Early Access to WoW's New Expansion Won't Give 'Long-term Advantage,' Blizzard Says
Players voiced their dissatisfaction with early access to the tenth expansion for World of Warcraft. Now one of the game's developers assures that players who spend $100 will not get a „long-term advantage over the rest.”.
World of Warcraft: The War Within will be the first of the announced saga of expansion. If you decide to buy the "Heroic" edition for 89.99 euros, you will be able to start playing 3 days before the official release (scheduled for autumn 2024). To say that players didn't like this is an understatement, so the game's director Ion "Watcher" Hazzikostas hastened to explain.
"It's a new trend, you have to get used to it," he said.
"Watcher" explains such strategy adopted for the release of the next three expansions to World of Warcraft by the fact that Blizzard is not the first studio to use such tactics and advises players to get used to the new business model. In addition, efforts were made to ensure that buyers of "inferior" variants of the DLC do not feel disadvantaged, and their content was increased. You can find the developer's statements on PC Gamer.
"It is worth noting that the basic edition [of The War Within - editor's note] includes more than ever. It costs the same as Dragonflight, including the amplifier and Dragonflight alone for those who do not already own it. We try to make the offer balanced for each edition."
This means that the basic pre-order version of the DLC, costing €49.99, will include a booster to level 70, 500 Trader's Tender currency and instant access to Dragonflight if someone doesn't have it. Players will have to decide for themselves if this is enough compensation for them.
Ion Hazzikostas believes that player criticism was due to poor presentation of the idea, which is why in his latest statement he defends the 3-day early access and assures that it will not provide any advantage.
"The early access period actually accelerates the launch by a few days so that people have the opportunity to level up. It is aimed more at players who may not have as much free time and are unable to take time off work. As a result, they will miss the first week of Mythic Zero or running around dungeons at max level with friends and guildmates."
Several restrictions are to apply here. Players will not have access to Mytthic Zero and Plus, drops from rare mobs, profession specialization points and related weekly quests until the official release. It's unclear what will happen to the item crafting system and trade.
"Frankly, I wish we had communicated and explained these limitations more clearly."
"No long-term advantages"
Ion "Watcher" Hazzikostas assures players that early access will not provide any advantage in the late game, and is only intended to serve as an aid for those who, for example, will not have time on launch day.
"At the start of season one, there will be no difference between players who had early access and those who did not."
It's nice that Blizzard is also thinking about such players, but the price of 90 euros for "leveling the playing field," which is almost double that of the basic version, is a bit excessive. And yes, that's also an understatement.
