The World of Warcraft community page has been updated with the news that when patch v5.0.4 is released on August 28th, all races will be available to players.

With the release of patch 5.0.4, we’re making all the races of Azeroth playable by anyone, no matter which version or expansion of World of Warcraft they own. This includes the enigmatic pandaren, who will become available for play when Mists of Pandaria is released on Tuesday, September 25. We want the entire World of Warcraft community to be able to embrace their inner goblin, blood elf, worgen, draenei, or pandaren from the moment they step foot into the world of Azeroth.

Thanks to Vannor for the tip!

This is good news for players just starting.

But imagine this, you are a long time player, purchased all of the expansions to play the races when they became available or be locked out from them and you spent all of that money to do so. Now newbies can do that for nothing. lol, I feel like I've been robbed.

But yeah, perhaps it will retain some people, attract more subs, a good move since they are losing subs (down to just over 9 milliion according to the last financial report).. sensing a little desperation here too, but not a total panic switch to f2p level yet. 

Originally posted by nixium

This is good news for players just starting.

But imagine this, you are a long time player, purchased all of the expansions to play the races when they became available or be locked out from them and you spent all of that money to do so. Now newbies can do that for nothing. lol, I feel like I've been robbed.

But yeah, perhaps it will retain some people, attract more subs, a good move since they are losing subs (down to just over 9 milliion according to the last financial report).. sensing a little desperation here too, but not a total panic switch to f2p level yet. 

Do you feel robbed when someone gets upgraded to Cata level account if they get a Scroll of Res? I bought all the expansions at full price yet I don't feel robbed in any way. Same way  I didn't feel robbed when everyone got all Guild Wars chapters for 20 bucks when I paid 60 dollars per expansion.

Originally posted by FrodoFragins
How do they level pandas without pandaria?

basically, everyone has the same client. account properties determine what you can or can't play.

Originally posted by FrodoFragins
How do they level pandas without pandaria?

From forums

http://us.battle.net/wow/en/forum/topic/6352435511

This is great but how will starting areas be handled?

The starting areas will be accessible as well. For example, you'll be able to adventure on the Wandering Isle as a pandaren when Mists of Pandaria is released, but you won't be able to visit Pandaria. They're separate locations.

Originally posted by fivoroth

Originally posted by nixium

This is good news for players just starting.

But imagine this, you are a long time player, purchased all of the expansions to play the races when they became available or be locked out from them and you spent all of that money to do so. Now newbies can do that for nothing. lol, I feel like I've been robbed.

But yeah, perhaps it will retain some people, attract more subs, a good move since they are losing subs (down to just over 9 milliion according to the last financial report).. sensing a little desperation here too, but not a total panic switch to f2p level yet. 

Do you feel robbed when someone gets upgraded to Cata level account if they get a Scroll of Res? I bought all the expansions at full price yet I don't feel robbed in any way. Same way  I didn't feel robbed when everyone got all Guild Wars chapters for 20 bucks when I paid 60 dollars per expansion.

I felt robbed then too. :) But meh, let the buyer beware. The SOR should have been a hint in retrospection.

Originally posted by nixium

Originally posted by fivoroth

Originally posted by nixium

This is good news for players just starting.

But imagine this, you are a long time player, purchased all of the expansions to play the races when they became available or be locked out from them and you spent all of that money to do so. Now newbies can do that for nothing. lol, I feel like I've been robbed.

But yeah, perhaps it will retain some people, attract more subs, a good move since they are losing subs (down to just over 9 milliion according to the last financial report).. sensing a little desperation here too, but not a total panic switch to f2p level yet. 

Do you feel robbed when someone gets upgraded to Cata level account if they get a Scroll of Res? I bought all the expansions at full price yet I don't feel robbed in any way. Same way  I didn't feel robbed when everyone got all Guild Wars chapters for 20 bucks when I paid 60 dollars per expansion.

I felt robbed then too. :) But meh, let the buyer beware. The SOR should have been a hint in retrospection.

