WOW's iPhone Auction House in beta

By Oli Welsh Published 19 May, 2010

Will require extra subscription when live.

Blizzard is beta testing the Remote Auction House for World of Warcraft, which will allow players to bid on and sell items via an iPhone or iPod Touch or a web browser.

The service is free to use while in beta, but once live, will require a subscription to the new World of Warcraft Remote service, which will cost $2.99 for 30 days.

The beta is currently only available to players on a selection of North American servers - WoW.com has the full list.

The remote auction house works through the existing World of Warcraft Armory website and iPhone app. "Additional mobile devices will be supported in the future," according to Blizzard.

Anyone can browse the Auction House for free, as well as view character inventories and get real-time notifications from the Auction House. But, once the service is out of beta, you'll need to pay the subscription in order to bid on and buy out auctions, create auctions from items in your bags, bank or mailbox, and collect the gold you earn.

According to the WOW Remote FAQ, a subscription to World of Warcraft Remote is tied to an existing WOW account, so players with multiple accounts will need to buy a subscription for each. There will be a limit to the number of Remote Auction House transactions per day in order to prevent abuse of the service (currently set to 25 but likely to increase to 200).

World of Warcraft Remote may add extra services in "that could help keep players connected to different aspects of World of Warcraft through the web or their mobile device" in the future, Blizzard said.

There are further details at the Remote Auction House FAQ.

(By the way, if you have trouble reading the links to pages at www.wowarmory.com in this article, it may be because you're logged in to a European Battle.net account. Try logging out first.)

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About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (39) Latest comment 10 months ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Instinct #1 2 years ago

    A subscription for an Auction House app? Wow.

    And I'm not going to do the obvious thing and blame it on Activision. Don't tell me Blizzard have no say in their own dealings, being the golden goose.

  • superfurry #2 2 years ago

    And I'm done with this game. I was dubious about them selling vanity pets and mounts for cash, but they didn't directly affect the in-game experience and gameplay, this will.

    People can now pay Blizzard for a product that gives them a direct advantage over those who aren't paying for the same product and I'm out.

  • George-Roper #3 2 years ago

    I agree, superfurry.

    It's the reason I left SOE games a long time ago. I can't abide the way the business swung into micro-transactions and real cash markets.

    It's not that I can't afford to use those services but when the 'real world' starts to interfere with the fantasy one, it just leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

  • Whizzo #4 2 years ago

    After the queues for that 25 Dollar mount they probably think they can get away with something like this.

  • pbz #5 2 years ago

    OMG!

    c'mon if people are sad enough to pay for a mount and pets to increase the size of their virtual penis, then peeps are going to spooge all over this!

    ...and to be honest those Apple lovers are used to throwing money away, on over hyped over expensive products!

    With all this money Bliz why the hell has it taken you nearly a decade to release Diablo III?

    pfft

  • Hamflank #6 2 years ago

    Does it come with a horse?
    Edited by 1 at 19/05/10 @ 11:12

  • sneetch #7 2 years ago

    No. No way. No way at all that I'm paying a subscription to be able to use an AH app. I'd have no problem paying a once off fee but I already give them money every month.

    Fuck that.

  • levitate #8 2 years ago

    it'll be even easier to run one-man shows on the Auction house. Well done, Blizz, it's not game-breaking yet but I think they're threading the line now.

  • sarcasmoidosis #9 2 years ago

    The money this will make...Mind boggling.

  • VicViper #10 2 years ago

    This is it isn't it, its not another game that finally beats Warcraft its going to be Blizzard ripping the arse out of it and the subscribers.

    I might not be at the canceling my account stage yet but I'm not signing up for this thats for sure.

  • Ryboy #11 2 years ago

    I'm with all of you. I was delighted to hear about this App as I find the Armoury App really cool. I would have had no problem in buying this App either. But a monthly subscription for it? FUCK OFF.

    It's not going to change my life too much anyway, I'll just stick to the normal method cheers.

