Policy Update for Organized In-Game Services - January 2022

[Haggle]

Policy Update for Organized In-Game Services - January 2022

Boosting Communities are no longer allowed in-game, even when offering services for gold.

Originally Posted by Blizzard
(Blue Tracker / Official Forums)

As the conditions change by which various entities operate in World of Warcraft, we are compelled to update our policies to further our goal of making the gameplay experience as fair and welcoming as possible. Since we last updated our policies, we have found that an increasing disturbance of the gameplay experience has been caused by organizations excessively advertising various non-traditional services in-game.



As of today, we will now prohibit organizations who offer boosting, matchmaking, escrow, or other non-traditional services, including those offered for gold. World of Warcraft accounts found to be in violation of this policy are subject to account actions. These actions can include warnings, account suspensions and, if necessary, permanent closure of the disruptive World of Warcraft account(s). Organizations operating across multiple realms and excessively advertising non-traditional in-game sales are contrary to the terms and conditions of the Blizzard End-User License Agreement (EULA).



This policy update does not restrict individuals or guilds from using the provided in-game tools (“trade channel” chat) to buy or sell in-game items or activities for in-game currency. However, “boosting communities”, especially those who operate across multiple realms, are no longer permitted.



We urge all such organizations to cease doing business in World of Warcraft immediately, in order to maintain uninterrupted access to the game.

Originally Posted by Blizzard
(Blue Tracker / Official Forums)

I believe cross-realm boosting is disallowed, unless I read it wrong.



Organizations who disruptively advertise across all realms and establish escrow services are the primary target of this policy update. Guilds and individuals who are inviting players from another realm to join them in traditional game activities in exchange for gold are allowed, as they were before.



Would that include things like GDKP runs? Where players benefit financially off other people?



That depends on the definition of “financially”. If it means an exchange of gold only without a middleman entity, then it sounds like the same sort of guild activities players have been enjoying for 17 years, which are not the focus of this policy update.

https://www.mmo-champion.com/content/10 ... nuary-2022