Blizzard Adds Gold Warning to WoW: Forever Trades
Blizzard will warn World of Warcraft: Forever players trading with strangers about suspicious gold, as it hands one streamer a ban and clears another's account.
Blizzard is adding an in-game warning to World of Warcraft: Forever for players who trade with strangers, community manager Kaivax announced on October 1. The warning tells players to be wary of accepting gold from unknown or suspicious sources, and states that accounts tied to illicit gold may have gold removed, be suspended, or be permanently closed.
The change follows two streamer cases that played out in public. Blizzard banned the account of streamer Payo after he said on stream that he was okay with viewers buying gold for him. Streamer Ziqo, meanwhile, kept his account: Blizzard removed the questionable gold but did not ban or suspend him.
Ziqo had been seen on stream accepting large amounts of gold from strangers ahead of a $100,000 prize pool PvP tournament, according to GameSpot. Payo later apologized and said he has never bought gold personally. His main account was banned, but he was allowed to create another account and continue streaming Forever.
Beta runs through October 21
Forever is currently in beta ahead of its full launch on November 4. The beta launched on September 17 and requires the purchase of the $60 Skyborne Heroic pack for access, and it runs until October 21.
Blizzard has previously said it wants to punish gold buyers in Forever more aggressively, admitting it had been too lenient in the past. The new trade warning puts that stance in front of players directly, at the moment they accept gold from someone they do not know.
Quick answers
What does the new World of Warcraft: Forever trade warning say?
It advises players to be wary of accepting gold from unknown or suspicious sources, and states that accounts involved with illicit gold may have gold removed, be suspended, or be permanently closed.
Why was streamer Payo banned in World of Warcraft: Forever?
Blizzard banned his account after he said on stream that he was okay with viewers buying gold for him. He later apologized and said he has never bought gold personally.
When does the World of Warcraft: Forever beta end?
The beta launched on September 17 and runs until October 21. The full launch is set for November 4.