Patch 7.2 PTR - Build 23708

Recent Action Against Real-Money Raid Clears
Originally Posted by Blizzard (Blue Tracker)
We’ve recently taken action against a number of accounts that were actively participating in and/or advertising the sale of in-game raid or dungeon clears in exchange for real-world currency. Such behavior is a clear violation of the World of Warcraft Terms of Use.

Of the players affected, many were members of top raiding guilds. We want to be clear that everyone we’ve taken action against had illustrated full knowledge and intent to violate the Terms of Use. Going forward, in order to ensure fair play and competitive integrity, we’ll be monitoring these activities much more closely in order to make sure that the rules are being followed. This includes selling services for real money, account-sharing, and other violations.

Note that while selling assistance with obtaining items, achievements, PvP rating, or other in-game benefits for real-world currency is against the Terms of Use, selling those things in exchange for in-game gold is perfectly legitimate. Players should not feel as though participating in a “gold run” is going to result in negative action taken against their account.

If you see people advertising these services, please help us keep the game clean by reporting them. If you’re unsure, here are some common warning signs:

  • A “broker” is offering to match buyers with service-providers. Commonly, a broker will collect real-world currency from a buyer while offering gold to a guild or group that will actually provide the service.
  • Someone offering a service is unwilling to discuss terms of payment via in-game tells, and insists on using a non-Blizzard application to communicate.

Also note that Patch 7.2 includes some improvements to our reporting features to add clearer categories for reporting listings in the Premade Group Finder. We’re disappointed to see members of the raiding community participating in behaviors that clearly violate the Terms of Use, and want to be clear that such activities will not be tolerated.
This article was originally published in forum thread: Recent Action Against Real-Money Raid Clears started by chaud View original post
Comments 291 Comments
  1. potis's Avatar
    Oh finally, thats means 7.2 might have less horribads with curve that seriously have no idea about what is going on.

    Top guilds got players banned? Interesting, info please those that know
  1. ZeleNC's Avatar
    It was really frustrating whenever you're searching for a end-game content run, these REAL-MONEY raids would pop up. Most asking for Skype information or to go to a Website and such.

    Good riddance if you ask me!

    Well done Blizzard.

    Now do something about the damn Herb Bots all over the goddamned place!
  1. mmoc89ec62a408's Avatar
    It was getting ridiculous. It had got to a point were it was being actively advertised on streams and no one caring. Glad they FINALLY took action.

    However, since bans I assume will be lifted before ToS progress (doubt they're 6months?) it has little effect.
  1. Frolk's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by potis View Post
    Oh finally, thats means 7.2 might have less horribads with curve that seriously have no idea about what is going on.

    Top guilds got players banned? Interesting, info please those that know
    Most of those horribads just bought Curve for gold, its the full ML runs that they sell for $$$

    And good, maybe less "wts" spam in the groupfinder, 30groups, turns on addon to filter out sellers, 3groups remaining.
  1. nekobaka's Avatar
    This has been going on for over a decade. Not sure if people got carried away and drew too much attention or if Blizzard is just paying more attention to this.
  1. Bulli85's Avatar
    In other words.. "Some players were doing a job and getting paid on the outside and us, Blizzard, were not getting our due cut. Now we're going to more closely monitor these players to make sure the bads actually purchase WoW tokens from us so we get our money, then they can pay those players for their time with make believe digital currency"
  1. mmoc89ec62a408's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by nekobaka View Post
    This has been going on for over a decade. Not sure if people got carried away and drew too much attention or if Blizzard is just paying more attention to this.
    Gold running has, and while $$$ has as well, the $$$ for boosts has got a lot more common in the last 2 expansions.
  1. derpkitteh's Avatar
    my friend was trying to do nightbane for the mount and kept seeing only real money offers in lfg.

    hope those cunts got banned too.
  1. nekobaka's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Zyalo View Post
    Gold running has, and while $$$ has as well, the $$$ for boosts has got a lot more common in the last 2 expansions.
    Thinking back about it I do recall posts last expansion complaining about streamers offering to sell runs for donations. Not surprised how brazen some got given the lack of action from Blizzard.

    Time will tell if any streamers was targeted or if only those who advertised in game.
  1. mmoc89ec62a408's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by nekobaka View Post
    Thinking back about it I do recall posts last expansion complaining about streamers offering to sell runs for donations. Not surprised how brazen some got given the lack of action from Blizzard.
    Now the question is more what about the grey areas. Such as "Sub Only Raids".
  1. Pantalaimon's Avatar
    Hopefully this will make it clear to players that gold runs are fine and not against the ToS, instead of players thinking those you'll get banned if you participate in them. It is just the runs doing it for real world currency that are going to draw action to your account.
  1. mmoc80be7224cc's Avatar
    Can Blizz do these with those selling PvP boosts with real money aswell? Just have to look on the group finder to see these services on offer.
  1. Bulli85's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by nekobaka View Post
    This has been going on for over a decade. Not sure if people got carried away and drew too much attention or if Blizzard is just paying more attention to this.

    Not really, I was in a guild that used to do this back in Vanilla selling ZG MC BWL runs, the difference now is that Blizzard can make real money out of it, so they need to remove people getting paid under the table.

    It's just funny how they try to play it off as "keeping the integrity of the game" by boosting players paying other players with real money. But, they can still pay with in game gold.. oh but wait, can't you BUY in game gold now? Oh, but you are buying it all from Blizzard, so that's ok. LOL. Game integrity.. yep
  1. Aquinan's Avatar
    What I thought was interesting is that they say "gold" runs are fine. Yet with the advent of the WoW tokens, gold has a real currency value. So really whats the difference there, if gold has has a $ value surely its pretty much the same thing?
  1. SL1200's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Aquinan View Post
    What I thought was interesting is that they say "gold" runs are fine. Yet with the advent of the WoW tokens, gold has a real currency value. So really whats the difference there, if gold has has a $ value surely its pretty much the same thing?
    The difference is that blizzard makes some money that way.

    It's about time Blizzard did something about this. I hope they really crack down on people selling runs for cash.
  1. Majalahti's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Aquinan View Post
    What I thought was interesting is that they say "gold" runs are fine. Yet with the advent of the WoW tokens, gold has a real currency value. So really whats the difference there, if gold has has a $ value surely its pretty much the same thing?
    Blizzard gets the $$$ from WoW token, boosters get only gold. Blizz didn't get anything from these real money runs. That's the difference.
  1. cFortyfive's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Aquinan View Post
    What I thought was interesting is that they say "gold" runs are fine. Yet with the advent of the WoW tokens, gold has a real currency value. So really whats the difference there, if gold has has a $ value surely its pretty much the same thing?
    well to be fair it's a bit inconvenient in comparison to just straight paypal.
  1. Deiae's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Aquinan View Post
    if gold has has a $ value surely its pretty much the same thing?
    gold has limited use. how many plushies or how much game time can you possibly use?
  1. Bulli85's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Aquinan View Post
    What I thought was interesting is that they say "gold" runs are fine. Yet with the advent of the WoW tokens, gold has a real currency value. So really whats the difference there, if gold has has a $ value surely its pretty much the same thing?
    In one scenario, Blizzard doesn't get paid because Player A pays Player B directly. What Blizzard wants, is for Player A to pay Blizzard
  1. ejpaints's Avatar
    So much salt over blizz finally doing something about this. Group finder has been chock full of real $$$ groups to the point I avoid using the tool for anything but my WQ addon. Adding more reporting options will help greatly as well.

Site Navigation