Patch 5.4 patch notes
Virtual Realms feature revealed
The Proving Grounds are coming
The latest patch 5.4 newsWoW Annual Pass expands to include more countries
by Anne Stickney 
Nov 2nd 2011 at 10:31PM
If you've been wanting to sign up for the Annual Pass announced at BlizzCon only to find it not available in your region, you may want to check the page again. Blizzard just announced that it has expanded the pass to include more countries, including Russia, Switzerland, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile and more. The World of Warcraft Annual Pass is a one-year commitment to the game. You do not have to pay for your year in one lump sum. You can keep making payments in the same increments you've always done before -- you're simply committing to a year's worth of payments with the pass.
In return, you get Diablo 3 for free, the Tyrael's Charger flying mount for your Warcraft character, and access to the next WoW expansion beta test. So if you've been itching to play Diablo 3, dying to test new expansion content, or simply craving a new winged pony to ride around on in game, this may be the solution for you. You can sign up for the Annual Pass on Blizzard's website; if you've got any questions about the process, check the official FAQ there, as well.
Brace yourselves for what could be some of most exciting updates to the game recently with patch 4.3. Review the official patch notes, and then dig into what's ahead: new item storage options, cross-realm raiding, cosmetic armor skinning and your chance to battle the mighty Deathwing -- from astride his back!
In return, you get Diablo 3 for free, the Tyrael's Charger flying mount for your Warcraft character, and access to the next WoW expansion beta test. So if you've been itching to play Diablo 3, dying to test new expansion content, or simply craving a new winged pony to ride around on in game, this may be the solution for you. You can sign up for the Annual Pass on Blizzard's website; if you've got any questions about the process, check the official FAQ there, as well.
Brace yourselves for what could be some of most exciting updates to the game recently with patch 4.3. Review the official patch notes, and then dig into what's ahead: new item storage options, cross-realm raiding, cosmetic armor skinning and your chance to battle the mighty Deathwing -- from astride his back!
Filed under: Blizzard, News items
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 3)
Artificial Nov 3rd 2011 4:32AM
Hmmph. If you know you're not going to be cancelling within the next year (and you do know that if you sign up for the annual pass), then it'd be silly to not take advanage of the $12.99 per month rate you get when you buy six months at a time. So, you're committing to pay at least $155.88, not "nearly $200". If you choose to pay more than that, that's fine, but that's all you're committed to. If you were likely to keep subscribed most of that time anyhow, but were paying month-to-month for the flexibility, what you've committed to is actually saving you money, even without considering the value of the extras.
bluespacecow Nov 3rd 2011 10:49AM
I like to think of it as a mobile contract.
Azurite Nov 2nd 2011 11:45PM
Now, if anyone could answer this question, I'd really appreciate it.
From what I understand, when you use this offer, you commit yourself to suscribe to World of Warcraft for one year.
Let's assume I suscribe to this Annual Pass and Diablo 3 is released on March. According to the description, if I'm using this offer, I'll be able to download Diablo III as soon as it goes live.
Now, what if I am somehow unable to pay for my April fee? Do I just lose all my bonuses and am no longer allowed to get them back? Or does Blizzard somehow takes the 15usd from my credit card without asking me?
andres.dc39 Nov 2nd 2011 11:55PM
I'm sure you would lose it. Of course, i'm sure you could fix it by calling customer service.
Literaltruth Nov 2nd 2011 11:58PM
I'm pretty sure Blizzard takes the money from your card. It's not doing it "without asking you", however. You give them persmission to do that when you sign up for the annual pass.
This is why you must provide Blizzard with a credit card if you don't already have one attached to your account when you sign up for the annual pass.
PonTelon Nov 3rd 2011 12:00AM
It'll pull from your credit card. You can't remove your credit card from your account so they can guarantee you hold up your end of the contract.
If you are using a bank card, this CAN overdraw your account(assuming your bank still allows it. Banking laws in the US just got a bunch of overhauls).
It's a legal contract. Personally, since I can't use my PayPal anymore, I'm thinking of buying some gamecards online so I can still "pay" with my PayPal.
undeadgoat Nov 3rd 2011 12:50AM
You definitely agree to have them charge your card when you sign up for the annual pass. As far as if your card is declined--i.e., you're right up against your credit limit--we haven't heard anything official, but I assume they'd give you a few days to straighten it out, then pull D3 and Tyrael's Charger from your account.
Skarn Nov 3rd 2011 12:59AM
As Literaltruth points out, by signing up for the Annual Pass you are specifically giving Blizzard permission to charge your credit card every single month for the next twelve months. They're not "charging you without asking."
That said, if you do not pay for some reason (say, canceling your credit card) then Blizzard will remove the Pass Perks from your account. You will no longer get access to Diablo 3. You will lose Tyrael's Charger on any and all characters. You will be kicked out of the Mists beta, if it's currently going on when you fail to pay. It's also likely that your account will be blacklisted from future promotions.
Don't sign up if you are uncertain of your ability to pay.
bluespacecow Nov 3rd 2011 10:54AM
From my time reading the US CSF forums Blizzard would rather just remove the perks you get from the annual pass if you default on the payments.
Yes they have the legal right to go after you to fulfill your end of the bargain but they don't want to be the bad guys here.
The most that may happen is the backup credit card gets charged.
Marius W. Nov 2nd 2011 11:50PM
Diablo 3 may be free, but you are committing yourself to 12 months of subbing to WoW with no new content other than 4.3. Buying D3 will be cheaper if you don't see yourself playing for 12 months straight. I think they would have a lot more people on board if they gave us a ballpark time period when they expect MoP to be released. I know that isn't their MO to do that, sadly.
