Point to me a single game from the last 8 years that is F2P and exploits its user base in the way WoW players perceive exploitation (as in - charging for parts of the game that are demonstrably critical to the overall experience).
I would agree in some capacity that overpriced cosmetics are, in fact, exploitative. But again, I’d also direct you to the fact that Blizzard literally charged $90 for a mount last year. They try to get people to buy 6 month subs by luring them in with new flashy mounts. They charge $60 for character boosts.
Blizzard has already succumbed to the whims of F2P practices. Sorry to break it to you lol
It’s not, you are in no way forced to buy it.
It’s entirely optional and doesn’t given you anything you couldn’t get by other means.
Nothing about it makes you a victim.
That doesn’t mean it’s not predatory lol
Nothing about a video game in general makes you a victim…
But you are basically pushed in the general direction of buying one if you don’t want to grind for gold.
I probably buy one every 3 months or so because I don’t farm gold and I want to buy enchantments/stuff I need
The thing is…if the wow token didn’t exist, things would be cheaper
I’ll admit as far as WoW is concerned I have already been weighing up if it’s worth sticking around since the 20% hike (cause our Aussie dollar is so bad now).
I know my weaknesses and one of them are ‘pay for convenience’ which P2W games very much take advantage of.
So honest answer probably not, but it’s a lot more of a me-problem than a game problem.
It pretty much does. If you can refuse, you can’t be preyed upon. This isn’t hard.
In other words, it’s a purchase of convenience.
I occasionally buy one myself when I don’t feel like grinding out the gold.
It’s the very definition of a purchase of convenience.
Okay, so by your definition, Diablo Immortal isn’t predatory?
Absolutely leave.
Many have already mentioned F2p as a microtransaction superstore but for me it would mostly be the playerbase it would bring.
A good number of the playerbase already acts like children we don’t need to invite more of them lol.
Gatekeeping is not a bad thing 
No. It’s p2w. It’s expensive. It’s a ripoff. It’s not predatory.
Predatory would be, for example, the monthly medicine you need to stay alive costs so much you can’t afford food and the company is making 500% profit.
Yes and I would take the 15 dollars I saved straight to the buffet
Unless I needed to pay one dollar toll each time I entered the raid or something LOL
Just like buffets, I enjoy this pay style where you pay once and enjoy as much as you want without thinking about cost.
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Nope. It goes F2P, I leave immediately. Have fun paying real money for everything in the game. Spec save slots. Bag space. Bank space, etc.
It would have to depend on how many changes they make.
No. The game would go to hell. Free to play is never a good option and usually a last resort or complete cash grab game. I want to earn my rewards and not pay for them.
I’d also want compensation for my subscription that’s already paid for. I have a good 2 years of time.
Free-to-Play would most assuredly send WoW into an actual death spiral.
Those who have played for years won’t wanna stick around, me included.
The playerbase would become a lot more toxic overnight as well, like League’s is.
Free to play generally means there’s no ramifications for behavior since you don’t have to invest real money into the game- just be toxic and make a new account if you are banned.
There’s no way you can make the game free and it won’t suffer in some way.
No, because if it goes free to play, there will always be a sub based version.
Nope.
Don’t want no FTP rabble in here thanks.
You think it’s toxic now? Make it free.
Nope.
If I wanted to play free WoW I would just download Project Ascension and I want that as much as I want another mirgraine.