games  anime  |  toys
Destructoid is gaming news, community, videos, and sometimes love. Take the tour or jump in with Facebook:

 


In the future Battle.Net will cost money photo

Diablo III’s director Jay Wilson recently told an audience at BlizzCon that Blizzard and Activision are looking to make some money with the Battle.Net service. How Blizzard will be seeking to “monetize” is unknown, but Wilson said it was necessary to keep the financially crippled Blizzard alive and kicking.

From the panel discussion:

We are looking to monetize Battle.Net so that we get to keep making these games and updating features. We kind of have to.

Wilson didn’t elaborate, but I think we all know how much Blizzard has been suffering the past few years. After the colossal failure that was once a promising game, World of Warcraft, Blizzard has had to revaluate its existence and make some tough spending decisions. It’s a shame that World of Warcraft never took off, but we have the massive success (over 15 million subscribers) of Star Wars: Galaxies to thank for that.

[via CinemaBlend]


Continue: More PC stories





prev
next 50 comments

83 comments | showing # 1 to 50

Grimhound's Avatar
Grimhound at 10/12/2008 12:41
*KLAXXON* ALL INTEREST IN BLIZZARD PRODUCTS PLEASE REPORT TO THE SHUTTLE BAY FOR IMMEDIATE EVACUATION!
DaedHead8's Avatar
DaedHead8 at 10/12/2008 12:41
wat
TewDee's Avatar
TewDee at 10/12/2008 12:45
Fuck. That. Shit. You. Assholes.
Teta's Avatar
Teta at 10/12/2008 12:45
OMG what a bunch of assholes.
mattattaxx's Avatar
mattattaxx at 10/12/2008 12:45
really, blizzard?
Riegel88's Avatar
Riegel88 at 10/12/2008 12:47
Wow, that really sucks, I'm pretty sure they make enough without needing help from battle.net
MrSadistic's Avatar
MrSadistic at 10/12/2008 12:47
In the future, I hope The Running Man exists.
CAVE's Avatar
CAVE at 10/12/2008 12:48
Oh I get it. Make Starcraft 2 a trilogy and then add a subscription fee. $$$

=(
Clockwork's Avatar
Clockwork at 10/12/2008 12:49
That's fucking bullshit. Well, looks like I'm not buying Starcraft 2 anymore.
DonHonk's Avatar
DonHonk at 10/12/2008 12:51
Things I'm not buying anymore: Blizzard Games
Black Uroborus's Avatar
Black Uroborus at 10/12/2008 12:55
Well, thats 60 dollars I get to use on something else when I DON'T buy Diablo III.
eternalplayer2345's Avatar
eternalplayer2345 at 10/12/2008 12:56
Diablo III looked fun but oh well I can do without.
geekjutsu's Avatar
geekjutsu at 10/12/2008 12:59
Blizzard has really changed after WOW.
I can't stand any of their decisions anymore.
Cowboy TTop's Avatar
Cowboy TTop at 10/12/2008 13:01
This is the true face of MMO gaming, where its about the money and less about the game itself. What they fail to see is that too much money focus could well lead to an MMO market crash. What happens when we stop buying them?

Either its free to play or I won't bother.
Linkoman's Avatar
Linkoman at 10/12/2008 13:06
wonder if activision has anything to do with it?
CAVE's Avatar
CAVE at 10/12/2008 13:08
While they're at it they might as well add in install limits. Oh well, whatever money they lose on potential customers they make on the suckers.
Velt's Avatar
Velt at 10/12/2008 13:11
--IMPORTANT NOTICE--
the Congress fo the United States of America has just confirmed a 1000 billion dollar lifeline to save Blizzard.

in other news: the bank of Azeroth is going to get new funds.
benjaxez's Avatar
benjaxez at 10/12/2008 13:17
What? are you for real.. I wonder if this affects current battle.net services like for SC or WC3
Magesx's Avatar
Magesx at 10/12/2008 13:18
Blizzard has about 11 million subscribers to WoW. Let's say they all pay multiple months at a time, so about $12 a month or so, if I recall correctly.

That's $132 million.

A month.

Blizzard, you don't need any more money. You make 1.5 billion a year off subscriptions alone. I never really had a plan to get Starcraft II or Diablo III, but now you have guaranteed one less sale.

This is just greed, Blizzard.
monosylabik's Avatar
monosylabik at 10/12/2008 13:23
ugh....say it aint so blizzard...say it aint so.
CALkulon's Avatar
CALkulon at 10/12/2008 13:25
Having never played Diablo in any shape I was kinda intrigued about D3. Lost any reason I had to keep interested now.

And I was undecided regarding Wotlk, this has pretty much made up my mind - some things in the company's policy I was willing to forgive but they seem hellbent on screwing us for every penny now. Sod them.
NihonTiger90's Avatar
NihonTiger90 at 10/12/2008 13:33
Your cat is cute.

