Blizzard is introducing a new paid digital currency to World of Warcraft called Hearthsteel. It will act as a secondary in-game currency alongside the WoW Token and will let players purchase decorations and housing items for real money as part of the Midnight expansion.
Hearthsteel will be added to players’ Battle.net balance and sold through the in-game store as well as the online shop.
The developers clarify that the bulk of housing items will remain free — only roughly 36 pieces will require Hearthsteel. Blizzard emphasizes a balance between time and money: players can still earn the core content through play, or opt to buy items if they want to furnish their homes more quickly.
Hearthsteel’s denominations are designed so purchasers can buy the exact items they want without ending up with awkward leftover credit. That sets it apart from typical microtransaction systems where players often must buy multiple bundles to obtain a single item, leaving unused amounts.
“Item prices are set to align with Hearthsteel package amounts for player convenience. By buying Hearthsteel in the intended increments, you can purchase the pieces you want without worrying about which bundles to combine to avoid leftover credit,” Blizzard explains.
Source: iXBT.games