Update - Added a list of the keys staying in-game.

Patch 4.2: We Bid Thy Keyring Adieu
Originally Posted by Blizzard (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)
World of Warcraft has evolved quite a bit since the day the Keyring bag slot was added in patch 1.11. When implemented, this Keyring provided players with a convenient way of storing dungeon, quest, and other keys automatically. Back when the largest bag was a mind bottling 18 slots - rumoured to be bottomless - the Keyring helped save precious bag space. But as things tend to do, time went on, bags got bigger, and designs for gating content (literally and figuratively) evolved through the years.

In today’s Azeroth, keys don’t really serve much of a purpose except to take up physical storage space from the game (which could be used for other awesome stuff), and visual interface space on yours. Because of this, we’ve decided to get rid of the Keyring in order to free up some user interface space for exciting new features. This change could also potentially allow us to play around with the amount of default storage space you’re allotted down the road. So, what does this mean for you and the keys you might not have looked at in the last couple expansions or so?

We’re currently working on the implementation of a system in patch 4.2 which will handle the removal of the Keyring, while causing you as little hassle with keys as possible. Some keys which no longer serve a purpose in the game will automatically be removed from your inventory. In return, you’ll be compensated for them with their respective vendor sell prices in gold. You might also have random leftover quest keys from outdated quests, or quests which were removed in Cataclysm. Keys that fall into this category have no use and no sell price, as they are labelled as quest items, and will be automatically removed from your inventory. Any remaining keys that might still potentially serve some use in the game will be transferred into your regular inventory. If there is not enough space in your inventory to hold any leftover keys once patch 4.2 hits live realms, the keys will be placed in a backlogged storage system. Once space is made for a backlogged key, the key will take that space after you log out or switch to a new zone (i.e. changing continents, entering a dungeon or Battleground, etc.).

We are continuing to work on new ways of allowing you to better manage the storage of various items in the game, and it is our goal to make sure the removal of the Keyring causes as little inconvenience to you as possible.
Update
Originally Posted by Bashiok (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)
So, just as a reference here are the keys we're currently seeing as ones that will not be converted to gold or removed upon release of the patch -- if you have them they'd be put back into your normal inventory. This isn't necessarily a final list, and it's possible we could cut the list down even further before 4.2 releases.


This article was originally published in forum thread: Patch 4.2: We Bid Thy Keyring Adieu started by Boubouille View original post
Comments 507 Comments
  1. Ace192's Avatar
    I won't rage unless I'm forced to keep all my old heroic keys in my bag. Other than that, useless change is useless.
  1. Pumps's Avatar
    No! Let me keep my keys!
  1. Jasper Kazai's Avatar
    I'll miss my random-ass keys. (Like, on my main, a Draenei, I still have a leftover key from that furbolg quest in Azuremyst. Back from 2008 for me.)
    But, I'm hoping for a tabard storage system, and maybe even an Archaeology rare items storage system. Both would be great.
  1. Howard Moon's Avatar
    Makes me a little sad, tbh
  1. orcshaman24's Avatar
    Whats the point of this? The keyring bag wasn't even an extra bag space interfering with your current bags.
  1. shoju's Avatar
    As a couple people mentioned.

    TBC heroic Keys
    Kara Key
    Algalon key

    I don't want to have to make space for these....
  1. Mantús's Avatar
    this is bad if it is going to take bag space ..
  1. Wiggishanks's Avatar
    Where am I going to store all my Kolkar Booty Keys, now? =(
  1. Izzyasha's Avatar
    hooray?? phasing out keyz <.< slowly rogues become slightly more useful?
  1. Hubbl3's Avatar
    Where are the exciting new features that we could do with the additional bagspace blizz promised us?
  1. Vasz's Avatar
    So while half my guild has already quit because of lack of content, Blizz is playing around with the keyring ... I mean come on, Cataclysm has been out five and a half months and we still have the same raid content. Hard Mode encounters, does not make it a NEW encounter.
  1. andy_mitchelluk's Avatar
    If they're no longer going to be used, why not add a keyring "bag" to our banks so people can keep them for nostalgia if they wish? Some of us are collectors goddamit!
  1. asharia's Avatar
    but.... but...
    i like all my random useless keys. great memories attached to some.

    also, this is all dev time that could be better spent un-noobing frost dk spec. (and nerfing it a little more)
  1. Hellforge's Avatar
    who cares about that damn thing
  1. ackis's Avatar
    My bank is full, bags are full... ugh this is going to suck for inventory management for me.
  1. Draelan's Avatar
    I'm also a bit concerned about the potential number of keys that will be tossed into my already weighty bags. I can only hope that they remove the need for some, such as the Outland heroics keys, Karazhan key, etc, from the game. Make it so the only keys left are Blacksmithing keys, and keys for quests, and I'm good.
  1. Sammonoske's Avatar
    I like that the keyring is being removed, but useable keys are just tossed into the bags is kinda stupid. BS keys should turn into an enchant rather than an item that takes up space. I am aware BS use keys to level up so there should be compensation so leveling stays the same.
  1. Poodles's Avatar
    So wait, they needed the room in the UI? That doesn't make sense as they could easily make the bar wider. Sounds like a cop out to cluttering our bags.

    Before all this, we didn't have dual specs and PvP gear didn't have resil (i.e. people weren't running around with at least 3 sets of gear in their bags). Bag space is still precious...
  1. Somarlane's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by ace1231337 View Post
    I won't rage unless I'm forced to keep all my old heroic keys in my bag. Other than that, useless change is useless.
    This is currently the case on the PTR, which made many players unhappy - particularly those with blacksmith keys. I would (hopefully) expect that this will change before going live.

    My problem with this change is that Blizzard is removing stuff again. I like my keys. They make me feel important, besides having sentimental value.
  1. Sunseeker's Avatar
    What exactly will require this precious, precious interface space that with the original game bar, is little more than a couple millimeters wide?

    What I suspect is that Blizzard's oh so precious "premium service" needs a permanent spot in the game, to remind everyone that even though they've already tithed this month, they need to give, give, give!

    I really am saddened at losing some of my keys, it's not the end of the world, but it certainly seems a little silly.

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