Blizzard is having no problems selling Celestial Steed mounts in World of Warcraft for $25.

APRIL 16, 2010 • Based on the successful addition of $10 virtual item companion pets in World of Warcraft, Blizzard Entertainment introduced a $25 in-game rideable mount called the Celestial Steed. Special mounts are nothing new to WoW players, but they usually entail many hours of special requirements to attain. The Celestial Steed is a ground and air mount, and will move at whatever level of riding speed players have mastered.

Impact: Many have argued that the growth of free-to-play games with a virtual item model will kill the $15 a month subscription business.  To the contrary, DFC believes that for the right subscription game, a virtual item model will be a great way to grow revenue.  For heavy users, a $15 a month plan for unlimited use is a great bargain.  Many consumers would be willing to pay significantly more.  A virtual item model on top of a monthly subscription fee can be a great way to get more revenue from  the heavy users.