Blizzard announces World of Warcraft Annual Pass

In addition to getting full access Diablo 3 to download and play for free the same day it's released, Blizzard is throwing in a few goodies for anyone who signs up for the annual pass. For one, you'll get the in-game World of Warcraft mount Tyrael's Charger. You will also gain access to the beta of the next World of Warcraft expansion as soon as it goes live. For more information, check out the official Annual Pass promotion page. The official FAQ is live as well, as is Blizzard's official walk-through of the sign-up process.
Stay tuned throughout the day for more information coming from the BlizzCon floor!
Turn to WoW Insider for all your BlizzCon 2011 news and information. Look for our liveblogs of the convention panels, interviews with WoW celebrities -- and of course, lots of pictures of people in costumes. It's all here at WoW Insider!
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Reader Comments (Page 5 of 8)
Charlie Oct 21st 2011 3:11PM
I'll hand it to blizzard. I hate the idea of pandas but I went and committed to a year. Well played.
Anne Oct 21st 2011 3:13PM
I don't see why you have to be 18 when WoW's rating is Teen. I'm 17 and I'd really like this, but I'm getting a message that I'm not eligible. This sucks :/
Darky Oct 21st 2011 3:17PM
Because it's credit card only, that's the only way you can make a commitment that blizzard can hold you by.
NightRayne Oct 21st 2011 3:37PM
Actually on the Blizz FAQ it states that prepaid game cards count toward this as well so it's not strictly credit cards.
However, commiting to 12 months (regardless of how you pay it) IS a contract, which you have to be at least 18 in most areas to enter into this kind of contract.
Skarn Oct 21st 2011 4:07PM
You are essentially agreeing to a legally binding contract that you will pay Blizzard $180 over the next 12 months. THAT is why you have to be 18. They can't make a legally binding contract with a minor.
How solid is this contract? Great question for the Lawbringer! Mat McCurley! There's a column for you. :)
gloryblogs Oct 21st 2011 3:16PM
Sign Me Up
Napoleon Oct 21st 2011 3:19PM
If I get the annual pass can I give the game to another account and then add the collectors to my own? Or does it just get automatically added without giving you the key to apply?
Skarn Oct 21st 2011 4:51PM
When you sign up for the Annual Pass, you select a WoW account that it will be applied to. If you have multiple WoW accounts, it only applies to one of them. You can add it to all of them if you like, but you are agreeing to pay for all of them for the next year.
Later, if you get the Diablo 3 Collector's Edition, you will get a code to apply to your account. This goes on your Battle.net account, NOT a specific WoW account. The D3 CE pet will then be applied to any WoW account on your Battle.net account, regardless of Annual Pass. You will also gain 4 free months of WoW game time. Currently it sounds like this is automatically applied to any WoW accounts that you have an Annual Pass on.
So if you have 3 WoW Annual Pass accounts and later get a D3 CE, you will possibly get 4 months free for EACH account. 12 free months! Wow. (Of course, you still have to pay for the other 8 for each account.) This might change and only allow you to apply the 4 free months to one account. We'll see. :)
Nessy Oct 21st 2011 3:20PM
I want the mount, but I also probably want the D3 collector's edition. Oh dear...
Riarenil Oct 21st 2011 3:28PM
if you buy the D3 collectors edition you get 4 mos Wow sub added to your acct free and it counts towards you 12 mo committment.......or that is what i just read anyhow.
Skarn Oct 21st 2011 4:03PM
Correct. If you get the D3 CE, you get 4 free months of WoW if you add it to your Annual Pass account. That's a $60 credit, the same (likely) cost of D3 itself.
Riarenil Oct 21st 2011 3:26PM
I got signed up, got my daughter signed up, but it wont let my husband sign up, even though he meets all eligibility !! and no reason why either....Sorry Husband, guess the daughter and i will have to hit the beta with out you....
in all seriousness, anyone else have this issue with multiple accounts, each on its OWN battle net?
Kay Oct 21st 2011 3:28PM
As a lapsed subscriber, this strikes me as brilliant. It's good value(discount the 60 euros for Diable and it's only like 70 a whole year) and [CYNICISM ENGAGED] it leashes people to Wow in a time when there are some extremely high-profile competitors on the horizon.
Kynguard Oct 21st 2011 3:28PM
Not gonna do it. I am not sure I want to pay another full year for this. I MIGHT just stop subbing to wow grab TOR and then Diablo III though.
Seriously I wasn't impressed with the expansion so far.
Hariel Oct 21st 2011 3:30PM
I tried to sign up but the website claimed my account isn't eligible. I have played and paid for World of Warcraft for the last 6 years and have always paid the 6 month subscription. I sure hope this gets fixed without much agony.
Hariel Oct 21st 2011 5:42PM
After refreshing many times I was able to complete the sign up. My subscription remained at the 6 month plan and I committed to Blizzard to play for another year. All is good in the world.
Ilmyrn Oct 21st 2011 3:35PM
I really like the mount, and I was planning on getting Diablo 3 anyway, but I'm not interested in the Mists beta. Watching the launch trailer, I think I want to go into Mists as unspoiled as possible, to discover all the cool new stuff and places for the first time along with my guild on launch night.
Skarn Oct 21st 2011 4:46PM
I think the beta is actually for the NEXT expansion. Whatever is after Mists of Pandaria. Otherwise they would have said "you get a free invite to the Mists of Pandaria beta."
iceveiled Oct 21st 2011 3:37PM
I like this deal but I wish it came with an option to get a boxed copy of the game or the collectors edition for extra money. I have no problems downloading games, but I like having boxed copies of blizzard's games because they do a really great job with packaging, especially their collector's editions.
Edymnion Oct 21st 2011 3:40PM
You can still get the boxed copy of Diablo III. The FAQ says that if you add the CE key to your account after signing up for this, you'll be credited with 4 months of WoW time. Which works out to you still basically getting Diablo III CE for free.