Also, what have Activision done to poor Blizzard? :(
randombullseye's Avatar
randombullseye at 10/12/2008 13:39
Fuck you blizzard.
lilspooky's Avatar
lilspooky at 10/12/2008 13:45
Not buy Blizzard Games any more, if Battle.net can support all those Starcraft 1 players over the years for free they can handle Blizzards new games. Fuck this though! Your not getting my money, make PC gamers PAY for a BULLSHIT service that should be free, you will FAIL!
Woogity's Avatar
Woogity at 10/12/2008 13:47
The hunger!!!!
dfielder's Avatar
dfielder at 10/12/2008 13:48
This is stupid , I knew them splitting up Starcraft 2 was just a way to get more money and this just confirms it

What bullshit!
ThunderHeartXI's Avatar
ThunderHeartXI at 10/12/2008 13:58


Rage. Pure and unadulterated rage is what I feel right now.

Why, Blizzard, why? Making Starcraft in three games, okay... I wasn't nuts about that games, that's fine. It even made sense, to a degree. But this? You know what, I've had enough of your absolute nickle and dimming bullshit. Fuck you Blizzard. I used to love you, but look at what you've become. It's like I don't even know who you are anymore.
Holyetheline's Avatar
Holyetheline at 10/12/2008 14:02
Excellent way to make money. I like their business plan.
elpoopacabra's Avatar
elpoopacabra at 10/12/2008 14:11
kind of sucks, but oh well.. as long as the price is worth the content updates i am not too upset
Rathe989's Avatar
Rathe989 at 10/12/2008 14:17
You know I think this is a very good thing! I now have a all the reason i need to cancel my WoW account and even a way to save a few hundred bucks down the road!!! Thanks Blizzard I needed to save some money in this booming economy we have right now.
Amp's Avatar
Amp at 10/12/2008 14:20
MISQUOTE

Everywhere else that I've heard this quote, it's been

"We are looking to monetize certain features of Diablo III so that we get to keep making these games and updating features. We kind of have to. "

You have it written as monetizing the whole of battle.net
Amp's Avatar
Amp at 10/12/2008 14:22
Well, I shouldn't say DToid directly are the ones getting the quote wrong. But there IS another side to the story certainly, we just have to filter out which one is wrong or right.
Edarios's Avatar
Edarios at 10/12/2008 14:24
you guys need to chill. it doesn't even say how much it is, plus battle.net is a great service..they're still supporting starcraft 1 after what, 10 years?

We all know SC2 is going to be amazing, and i'm sure each of the three parts will be worth the money.

Diablo 3 is also tied to battle.net, no?
Grimhound's Avatar
Grimhound at 10/12/2008 14:41
@Edarios: How do we know StarCraft 2 will even be /good/? They axed the Firebat for some C&C3 Nod Buggy with a flamethrower on the back, and have yet to prove the game will be coherent.

Meanwhile, they're going to release it as 3 pricey modules, and we might have to pay for the ability to play it on top of all that.

StarCraft 2 and Diablo 3 could end up sucking horribly, and nobody would admit it regardless.
VWGTI's Avatar
VWGTI at 10/12/2008 14:43
That is one cool cat.
Drach's Avatar
Drach at 10/12/2008 14:52
Diablo 2 was FREE to play on battle.net. Starcraft was FREE to play on battle.net. Now we have to pay for this? This is utter bullshit. If I spend $50 on a game, I should be able to keep playing it until I tire of it. Not I keep playing until my wallet is empty. Asking a monthly fee to play with your friends online is a rip-off. we already pay out ISPs for service. We don't need another 15 a month added to that.

I'm a Diablo 2 fan.. I may not play Diablo 3 if there's a monthly fee attached to it.. and I definitely WILL NOT play Starcraft 2 if I have to pay monthly for it. Its bad enough that they want us to spend $150 to get a whole campaign with Starcraft, but now we have to give them more loot on top of that? BULLSHIT BLIZZARD.
FUCK YOU BLIZZARD.
Amp's Avatar
Amp at 10/12/2008 14:55
lasduhflsaudfhlsdaufh

@Drach, DToid staff, and everyone else.

PLEASE TO BE READING MY FIRST POST SEEN ABOVE
PLEASE TO BE READING MY FIRST POST SEEN ABOVE
PLEASE TO BE READING MY FIRST POST SEEN ABOVE
PLEASE TO BE READING MY FIRST POST SEEN ABOVE
PLEASE TO BE READING MY FIRST POST SEEN ABOVE
Azereki's Avatar
Azereki at 10/12/2008 14:58
Blizzard must really be struggling. It's a shame that WoW was such a massive failure in the mainstream PC market.
Piellar's Avatar
Piellar at 10/12/2008 15:42
I like : Your cat
I don't like : Having to pay for Battle.Net in Diablo 3.

It's not that I don't have the money now, but I remember back when I was 12, pennyless and playing Diablo 2 online... all that fun would not have existed if it had been Diablo 3? For the younger gamers who truely enjoy those hack'n slash game just as much as we do, why? ...
Technophile's Avatar
Technophile at 10/12/2008 16:04
I've read this in different articles as

"We are going to monetize features so that we get to make them," said Wilson. "We kind of have to."

and

"We are looking to monetize Battle.Net so that we get to keep making these games and updating features," said Wilson. "We kind of have to."

