Blizzard’s plans for the online card game Hearthstone include selling new heroes for €9. This isn’t well received by everyone.
“New heroes,” with new animations and voices, will soon be offered by Blizzard for Hearthstone. On closer inspection, it is clear: these are just skins, and €9 is quite steep.
Skins are a normal revenue source for Free2Play titles, but most games a) offer cheaper skins and b) players see them more than just themselves and the only opponent like in Hearthstone. In a game like League of Legends or Heroes of the Storm, usually 9 others see that you’ve turned the proud dwarf king into a sugar caricature and that you have a preference for ninjas in nurse outfits.
In the discussion about the skins in Hearthstone, according to the US site Kotaku, most complain about the steep price: €9 for a skin is considered too high. This will likely serve as a pure status symbol. Moreover, with the announcement, there are calls again for more deck slots or other features that have long been desired, but have been rejected for accessibility reasons related to Hearthstone. Most would also like a way to acquire the skins alternatively for gold.
What do you think? €9 for a “Hearthstone” skin? What are your thoughts? Is that too expensive? Would you buy them cheaper? Or do you see it as a “those who want to, will – and those who don’t, won’t” situation?
By the way, a Youtube video shows how to get the new skin without any money …