But a lot can happen in 12 months. There may be a mini patch like there was in Wrath. There will also be the intro world event for MoP a month or so before the release of MoP.
So there will be new stuff but it won't be huge content patches, going on past xpacs and x.4 from then. BUT in the leaked timetable, the did say 2Q for MoP.
I guess Im really just rationalizing this for myself. I hope it is still around when 4.3 gets released as Id like to sign up for the annual pass then.
It's a nice incentive they gave us. Its a win win situation. We get free mount and D3 and Blizzard gets steady revenue and a lot more people playing D3 and checking out their real money auction house.
Artificial Nov 3rd 2011 4:34AM
"Buying D3 will be cheaper if you don't see yourself playing for 12 months straight."
No. Buying D3 will be cheaper if you don't see yourself playing at least 8 of the next 12 months. Buying D3 will be more expensive if you chose to skip the plan, but don't unsubscribe for at least 5 of the next 12 months.
Mau Nov 3rd 2011 12:03AM
Confirming from Costa Rica that it works for us
DarkWalker Nov 3rd 2011 1:36AM
The main reason I'm not taking this offer is that I'm currently not playing WoW, and will only evaluate if I will re-subscribe a couple weeks after MoP is released, when I will be able to see if the promised tweaks to Heroic dungeon difficulty - making them as fast as Wrath heroics were - are delivered. So, I guess I will pass on this offer.
On the other hand, if this was offered a couple years ago, when I was quite content with the game, I would have taken it in a heartbeat.
Bossy Nov 3rd 2011 3:12AM
It is a total non brainer.
After 5 years I certainly know I'll play WOW for the next year. Furthermore I was planning on playing Diablo 3 anyway.
The games are so different and at the same time they cover the same RPG field in complete different manners and they are .... Blizzard quality games. Even if you don't like the genre they publish in (SC2 for me), these Blizzard games stand miles above 99% others (sure there are some exceptions - each to your own liking but they are just that: very rare exceptions).
Now comes the easy part: after having tried to like all those other launched MMO duds of the past, I know the next launched hypes will be as bad as all the others. After having wasted time and money on them, I pulled the plug out of them ever since Lotro/AOC/Warhammer & Co on line made me puke. Oh boy I was never happier than now since I put those terrible mmorpg websites simply on ignore.
I must have saved TONS of Euros and time by simply ignoring such scams like FF, DCO, Aion, Rift. And the next bunch are simply WOW in xxx (just fill in the spaces).
I am still in doubt whether I would buy me an XBox by the side in the future with apparently good games like Gears of Wars, but frankly ... Blizzard frigthened me to invest any further into those other hypes.
Look at me: 15 years ago I hated Blizzard for destroying the historical RTS scene with their popular Warcraft thingies (games like CC1 and SM Gettysburg were sacred to me), but after all these years I came to realise what a difference Blizzard makes.
You buy one Blizzard game and you are likely to play it for years and years, while the boxes of those other games just gather dust after 2 weeks.
So as I said: a non brainer really.
lilboo Nov 3rd 2011 6:51AM
Ugh, I already see the vast amount of complaints coming to the forum QQ'ing about "how Blizzard stole money from them". There will be sad stories about how they are unemployed, mom got abducted by aliens, spouse got a sex change and then died in a fire, etc etc etc.
This is like a cell phone contract.
"HEY sign a 2 year contract and get the iPhone for FREE!!!"
"HEY sign a 12 month contract, get DIABLO III for free, get a new pony, AND get access to MoP Beta!"
You want those 3 things? Fantastic. Me too. I understand between now and next October anything can happen..and $15 could be hard to come by... but I signed a contract.. so, I can't complain when they charge me during a month that I can't afford it... nor can I complain if I stop paying and I lose access to Diablo III.
What's fair is fair.
People keep in mind: This may very well be an issue that can be sent to collections. I am not 100% sure if this could be an issue on your credit score, as we don't provide our SSN, but if you sign up to say "Im going to give you money for the next 12 months".. your legally required to do so.
To be honest, the sob stories will be kinda funny..
bluespacecow Nov 3rd 2011 10:57AM
They have the right to do that by the contract yes.
But they would rather not be the bad guys here. From what I hear from the CSF forums they would rather just remove the perks from the Annual Pass.
Neothanos Nov 3rd 2011 2:34PM
Overall its a good move. THey should give everyone else the deal.
Firestyle Nov 3rd 2011 3:28PM
So, when do we get the mounts?
Skarn Nov 5th 2011 2:41AM
The Charger will arrive with Deathwing in the 4.3 patch.
Ice Nov 9th 2011 12:48PM
"It's worth noting that there is zero downside to this. If you sign up and don't pay for a month, all you lose is the ability to play diablo 3 and use your pony- which were FREE to begin with. So if it gets to the point where you want to take a break- u can take it"
No, this is wrong.
You CANNOT just quit the annual pass when you want to. You cant simply stop paying without breaching the contract.
You HAVE to pay 12 months, thats the whole point.
This is not some "bonus system" which you setup and you collect months over time "when you feel like it". Its _commitment_ and you will be charged 12 months whatever style you chose (3 month times, 6 month times etc).
Please do not spread misinformation like this that you can just quit when you feel like it and just lose "free stuff" making it "no big deal".
Quitting middle of it is breach of contract you have singed and can potentially get you sued. Now of course, they wont sue thousands of players over quitting middle of it it but consider that it costs 0.50$ to send you letter that if you dont pay they have to sue you.
You might get your account frozen/marked bad standing because you breached the contract or they can do stuff however they see it fit to punish you from it.
It has happened before on these type of deals on games or mobile contracts.