Blizzard opens European version real money auction house

European players can now also offer virtual objects from Diablo III for sale for real money via the real money auction house. The option was activated earlier this week on the RPG’s US servers.

Blizzard unexpectedly opened the real money auction house on the RPG’s US servers on Tuesday. Blizzard wanted to try the service in North America first and then introduce it in Europe if it proved stable there. That has now happened, the service can be used in Europe from 15 June.

Blizzard announced in August 2011 that Diablo III will have an auction house where players can sell virtual RPG items to each other, just like in Blizzard’s World of Warcraft. The auction comes in two different variants. One where items can be bought for the virtual gold used as currency in the game and an auction house where real money can be traded. The option is controversial; the South Korean government in particular objects to the random factor that applies to finding virtual objects and to making money from selling them. The country has strict gambling laws. Blizzard will therefore not offer the rmah on the Asian servers.

Blizzard has posted a guide and faq online on how to use it. When selling an item, players can choose whether they want to add the money they have earned to their Battle.net Balance or whether they want to get it paid out. In the latter case, an account with PayPal is required and Blizzard collects 15 percent transaction costs. Blizzard will likely use other partners in Europe.

Fans of the RPG at the start of sales of Diablo III