WoW Hearthsteel – Premium currency datamined. More monetization?
Dataminers uncover Hearthsteel in Midnight Alpha: a possible new premium currency for Housing decor that’s already sparking player debate.
Dataminers have discovered a new in-game currency called Hearthsteel in the Midnight Alpha build, sparking intense community discussion. Early findings suggest it could serve as a premium currency, potentially tied to WoW Housing and used for decor purchases.
This discovery has once again raised concerns about increasing monetization in the game. Here’s what we know so far.
Hearthsteel currency is coming in Midnight
A new currency called Hearthsteel seems to be arriving in WoW with the upcoming Midnight expansion. At least according to datamined details from the latest Alpha build, since Blizzard has yet to make an official announcement.
The only sign of its existence so far is a set of files labeled “Interface\Shop\CatalogShopHearthsteelIcons,” featuring images you can see above, hinting it may be linked to future in-game shop items or, more likely, the long-awaited Housing feature.
Community concerns
While not officially confirmed, Hearthsteel appears to be a premium currency (one likely purchased with real money). It looks like a premium currency because the datamined artwork shows multiple Hearthsteel bundles in increasing amounts: a pattern commonly used for real-money purchases in other Blizzard titles like Hearthstone or Diablo IV.
This possibility concerns many players, as it suggests Blizzard might be moving further toward heavier monetization in WoW. The issue isn’t that a premium currency system is inherently bad (after all, it works just fine in Hearthstone), but Hearthstone is a free-to-play game, while WoW is not. Players already pay for game time, expansions (which have become more frequent with the Worldsoul Saga), and now it seems Blizzard may be adding yet another paid layer.
What worries players most is how aggressive this model can be. Premium currencies are often sold in bundles that leave players with leftover amounts, small, unused balances that subtly encourage buying more to “make it even.” This tactic encourages extra spending and should likely be avoided, or at least carefully limited to maintain player trust.
Housing pay wall
As for Housing itself, the developers have already confirmed that some decor items may become available for purchase in the in-game store. So this part isn’t really a surprise.
The concern is how these items might be sold in the future. Since there hasn’t been an official announcement yet, we can only hope Blizzard keeps real-money decor purchases as a small, optional part of the experience, allowing players to earn Housing items freely through gameplay, with payments remaining just an alternative.
But the datamined Hearthsteel currency bundles suggest otherwise. Instead of relaxing in our WoW houses, we could be bombarded with ads for Hearthsteel currency and paywalled decor items that can only be obtained with real money.
At times, some WoW activities can feel more like work than play, leading some players to see optional payments as a fair trade for their time. That’s why visiting our WoW gold store can be a smart choice, helping you save hours of grinding so you can focus on the most enjoyable parts of the game.
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