It won’t be long until fans of Obsidian andPillars of Eternitycan grabAvowed, and players will have plenty of platform choices. One ofAvowed’s launch platforms, however, could prove to be problematic for Microsoft.
One of the many places gamers canfindAvowedupon release will include Battle.net, Blizzard’s own game launcher. By extension, players will also be able to buyAvowedusingWorld of Warcraft’s Gold currency. Gold inWarcraftcan be used to bid on WoW Tokens, which players can buy from Battle.net for $20 and put up for auction inWoW’s Auction House. Players who win these auctions can redeem tokens for about $15 in Battle.net credit, which can then be used to buy games on the platform. It should be noted that all prices fluctuate based on region, especially the amount of Gold a player can expect to pay for a token.
Microsoft’s Move With Avowed Could Be More Trouble Than It’s Worth
This particular purchasing method forAvowedmay appear unconventional, but it’s not without precedent. Much of Blizzard’s vast library can be purchased through this launcher, and thus can also be purchased usingWarcraftGold. Though this model is worth discussing by itself, the introduction of a non-Activision game here is the focal aberration. It’s likely that this is something Microsoft wants to pursue as part of its multi-platform strategy, and it’s usingAvowedto test the waters. However, this decision is primed to raise eyebrows.
Warcraft’s Auction System Could Be Thrown Into Disarray
The market for WoW Tokens is incredibly complex, playing a major role in the cottage that orbits Warcraft via the Auction House. Not only are there multiple sites dedicated to tracking Auction House prices, there are multiple for tracking WoW Tokens specifically. Their prices fluctuate greatly by region, making theWarcraftGold price ofAvowedin permanent flux—something that’s an inherent risk for any looking to take on the challenge of buyingAvowedwith Gold. Some regions have seen singleWoW Tokens jump to half a million Gold, and the current US market would require over a million gold to buyAvowed.
Moreover, further fluctuations could come from the added strainAvowedmay put onWorld of Warcraft’s market. The Auction House was just recently drained of WoW Tokens when the highly-desirable Trader’s Gilded Brutosaur was announced. Given the immensity of coverage aroundAvowed’s appearance on Battle.net, as well as its desired status, it’s possible that the game’s economy could be thrown into tumult again. On the other hand, this may not be an issue whatsoever; it’s hard to say how desirableAvowedwill be toWoWfans, and highly-investedWoWfans at that.
Putting Avowed On Battle.net Poses Questions Microsoft Might Not Be Ready To Answer
Blizzard has been allowing fans to buy games withcredit redeemed via WoW Tokensfor some time, butAvowedis nonetheless a unique case. As stated prior, it’s a non-Activision game entreating upon the Battle.net ecosystem, something that lacks precedent. It’s always good to see games being made available on multiple platforms, but fans remain confused.
Since it’s likely that Microsoft is testing the viability of Battle.net for further releases, maybe even as a larger PC competitor, the conversion of in-game currency into credit that can buy other games is worth inspection. The ramifications attached toan increased proliferation of WoW Tokensare varied and up for speculation, but it could really crash theWoWeconomy. It could also encourage other platforms to take up this model, and perhaps even provoke competing in-game currencies on the same platform. This is speculation based on a slippery slope, but it’s clear to see why some players are already treating Microsoft’s new move with skepticism.
Avowed
WHERE TO PLAY
Welcome to the Living Lands, a mysterious island filled with adventure and danger. Set in the fictional world of Eora that was first introduced to players in the Pillars of Eternity franchise, Avowed is a first-person fantasy action RPG from the award-winning team at Obsidian Entertainment.You are the envoy of Aedyr, a distant land, sent to investigate rumors of a spreading plague throughout the Living Lands - an island full of mysteries and secrets, danger and adventure, and choices and consequences, and untamed wilderness. You discover a personal connection to the Living Lands and an ancient secret that threatens to destroy everything. Can you save this unknown frontier and your soul from the forces threatening to tear them asunder?
