Patch 5.4 patch notes
Virtual Realms feature revealed
The Proving Grounds are coming
The latest patch 5.4 newsBlizzard giving 7 days of free play to lapsed accounts
by Anne Stickney 
Nov 15th 2010 at 6:00PM
Cataclysm is fast approaching, and Blizzard is offering seven days of free play to lapsed subscriptions in preparation for the upcoming expansion. Players who have quit the game are being offered this seven-day promotion via email, and although it hasn't been mentioned on the official site, the email and the promotion are both completely legit. The full text of the email is as follows:
Claim your 7 free days of game time!The earth-shattering rage of Deathwing will soon be released upon the lands of Azeroth. Return to the battlefields with 7 days of FREE game time! Simply click below to claim your time and prepare for Cataclysm ... but act fast, as this offer will expire on Dec 1st, 2010.
Prepare for Cataclysm™, the next expansion to World of Warcraft®, whose features include:
Two New Playable Races – Adventure as one of two new races: the feral worgen with the Alliance or the resourceful goblins with the Horde.
Classic Zones Remade – Familiar zones across the original continents of Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms have been altered forever and updated with new content, from the devastated Badlands to the broken Barrens.
Flying Mounts in Azeroth – Explore Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms like never before!
Level Cap Increased to 85 – Experience new quests and dungeons as you seize ever greater abilities and tap into new talents!
New High-Level Zones – Explore newly opened parts of the world, including Uldum, Grim Batol, and the great Sunken City of Vashj'ir beneath the sea.
Guild Advancement – Progress as a guild to earn guild levels and guild achievements.
Archaeology – Master a new secondary profession to unearth valuable artifacts and earn unique rewards.
New PvP Zone & Rated Battlegrounds – Take on PvP objectives and daily quests on Tol Barad Island, a new Wintergrasp-like zone, and wage war in all-new rated Battlegrounds.
And much more...
We look forward to seeing you back in Azeroth.
- The World of Warcraft Team
This game time is only valid for inactive accounts, rather than accounts that are set up with a paid subscription, according to blue poster Harlsoco. As with any email claiming to be official, though, it is recommended that players log into their Battle.net accounts and check their Account Management page to verify the promotion rather than clicking any email links, just to avoid any possible hacking attempts.
If you've taken a break from Azeroth, check your email -- you may have a free week to get back into the swing of things before Cataclysm's launch.
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm will destroy Azeroth as we know it; nothing will be the same! In WoW Insider's Guide to Cataclysm, you can find out everything you need to know about WoW's third expansion (available Dec. 7, 2010), from brand new races to revamped quests and zones. Visit our Cataclysm news category for the most recent posts having to do with the Cataclysm expansion.Filed under: News items, Cataclysm
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 5)
mnv Nov 15th 2010 6:26PM
the problem is not how long u were unsubbed. The thing is u dont get 7 days if u had free time before, from RAF or smth else i guess. Because when i try that it says that i already had free time.
Mosios Nov 15th 2010 7:48PM
trial's count as free time?
Clo Nov 16th 2010 5:29AM
I've had 'free time' before and I got the email.
Succulent Nov 15th 2010 6:20PM
Just to note, if you have multiple accounts all linked together via battle.net and one is inactive, you'll get this email and can apply the 7 days to your active account.
n0cturne74 Nov 15th 2010 6:21PM
Yea this is legit. My wife and I both signed up for the 7 days. We had canceled our subscriptions roughly 3 months ago.
Joshua Ochs Nov 15th 2010 6:22PM
If I take this, can I still use a Scroll of Resurrection when it's done?
Joshua Ochs Nov 15th 2010 6:24PM
(I'd ask on the official forums, but find it ironic that you have to have an active account to ask a question about your inactive account...)
Absintheur Nov 15th 2010 7:06PM
From Blizzard's FAQ:
Note: You may only send a Scroll of Resurrection to World of Warcraft accounts that have NOT been upgraded to Wrath of the Lich King.