    Cunts.

  • Benno #12 2 years ago

    yeah this is defo a big no no from me

    very greedy

    i understand the prices on the paid transfers because thats just volume limiting economics, but this is just plain greed

    its sad when such a talented developer comes across so money hungry and disrespectful to its loyal customers

  • Nuronv #13 2 years ago

    I'm not actually sure who this service is meant to be aimed at.
    Those that don't play the auction house won't bother and its too limit for those that are really in to it

  • rodpad #14 2 years ago

    You could buy more gold with that real money than you'd probably make mucking around in the auction house with this application.

  • CaptainTrips #15 2 years ago

    I really don't see how this will be game-breaking - Blizzard clearly don't think it will be, and I'm sure they know more about their own product than the lovely folks who post on this site. Remember, people said the same thing about things like server transfers, cross-realm instances, and race changes, and in reality the integrity of the game was not affected at all.

    I won't be paying for it, but it doesn't particularly bother me if other people are willing to, and I certainly won't be nerd-raging like some of the people seem to be here - each to their own! :)

  • MaxiSleep #16 2 years ago

    I have no probs with it. A lot of other MMOs charge for things like character slots etc. This is a whole new client which allows you to achieve meaningfull benefits if you want to play a little with the marketplace. For me it would be worth it just to see how last nights actions were going and maybe pick up some bargains

  • Jauffre #17 2 years ago

    1. Buy Auction House subscription for $2 month.
    2. Write automated version of Auctioneer which buys/sells your auctions without ever needing to log in.
    3. ???
    4. Profit!!

  • Gurrah #18 2 years ago

    People are screaming right now, but I know 90% of those screamers will pay for it in the end. I think gamers really are an oddity amongst consumers, they scream and shout, they protest but in the end the majority ALWAYS caves in and pays whatever the publisher/developer is asking for the next fix of rehashed maps, items, shiny horses and fucking AUCTION HOUSES. Seriously, next thing on the list will be a partnership with eBay and they'll want a cut of every successful auction.

  • Benno #19 2 years ago

    who is screaming?

  • actionfitz #20 2 years ago

    "The service is free to use while in beta, but once live, will require a subscription to the new World of Warcraft Remote service, which will cost $2.99 for 30 days."

    how about I just fuck myself, to save you the trouble Acti-Blizz?

  • sneetch #21 2 years ago

    @Benno
    who is screaming?

    Probably the same people who are going through "nerd-rage". ;)

    I wonder if the people who post that kind of sweeping, extreme generalisation really believe that people are that annoyed or upset by these things that they are actually raging or screaming about it.

  • poopmonster #22 2 years ago

    This is a brilliant offer!

    There aren't many crack dealers who'll give you a monthly inject-all-you can subscription in the current financial climate.

    Well done sirs!

  • mumblyjoe #23 2 years ago

    Whats with all the QQ its not like Blizzard is holding a gun to your head and forcing you to buy this. Same goes for ingame mounts and pets.

  • George-Roper #24 2 years ago

    Whats with all the QQ its not like Blizzard is holding a gun to your head and forcing you to buy this. Same goes for ingame mounts and pets.

    Because it's a slippery slope.

    First we had fluff pets. No harm, they don't change anything.

    Then we get mounts. Hang on, that's something tangible that affects the way the player plays the game.

    Now we have AH access external to being sat in front of the PC. That to me means that the 'haves' have an advantage over the 'have nots'.

    Micro-transactions, cash shops and all of that stuff are not there for the benefit of the game. They're there to supplement revenue.

  • dingo75 #25 2 years ago

    Fuck please Lich King DIE in our 25 man raid so I can stop playing WoW at least until Cataclysm!
    I want him dead and the moment after I will /gquit to get rid of those morons.
    60% yesterday when lag stopped our attempts for the night. :p

    No way in hell will I pay for this just like ignored all the other stuff so far!
    Only thing I might have bought was a tiger mount for my Horde char but I wouldn't spend the money on one now since I'm totally fed up about this greedy behaviour.

