What World of Warcraft’s Next Expansion Must Do

Piki Geek has put out an editorial about what the writer feels Blizzard should do with the next expansion to the most successful MMO on the market today, World of Warcraft, now that some of its most fierce competitors, namely Star Wars: The Old Republic and Guild Wars 2, are getting close to launch. Here’s probably the most intesting point:

Tear Down the Wall

The barrier of entry into WoW is enormous. First you have to buy the game, and then you have to buy all of the expansion packs on top of it. Oh, and the monthly fee. Just to get current, it’s about $70, if you’re lucky.

For a game that has been out for eight years, that’s a little intense not to mention the polarizing subscriber fee. Even if you play the trail version and get up to level 20, you’re going to have to really love the game to seriously be moved to purchase everything, especially considering the current economy.

In the past Blizzard has said that they lose a lot of subscribers before they hit level cap, and I can’t help but wonder if this is part of the reason. Imagine hitting level 70 and realizing you have to buy Wrath of the Lich King. and then hearing that you’re going to have to pick up Cataclysm a week later. Oh, and another expansion is due out soon.

What would you do? Perhaps you can justify the $15 fee, but another $60? Didn’t you just buy the game?

The next WoW expansion needs to be inclusive. Buy the expansion. and that’s it. I mean, after all, all of the content is already on the disk, so why not? I can’t imagine Blizzard would lose more than they would gain with such a move.

Users who might’ve always been turned off by the price would easily jump on it, after all, the best time to start playing WoW is when a new expansion launches.