Buzz
If you’ve ever dived into an MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game) or any similar online game, you’ll know that some players go to extremes to acquire a specific item or coveted in-game location. What might surprise you is that there are players out there willing to spend a fortune in real-world currency to obtain these virtual goods, and the sums involved can be mind-boggling.
If you’ve ever spent $19.95 on a game that was free to play on your phone, you’ve encountered microtransactions. However, what we’re discussing here goes beyond that. These are digital items that exist solely within the game worlds they originate from, and players have shelled out substantial amounts of money to own them.
10. Revenant Supercarrier (EVE Online) $9K
The purchase of this item is tied to a rather unfortunate tale. A player opted to spend nearly $10,000 on a rare spaceship within the game EVE Online. The game uses its own currency called Interstellar Kredits, which holds real-world value. So, when someone spent 309 billion ISK on the Revenant Supercarrier, they were essentially paying $9,000. A hefty price tag for anyone, but especially when considering what transpired next.
In 2007, the player who had saved up for months to purchase the most powerful supercarrier in the game ended up losing it in an ambush. Unfortunately, the ship was destroyed and could not be salvaged! This disaster occurred because there was a spy within his online group. The players were lured directly into a massive fleet of supercarriers and dreadnoughts, all of whom were eager to take down the game’s most coveted prize.
9. Zeuzo (World of Warcraft) $10K
While some players invest in ships or weapons, others prefer to buy characters. Zeuzo was the name of a Level 70 Night Elf rogue character purchased by a player named “Shaks” in September 2007 for a whopping $10,000.
At first glance, this may seem like just a simple transaction... a player grinding out hundreds of hours to level up their character to an appealing point (in this case, around 600 hours). But Blizzard Entertainment, the company behind the mega-popular MMORPG, saw things differently. The sale went smoothly at first, but not long after, Blizzard intervened and banned the character from their servers just days after the deal was made.
The moral of the story is clear: always read the user agreement—yes, the one we all rush through and click “agree” at the bottom of. Before making any purchases from other players, make sure to check the rules. Most companies do not allow players to make a profit off their games in this manner.
8. Echoing Fury Mace (Diablo 3) $14K
When Diablo 3 was first launched, Blizzard included an in-game marketplace where players could list their items for sale and receive real-world money in return. Although the marketplace has since been shut down, it once allowed players to earn thousands of dollars each month by grinding through the game to collect rare items.
One such item, an Echoing Fury Mace with fully maxed-out stats, was sold online for an astounding $14,000! Today, with the marketplace gone and players still enjoying Diablo 3, this same weapon is now worth exactly $0.00, but at the time of the sale, it was the priciest item in the game.
7. Sword (Age of Wulin) $16K
This item stands apart from others we've discussed, as it was purchased even before it was available in the game. In December 2011, a player won an auction for a special sword that was set to be introduced in the game Age of Wulin the following spring. Although the sword wasn’t available to him immediately, he did receive a plaque to commemorate his successful bid—a small consolation prize for the $16,000 he spent on a weapon crafted specifically for the auction.
Age of Wulin (known as Wushu in China, where it was originally developed) is an MMORPG set in a world inspired by the Wuxia myths of China’s Ming Dynasty. Players engage in martial arts adventures, utilizing swords and other melee weapons to complete quests and progress through the game. Although it enjoys much more popularity in China, it hasn’t reached the same recognition in Europe or North America, which is why many players may be unfamiliar with it.
6. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Skin $30K
While most items on this list serve some functional role in their respective games, such as locations providing returns or weapons and ships aiding gameplay, there are others, like outfits or skins, that serve no purpose other than providing the player with bragging rights. Most players might spend a few dollars here or there on a skin they fancy, but one player went all-in, spending a jaw-dropping $30,000 in BitCoin on a skin for a knife.
To clarify, this skin doesn’t provide any benefit in terms of gameplay. It doesn’t make the weapon home in on opponents or offer any special advantage. It’s simply for aesthetics... and even that is a matter of opinion. Despite the high price tag—which we can all agree is substantial—it’s actually not that rare for players to drop tens of thousands of dollars on similar items in Counter-Strike.