  • kangarootoo #26 2 years ago

    This will make a fortune, because many players are quite simply addicted to WOW. Post above being a case in point.

  • dingo75 #27 2 years ago

    If you'd had a clue about Warcraft lore you could imagine what it means to kill the Lich King.
    He is "the" badass and everything else pales in comparison.

  • kangarootoo #28 2 years ago

    "If you'd had a clue about Warcraft lore you could imagine what it means to kill the Lich King."

    Hehe, no doubt.

    Sorry man, I'm not mocking you. Your passion and enthusiasm is commendable. I mean that, cynisism is worse in life, and it was a cheap shot by me. Dependancy does worry me though. Could you stop playing if you wanted to, just like that? "Balls to the Liche King" and just delete your save (if "delete your save" means anything in WoW, probably not).

  • LondonSquare82 #29 2 years ago

    I can name at least 25 people I have played WoW with that will buy this on day one. Interestingly of those 25 people only 2 have a partner in real life.

  • InfiniteFury #30 2 years ago

    I'm not knocking you personally at all either dingo75 but having played from 05-08 and seeing something recognisable in your situation, it doesn't half make me glad I managed to knock this on the head.

    No offense but I might read it again next time I'm tempted to resub ;-)

  • Tyronne #31 2 years ago

    You can only milk the sheep for so long before it becomes nothing more than a emaciated husk.

  • kangarootoo #32 2 years ago

    @Tyronne

    Not if the sheep contains heroin, and is fed on a diet of money.

  • Boomerang #33 2 years ago

    Didn't know the phrase "milking the cash sheep" had made it into circulation yet!

  • kangarootoo #34 2 years ago

    @Boomerang

    Now we can tell everyone we were there when it happened!

  • Wyrm #35 2 years ago

    Advantage over other players? It's only the Auction House! You can do the same thing with a laptop and a 3G dongle. If the game to you is buying and selling Frostweave Cloth then I think you might wanna Google 'raiding'.

  • George-Roper #36 2 years ago

    @Wyrm

    Advantage over other players? It's only the Auction House! You can do the same thing with a laptop and a 3G dongle. If the game to you is buying and selling Frostweave Cloth then I think you might wanna Google 'raiding'

    Brilliant. Sorry, I must have missed that part of WoW, thanks for the heads-up!

    /golfclap

    Anything that allows Player A to access a game feature, that Player B can't, in this context is an advantage.

    Doesn't matter how much you want to dress it up, it's the start of a slippery slope. The example I gave is just that. An example. But I do know a fair number of WoW gamers who play the AH every single day, reselling and making bucket loads of gold. Those players, if they have an iPhone and buy into this will have a definite advantage, on the AH against other players who don't have this 'anytime/anywhere' access.

    What next? Sign up to an additional sub that guarantees instance access, whenever you want regardless of player load? An additional sub that allows players two shots at lock-out instances, every week?

  • craziii #37 2 years ago

    isn't this just the auction house? why are so many of you getting their panties in a bunch? isn't getting loot in wow easy as pie these days? I don't get the screams I an reading in this comments section, you guys are weird.

    it is the auction house. what is the big deal. explain.

  • philiple #38 1 year ago

    Don't miss your chance to grab a new iPhone4 for $85.00 at http://www.ezy-bid.com Auctions for rock bottom discount up to 97%.

    Ezy-bid.com | Auctions Online cheapest buy latest apple iPhone sony laptop mobile phone camera

  • RhynoG #39 10 months ago

    Is it possible to code a virtual auctioneer script that would be permanently logged on and purchase / sell the items that you want? But why pay a subscription for an auction house app, is it a yearly tax like the <a rel="follow" href="http://www. quoteme.ie/home-insurance.aspx">home insurance</a>? I thought the auctions were supposed to be between players, but now I see that people can actually buy artifacts from Blizzard, and I think that's cheating, only it's official.