm but people kept playing because it was the only viable mmo.

Turtle WoW is an absolute pay 2 win and overpriced but its hilarious the cognitive dissonance players have when they say its pay for convenience LOL! It's like they made their home here and they refuse to acknowledge the truth and will die defending it. I actually got kicked from a guild for saying the cash shop is pay2win. Whatever. I actually bought items. mobile bank, auction house, repair bot, 36 slot bags, ect is broken. Its just as bad as retail shop in my opinion except you cant outright buy levels and gold.

[Mario]

I've been playing WoW for the past almost 20 years mostly without paying a single cent (well actually I did buy one thing from blizz many years ago and I still deeply regret it). Never paid for anything on a private server. Truth be told I don't even know what Octo and Turtle sell. Don't care. Obviously if you asked me, I'd say no shop and no sub, only donations. Is that viable? Probably not. But not impossible.
As for blizz, of course it's better for them to add the shop, but it really doesn't bother me what they do as they'll never see any more payments from me. And blizz cucks will always justify whatever blizz does, so they don't matter either. I'm just glad the community liberated WoW from the hands of blizzard.