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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]


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83 comments | showing # 1 to 50

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

=(
Clockwork's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 12:49
Clockwork
That's fucking bullshit. Well, looks like I'm not buying Starcraft 2 anymore.
DonHonk's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 12:51
DonHonk
Things I'm not buying anymore: Blizzard Games
Black Uroborus's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 12:55
Black Uroborus
Well, thats 60 dollars I get to use on something else when I DON'T buy Diablo III.
eternalplayer2345's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 12:56
eternalplayer2345
Diablo III looked fun but oh well I can do without.
geekjutsu's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 12:59
geekjutsu
Blizzard has really changed after WOW.
I can't stand any of their decisions anymore.
Cowboy TTop's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 13:01
Cowboy TTop
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 - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 13:06
Linkoman
wonder if activision has anything to do with it?
CAVE's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 13:08
CAVE
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 - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 13:11
Velt
--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 - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 13:17
benjaxez
What? are you for real.. I wonder if this affects current battle.net services like for SC or WC3
Magesx's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 13:18
Magesx
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 - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 13:23
monosylabik
ugh....say it aint so blizzard...say it aint so.
CALkulon's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 13:25
CALkulon
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 - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 13:33
NihonTiger90
Your cat is cute.

Also, what have Activision done to poor Blizzard? :(
randombullseye's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 13:39
randombullseye
Fuck you blizzard.
lilspooky's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 13:45
lilspooky
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 - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 13:47
Woogity
The hunger!!!!
dfielder's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 13:48
dfielder
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 - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 13:58
ThunderHeartXI


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 - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 14:02
Holyetheline
Excellent way to make money. I like their business plan.
elpoopacabra's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 14:11
elpoopacabra
kind of sucks, but oh well.. as long as the price is worth the content updates i am not too upset
Rathe989's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 14:17
Rathe989
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 - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 14:20
Amp
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 - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 14:22
Amp
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 - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 14:24
Edarios
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 - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 14:41
Grimhound
@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 - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 14:43
VWGTI
That is one cool cat.
Drach's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 14:52
Drach
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 - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 14:55
Amp
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 - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 14:58
Azereki
Blizzard must really be struggling. It's a shame that WoW was such a massive failure in the mainstream PC market.
Piellar's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 15:42
Piellar
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 - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 16:04
Technophile
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 - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 16:27
thunderleg
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 - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 16:40
Amp
@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 - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 16:42
thunderleg
I am permitted to speculate and speculate I shall!
The Grudge's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 16:55
The Grudge
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 - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 16:56
Linkoman
I hope this is wrong. for blizzards sake
mrplow8's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 17:13
mrplow8
That's bullshit. I'm not getting Diablo 3 if I have to pay a monthly fee to play it.
parrothead's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 17:18
parrothead
it is a shame that no one plays WoW
Coldbrand's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 17:28
Coldbrand
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 - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 17:38
Tremulant
In the future Hamachi becomes most popular download among Blizzard software users...
Rosseh's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/12/2008 18:26
Rosseh
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.
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