One of the most controversial announcements of 2011 was that players will be able to buy and sell Diablo III items using real-world currency.
This not only means that players will be able to purchase powerful items that give them an advantage, but it is part of the reason why a constant internet connection is one of the game’s requirements.
Blizzard has today activated the Battle.net Balance, which means that players can begin depositing money into their Battle.net accounts using a variety of online transaction services such as PayPal.
Players can also stash cash they have earned by selling items in the auction house. The functionality is being tested in the beta which is still taking place.
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Having played the beta, which offers around a 3-hour through , I struggle to imagine who would actually pay real money for the entry level items which the first few hours of the game is limited to.
It is still not exactly clear whether players will actually be able to withdraw funds from the Battle.net Balances into the real world. According to Blizzard, this functionality will only be available in “certain regions”, and a fee will be charged for withdrawing funds.
Blizzard will also be imposing a limit on how much money each player can have stashed in the Battle.net Balance at any time, although a figure has not been revealed.
Furthermore, if you do not access your account for more than three years, Blizzard will be able to take any money you have in your Battle.net Balance.
It remains to be seen just how the Battle.net Balance system will fit in with South Africa’s tricky online gambling restrictions, but I have a feeling we might not have legitimate access to this portion of the game.
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