So unless you haven't played in a long time, I'm guessing scroll is out anyway.
Eregos ftw! Nov 15th 2010 6:27PM
While it's nice for those who have lapsed friends and the like, I think it's rather unfair to those who have been faithful (so to speak. I know there are those who can't afford to play)
Why not give 7 free days to those who have kept playing and paying to your game? Honestly, I'd like everyone to get the free time.
But it is like giving the child who couldn't do the chore Candie while the one who stuck to it didn't get any.
Downvote me if you don't agree with me, but I'm stating my honest opinion. I don't mind being downvoted if you don't like it.
Saeadame Nov 15th 2010 6:40PM
I think bcraig above said it better than I could: "You get 6 years of content that you enjoyed. Marketing 101 discounts to bring in new sales not decrease profits."
jbodar Nov 16th 2010 5:15AM
Your position makes no sense, other than the fact that you feel entitled to a free week of WoW for... playing a game that you really enjoy. Other people have already brought up the anniversary pets and time-sensitive events that you only got to experience if you were there. And did you really just compare playing WoW to taking out the garbage? LOL.
Besides, if you are already actively playing, what good is it really going to do you to delay your monthly bill by a week? Is that week gonna hold you over til payday or earn some fat interest on just over $3 US?
Matthew Nov 15th 2010 6:31PM
7 days free is an attempt for people who have been away to see whats new *with the goal of keeping you*
Blizzard doesn't need to do that for people who have been in game because - YOU ARE ALREADY PAYING.
They do not need to get you to come and see whats new *with hopes you'll stay on for more time* since you are already doing that.
This is a business decision, not a loyalty decision. (Don't qq about rewarding loyalty being good business - it's true but lets face it. You're here, reading a website about a video game. they have you.)
Blizzard seems to be a very genuine and nice company, but they are a company, not a charity, not a public service.
Eregos ftw! Nov 15th 2010 6:38PM
I understand the reasoning of it. I'd do much the same if I owned a business and it would earn me a little money due to renewed subs. But faithful customers aren't getting rewarded. It sometimes hurts that people who haven't played for 3 years or more are getting free time when people who haven't stopped subscribing for 6 years aren't.
Nipah Nov 15th 2010 7:08PM
Well, when those people come back, you can prance around with your special anniversary edition pets... or things like that.
CDave Nov 15th 2010 7:19PM
There's no need for Blizzard to reward all of you loyal paying customers because there's no risk of them losing your subscription to competition. Especially since for Blizzard, there is no competition to lose you to.
N-train Nov 15th 2010 8:17PM
Blizzard would start handing out stuff if they felt there was gain to be had in that it would keep people around. That being said:
We're less than a month from the biggest and most-hyped expansion to an MMO ever (and a likely game of the year contender)... not a soul at Blizzard is worried about losing current players at this point.
As for rewarding long-time players: sure we all love a perk now and again, but face it, you must be enjoying the game itself enough to keep paying. And if you really want to talk about perks, try the fact that you don't even half to buy Cata to get access to the new race/class combos and the entire revamped old world. That's half the expansion (if not more) given to everyone for free.
gameraeon Nov 15th 2010 6:35PM
I'd rather gouge my eyes out than to return to this snake in the grass MMO
Saeadame Nov 15th 2010 6:41PM
So, question: Why are you even at this website if you don't like the MMO?
Vael'lokk Nov 15th 2010 6:41PM
...as if in answer to my doubts of renewing my account here comes Blizzard and does this. Well, guess its goodbye real life, hellooo again World of Warcraft!
I missed you so much! *hug*
scarlethands Nov 15th 2010 6:44PM
So, say you're like me who isn't subbed, but has two days left of paid play on their account. Can you get the email if you're not subbed but still have play time on your account? Also, was this just for today, or will they be sending the email out for the next couple days?