5. Ethereal Flames Wardog (DOTA 2) $38K
While most people could likely go through their entire lives without spending $38,000 on video games, one individual chose to spend that amount on a single in-game item. High-priced items are usually found in MMORPGs, but there’s the rare case of an expensive item in DOTA, a Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA).
In DOTA 2, players can use couriers, which are items designed to carry goods between their team and their base. While couriers are useful, they aren’t essential enough to justify a price tag like this. One player dropped nearly $40,000 in real money for the rarest War Dog in the game... and it’s pink.
You might be wondering why a pink dog commanded such a high price. The seller explained that its value came from its rare combination of courier types, color, and effects. There are only five of these couriers in existence, so if you happen to think you own one, you might want to double-check. However, it’s believed that the value of this item has now dropped to around $4,000.
4. Amsterdam (Second Life) $50K
Online games have come a long way since their inception, but one of the most famous ones from the early 2000s was Second Life. In this virtual world, players created avatars that lived out lives similar to those in the real world. As part of this world, a replica of the Dutch city of Amsterdam was created... and then sold on eBay.
As you may already be aware, Amsterdam is famous for its Red Light District, where adults engage in certain activities for money. So when the game created its version of the city, it's no surprise that they put a focus on this district, which became one of the most visited locations in the game.
The most surprising part of this virtual city sale, however, is its price tag: a staggering $50,000 was paid by a lucky bidder, believed to be from the Netherlands. Not much is known about the buyer, but it’s easy to imagine they had a deep fondness for the beautifully recreated Dutch canals and streets.
3. Planet Calypso (Entropia) $6M
When Entropia first launched, everything began on a single planet called Calypso. This planet was later sold at auction for an eye-popping $6 million to SEE Virtual Worlds. The auction took place in 2011, with MindArk, the creators of Entropia, offering the planet for sale. As part of the deal, SEE would manage Calypso and even introduce two more planets into the Entropia Universe, with all revenues from the planets flowing into their pockets.
While $6 million might seem like an excessive amount to spend on a non-existent planet, it’s worth noting that Calypso had seen over $428 million in player-to-player transactions in 2010, the year before the sale. Although this was a solid investment for the company, MindArk ended up terminating the deal due to SEE's failure to meet their payment obligations. Subsequently, MindArk sold $100 Land Deeds for the planet to anyone interested.
2. Club Neverdie (Entropia) $635K
Club Neverdie is a renowned nightclub located within the Entropia Universe, situated on a massive asteroid orbiting the planet Calypso. It made history as the most expensive virtual item ever sold when John 'NeverDie' Jacobs purchased it for $100,000 in 2005. Fast forward five years, and Jacobs saw a substantial return on his investment, selling off the virtual property for an astonishing $635,000. He split the sale into two parts, selling one portion for $300,000 and another to a gamer named John Foma Kalun for $335,000.
Jacobs made a profit exceeding half a million dollars, showcasing that virtual properties, if well-managed, could yield significant returns. The property’s overall management required minimal attention due to the nature of Entropia. Remarkably, Jacobs had taken out a second mortgage on his real-life home to fund the purchase, making it a bold risk that paid off in the end.
1. Crystal Palace Space Station (Entropia) $330K
Entropia stands out among MMORPGs by allowing players to earn real-world currency within the game. This feature means that players who own establishments like clubs or large areas like islands can charge fees or taxes to other players, thus generating revenue. Some have made substantial profits through this system, which explains why Entropia dominates the top positions on this list. The Crystal Palace Space Station was the first major Entropia item to be sold, fetching a price of $330,000 in an online auction.
Sure, $330,000 is an outrageous sum to spend on a virtual space station, but for the buyer, it was more of an investment than an expense. The owner had the ability to impose fees or taxes on every transaction and shop within the station, making it possible to earn back the initial investment over time. Though entirely digital, the purchase was made much like any substantial land acquisition. While it may seem exorbitant, the price tag for the next item on the list is almost double this amount.
