WoW goes free-to-play through level 20
by Michael Sacco 
Jun 28th 2011 at 7:00PM
If you do get the hankering for more WoW thanks to the trial, you can get the digital Battle Chest, which includes classic WoW and The Burning Crusade, for $19.99 (as soon as the Blizzard site works again, anyway).
Trying out WoW for the first time with one of these trials? Have a friend who's just starting out and needs a push in the right direction? Check out WoW Rookie, our resource for new or casual players, with topics like:
- Turn WoW into quality time by playing with a partner
- Pick the class that's right for you
- Learn how to run dungeons with groups
Trial Account Restrictions
- A level cap of 20.
- A maximum of 10 gold.
- Trade skills are capped at 100 ranks.
- Unable to trade via the Auction House, mailbox, or player-to-player.
- In-game access to public chat channels unavailable. Players are limited to communicating using only say, party, or whisper.
- Characters will be unable to create or join guilds.
- Characters are not able to send whispers to other characters unless they have been added to the characters' friends lists or have received a whisper from a character first.
- Characters will not be able to invite other players into a party.
- Characters will not be able to join parties with other characters above level 20.
- Voice chat disabled on Starter Edition accounts.
- Realms experiencing login queues will prioritize players who have full, paid accounts.
- Starter Edition accounts are not eligible for character transfers
- RealID features are disabled on all Starter Edition Accounts.
- A maximum of 10 gold.
- Trade skills are capped at 100 ranks.
- Unable to trade via the Auction House, mailbox, or player-to-player.
- In-game access to public chat channels unavailable. Players are limited to communicating using only say, party, or whisper.
- Characters will be unable to create or join guilds.
- Characters are not able to send whispers to other characters unless they have been added to the characters' friends lists or have received a whisper from a character first.
- Characters will not be able to invite other players into a party.
- Characters will not be able to join parties with other characters above level 20.
- Voice chat disabled on Starter Edition accounts.
- Realms experiencing login queues will prioritize players who have full, paid accounts.
- Starter Edition accounts are not eligible for character transfers
- RealID features are disabled on all Starter Edition Accounts.
The news is already rolling out for the upcoming WoW Patch 4.2! Preview the new Firelands raid, marvel at the new legendary staff, and get the inside scoop on new quest hubs -- plus new Tier 12 armor!Filed under: Blizzard, News items
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
Mal Jun 28th 2011 7:07PM
And cue whinestorm in 3... 2... 1...
Alchemistmerlin Jun 28th 2011 9:00PM
Why's this voted down? He's right, people are going to whine.
The day TF2 went free people were whining like crazy about how they should get something for having paid for it (besides the 4 years they had to play it)
Skarn Jun 28th 2011 10:28PM
I paid for WoW back in November of 2004 and I say:
Rock on, free Trial guys! Rock on.
Arkkis Jun 28th 2011 7:08PM
Awesome move!!
Narshe Jun 28th 2011 8:17PM
"Players with a copy of the original World of Warcraft who had not yet upgraded to The Burning Crusade have had their accounts upgraded to access the content and features of The Burning Crusade expansion at no additional cost."
Interesting change as well, matches up nicely with the veteran emails with new game codes and the new RAF changes.
dengarsw Jun 28th 2011 10:07PM
It's nice, but... I don't really know anyone I can refer WoW to at this point, and it's not from a lack of contacts.
Most people I know either play it, tried it and dislike it, or know about MMOs and are particularly keen on avoiding WoW because of the raiding aspect. Since raiding is so central in this game, I really don't think I can honestly get anyone into MMOs with this game. Other RL friends and guildies are in similar positions, since we discussed it when we got our new "give a copy of WoW away" recruit a friend posts.
This is a nice gesture and way of trying to get more players but, as someone else has said, WoW's almost like digital golf. Most folks are pretty familiar with it by name at the very least, and many have putzed around with it.
mem0ryburn Jun 29th 2011 12:20AM
I don't understand how with a game as huge as WoW anyone can say any one aspect of the game is "central to" it. Yeah there's a certain part of the story only revealed by the raids but the same can be said of the books and what percentage of players actually read those things?
I realize this wasn't the point of anything you said, I just don't get that viewpoint and needed to comment.
DarkWalker Jun 29th 2011 9:29AM
@mem0ryburn:
Best rewards being only from raids, thus feeding a "if you don't raid, you are no one" mentality.
Other play styles either don't have many rewards, or have rewards that are simply worse than the ones raiders get.
The day I find a MMO that is good overall and lets me get equivalent rewards from all content sizes (solo, small groups, raids), as well as from non-combat options, is most likely the day I stop looking at other MMOs.
Cogfizzle Jun 28th 2011 7:09PM
I think that suits me fine. My subscription runs out next month and I wasn't planning on renewing.
Knowing that I can play forever for free pretty much cements the decision. Happy days!!!
:-)
uncaringbear Jun 28th 2011 7:28PM
I'm in the same boat as you. After the crushing disappointment of Cataclysm, my subscription has sat idle for months. Now I don't have to feel bad if I don't renew it, since I can still log into the game and chat to friends, run a few low level quests, etc.
I see this move as a bad sign for Blizzard and it reflects on the direction that the game and its user base has gone this year, but it's suits me fine.
jealouspirate Jun 28th 2011 8:30PM
Yeah, I'm in the same boat here. I unsubbed a few months ago, but every now and then I have a craving to run around Azeroth for a bit. This is a perfect way for me to satisfy that craving without spending money. The opposite of what Blizzard wants out of this I'm sure, but I'm happy regardless!
shotiechan Jun 28th 2011 11:55PM
Except you can't chat in guild or join guilds or have characters above level 20...so not sure where you're going with this.
Newchron Jun 28th 2011 7:45PM
It'd be great if players with expired subscriptions can make level 20s on their accounts to stay in touch with friends.
Vitos Jun 28th 2011 7:10PM
No limit? But I'm limited to 50!
/get Trial account for more alts
Zayd Jun 28th 2011 7:11PM
So does this mean more or less gold spamming?
VioletArrows Jun 28th 2011 7:30PM
Same amount. It's easier and faster to use a hacked account that has no restrictions on it to make spam alts.
JattTheRogue Jun 29th 2011 12:54AM
This won't affect gold spamming. Starter Edition players can't talk in chat channels or whisper without you whispering first or putting them on your friends list. Unless you make a habit of whispering level 1s, you should be safe (at least, as safe as you are now).
Hivetyrant Jun 28th 2011 7:13PM
It begins....
Kamui Jun 28th 2011 7:14PM
I have a feeling there's going to be a lot more 19 twinks pretty soon.
Nosoup4u76 Jun 28th 2011 8:29PM
Really? Considering they can't have more than 10g and can't use the auction house, in game mail or trade via player-to-player, I'm thinking there aren't going to be a lot of twinks at 19 due to this. Unless of course you think that they can just accumulate all the best enchants themselves.... oh wait, limited to trade skill of 100.