Midnight Expansion New Virtual Currency Unfair?

[MagnoliaRose-1060343 (MagnoliaRose)]

I’m confused. Wasn’t OP asking about the new housing currency?

@Wulf-gilneas

Blizzard made this announcement:

@BlizzardEntertainment

In Midnight, we’re introducing a new virtual currency to purchase select Housing items. In this article, we take you into the philosophy surrounding this addition to the game while sharing some further insights on how we intend it to work.

To some players, this seems unfair since Blizzard already charges a monthly $15.00 fee in order to play the game and have access to all it’s digital game content.

How is the new housing currency any different from gold, or bronze or whatever the twilight ascension coins are? How does having another in-game currency affect monthly subs? I think I missed something…

Edit: P.S. This is Maijoon.

Edit #2: Answering my own question. From the full Blizz article:

Before diving too far in, it’s important to define what Hearthsteel is. Hearthsteel is a new virtual currency for World of Warcraft being added in the Midnight expansion. It’s purchased with real money using your Battle.net balance and used in turn to buy Housing items from the Battle.net shop and in-game shop.

Developer Insight: Hearthsteel Virtual Currency and Housing in Midnight - WoW

Edit #3: Ok, so now knowing that Hearthsteel must be purchased with real money… my question is, “Why?” Why add the extra hoop? Why not just sell housing decor directly from the shop like everything else they sell for real money? What’s the benefit to Blizz?

I think the question of it being “fair” or “unfair” is moot. They’re making bank from micro-transactions, and will continue to do so. Those who have the money to spend on those sorts of things will continue to do so.

IMO, having a small amount of decor available for purchase with real money is no more “unfair” than any of the other stuff they sell for real money. For example: Is it unfair that some people could afford to buy the Brutosaur mount, but not others? Personally, I think everything in the Battle.net shop is a rip-off, a way to milk extra money from players.