WoW Forever Beta: Blizzard Wipes Streamer's Gold in RMT Crackdown

Blizzard has removed all gold from streamer Ziqo's World of Warcraft: Forever beta account after suspicions of real-money trading, leaving him with just nine silver.

Ever wondered if Blizzard would actually enforce its anti-real-money trading rules in the WoW: Forever beta? Well, wonder no more. The studio just made a very public example of a popular streamer.

Since the beta for World of Warcraft: Forever went live, fans have been side-eyeing certain content creators. The latest target? Twitch streamer Ziqo, who somehow ended up with around 380 gold. That might not sound like much, but in real-world cash, that's roughly $200 if you know where to look. And yes, people are buying gold in a beta.

The suspicion boiled over on X, where one user called for a 12-month ban, tournament included, pointing out that Blizzard had promised even 20-year-old accounts would get banned for RMT. The community wanted blood. But then something interesting happened: Blizzard actually acted.

In a clip shared online, Ziqo confirmed the hammer fell. "Blizzard did sweep up all my gold," he said, showing his inventory. "They cleansed it; they left me with nine silver." Just like that, his fortune vanished. No ban, but a very clear message.

So what does this mean for you? It means Blizzard is watching, and they're not afraid to take action even during a beta. The devs have said the game's economy is "something we're taking very seriously," and this move backs that up. It also sets a precedent: if you're thinking about buying gold in Forever, you might want to think again.

Of course, some players want even harsher punishments. Comments are full of calls for permabans, but so far, Blizzard hasn't gone that far. They have been cracking down on inappropriate names lately, though, so who knows what's next?

For now, the message is clear: play fair, or risk losing everything. Blizzard is proving they're willing to protect the in-game economy, even if it means embarrassing a streamer on the world stage. Will you be keeping a closer eye on your gold sources? Let us know in the comments.