Considering each quote has got an almost entirely different meaning, I'm going to wait until an official announcement or explanation comes out and the internet get's their shit together instead of panicking. But wtf ever, it's not like the internet ever listens anyway.
thunderleg's Avatar
thunderleg at 10/12/2008 16:27
Maybe they're not monetizing Battle.net, but rather the items within Diablo III. I can't wait until I'm paying money for in-game items just like people do with Maple Story! Yay!

Either way this spells THE IMMINENT DEATH OF PC GAMIMG!! Ooooooooh! (spooky voice)
Amp's Avatar
Amp at 10/12/2008 16:40
@thunderleg

even you seem to have it wrong

"We are going to monetize features so that we get to make them,"

"...features so that we get to make them..."
thunderleg's Avatar
thunderleg at 10/12/2008 16:42
I am permitted to speculate and speculate I shall!
The Grudge's Avatar
The Grudge at 10/12/2008 16:55
They make so much from WOW, They kind of have to?? This is disappointing regardless if it’s all of battle.net or just Diablo 3 that I will have additional charges for content. I will wait for a follow up before pulling out the pitchforks and torches.
Linkoman's Avatar
Linkoman at 10/12/2008 16:56
I hope this is wrong. for blizzards sake
mrplow8's Avatar
mrplow8 at 10/12/2008 17:13
That's bullshit. I'm not getting Diablo 3 if I have to pay a monthly fee to play it.
parrothead's Avatar
parrothead at 10/12/2008 17:18
it is a shame that no one plays WoW
Coldbrand's Avatar
Coldbrand at 10/12/2008 17:28
What I really hate is the corporate apologists who act like we shouldn't be offended.

This is bullshit, Kotick was already bragging about the advertising potential of battlenet, and now they're going to be charging us for it too.
Tremulant's Avatar
Tremulant at 10/12/2008 17:38
In the future Hamachi becomes most popular download among Blizzard software users...
Rosseh's Avatar
Rosseh at 10/12/2008 18:26
I already use Hamachi for most of the related stuff. But I can only use it with friends. Are there communities that use it? I don't really feel safe using it with strangers anyway.
prev next 50 comments

Comment with Facebook





Click connect and comment instantly!

Comment with Dtoid





New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds

Comments policy

Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?

Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!

 
New on Destructoid.TV play all videos

Loading
Loading Destructoid Videos



    Win this!
    Reminder: We're giving away six copies of Magnacarta 2!



    Dtoid Twitter    Got news?   tips@destructoid.com

    Reviews & Previews
    Mahjongg Artifacts 2 review
    Dragon Age: Origins review
    Lost Winds: The Winter of the Melodias review
    Osmos review
    Space Invaders Extreme 2 review
    Half-Minute Hero review
    JU-ON: The Grudge review
    Kenka Bancho: Badass Rumble review
    Thexder Neo review
    Domino Rally review
    more reviews
    PS3's 256-player MAG
    Rooms The Main Building
    Skate 3
    Hudson's bringing back the Bonk
    James Cameron's Avatar
    Bomberman Battlefest
    Calling
    Bad Company 2's multiplayer
    Partying like it's 1959 in BioShock 2's multiplayer
    BioShock 2 through the eyes of Big Daddy
    more previews


    - The Dtoid Army is 49614 strong -

    Showing Cblogs with 3+ faps   show all

    Call for entries: do the wrong thing
    New to Dtoid? Read the survival guide




     Originals
    Jim Sterling: How to respond to a videogame review





















    More Destructoid Originals



     Popular now more
























    Destructoid's editorial lovefest is:
    Nick Chester
    Editor-in-Chief    		 Jim Sterling
    Reviews Editor
    Dale North
    News Editor    		 Hamza Aziz
    Community Manager
    Anthony Burch
    Features Editor    		 Rey Gutierrez
    Video editor & director
    Niero
    Founder, publisher
    Letters to the editors
    tips@destructoid.com
    Associate Editors
    Ashley Davis Jonathan Holmes
    Brad Nicholson Jonathan Ross
    Brad Rice Jordan Devore
    Chad Concelmo Matthew Razak
    Colette Bennett Tom Fronczak
    Conrad Zimmerman Topher Cantler
    Dyson Samit Sarkar
    Contributors
    Adam Dork
    Ben Perlee
    Daniel Lingen
    Joseph Leray    		 Joe Burling
    Mikey
    Will Maddock
    Stella Wong





     

     
      get involved

    register or login
    post a blog
    post a forum
    enter a contest
    contribute a news tip
    suggest a feature
    be a guest editor
    		 support

    new member's guide
    login assistance
    tech support
    report abuse
    email our editors
    read our dev blog
    nuclear crisis?
    		 keep in touch

    RSS feed
    Twitter
    Facebook
    Myspace
    Flickr
    Game nights
    Meetup+play online     		seriously

    about Destructoid
    advertising
    terms of use
    privacy policy
    jobs at MM
    buy our crap     		our network

    Tomopop
    Japanator
    Despingation?



    Destructoid is an independently-run publication forged by our love of video games and the gaming community's need of accountable enthusiast press
    living the dream since March 16, 2006