Let the buyer beware?  I don't think Cavet emptor applies here...  You had a product first, when it was fresh and new.  If you bought a new Iphone4 at release it was a few hundred bucks, now you can get one far cheaper.  Were you "robbed" if you bought one at release compared to having one at the price you can get it now?  

No.

Reality check sir.

Oh and Buyer Beware is for shoddy products, like snake oils and the like, its an ancient roman term.  Typical its you get what you pay for type deal.  Context.

Will they be Ally exclusive like every other new race that was acctually interesting?

We give them space gargoyles, the other guys, short elves that are already in the game.

We give them transforming werewolves, the other guys goblins that they already almost have.

Originally posted by Xobdnas

Will they be Ally exclusive like every other new race that was acctually interesting?

 

We give them space gargoyles, the other guys, short elves that are already in the game.

 

We give them transforming werewolves, the other guys goblins that they already almost have.

 They're not changing any races faction allegience.  They're just making races available to all players regardless of which expansions they may or may not own.

Originally posted by Laughing-man

Originally posted by nixium

Originally posted by fivoroth

Originally posted by nixium

This is good news for players just starting.

But imagine this, you are a long time player, purchased all of the expansions to play the races when they became available or be locked out from them and you spent all of that money to do so. Now newbies can do that for nothing. lol, I feel like I've been robbed.

But yeah, perhaps it will retain some people, attract more subs, a good move since they are losing subs (down to just over 9 milliion according to the last financial report).. sensing a little desperation here too, but not a total panic switch to f2p level yet. 

Do you feel robbed when someone gets upgraded to Cata level account if they get a Scroll of Res? I bought all the expansions at full price yet I don't feel robbed in any way. Same way  I didn't feel robbed when everyone got all Guild Wars chapters for 20 bucks when I paid 60 dollars per expansion.

I felt robbed then too. :) But meh, let the buyer beware. The SOR should have been a hint in retrospection.

Let the buyer beware?  I don't think Cavet emptor applies here...  You had a product first, when it was fresh and new.  If you bought a new Iphone4 at release it was a few hundred bucks, now you can get one far cheaper.  Were you "robbed" if you bought one at release compared to having one at the price you can get it now?  

No.

Reality check sir.

Oh and Buyer Beware is for shoddy products, like snake oils and the like, its an ancient roman term.  Typical its you get what you pay for type deal.  Context.

Quite relevant if the product is required to unlock a race at the time then it's free later on to all who don't need to purchase the product. And yes you got what you paid for then. But not now, because the value will be reduced meaning people in the past have lost out while new players gain. Very dodgy. But may the buyer beware back then, despite the quirks and benefits  later on in this month.

Others don't have to feel robbed, fair play, I do , some others might as well. Horses for courses.

Originally posted by Grotar89
Sry Blizzard this wont help you, GW2 is coming !!!!

Looool ... Wow is shaking in fear ;-)

Would WoW have offered this feature if GW2 didn't exist?  My guess is no, since it forces people to buy the expansion.  Maybe 6 months to a year after the expansion they might have opened it up but certainly not when the expansion releases.

Pretty obvious to me it is a retention tactic to staunch the flow of bleeding subs that will be lost to Anet's financial model of buy to play.

I'm not saying that Blizz will not be successful in their new expansion.  Just that revenue potential is what is being fought for.

Originally posted by Mari2k

Originally posted by Grotar89
Sry Blizzard this wont help you, GW2 is coming !!!!

Looool ... Wow is shaking in fear ;-)

it should be you lost 2 mil subs in the last two years , maybe think about what you say before you say it.

Originally posted by Mari2k

Originally posted by Grotar89
Sry Blizzard this wont help you, GW2 is coming !!!!

Looool ... Wow is shaking in fear ;-)

I agree also,ive tried many mmo's after my wow addiction and have not been satisfied until i played gw2 during the closed beta.GW2 has totally killed my desire to play MOP.