Virtual exchanges are pervasive, popping up on every rendered street corner and alleyway, with upheld hands stretching out from between sewer grates. Whether a game is buy-to-play, free-to-play, or something in-between nearly every MMO has an optional cash exchange for rewards, whether it be between developers and players or just between players. Maybe it’s for an irresistible outfit that solidifies your avatar’s persona or a pragmatic experience boost to alleviate tedious grinding towards max level. Whatever the case, virtual exchanges are big business. Throughout the years there have been prodigious transactions for digital goods.

Diablo 3 - $8,000

Back when selling on Diablo 3’s auction house turned players into successful business owners one lucky dungeon crawler looted a golden ticket. The legendary mace Echoing Fury had the perfect combination of stats—at the time. It radiated so brightly that one moneybags players purchased the 1300.2 DPS one-hander for around $8,000. But patches later, and an auction house that exists as a sour memory for Blizzard, and the former glorious weapon is only worth a memory. Nowadays legendary weapons dish out well over 5,000 DPS, reducing the aforementioned sale to a nullity. But it lives on as one of the largest transactions in Diablo 3's history.

Dota 2 - $38,000

Managing couriers in Dota 2 is essential to securing victory in any match. But doing so with added flare rubs salt in the wounds of your opponent. Which is why a mystery buyer purchased a Legacy Ethereal Flame Wardog for $38,000 in 2013 through a Reddit post on r/Dota2Trade. In contrast the 2015 Mazda 5’s pricing starts at around $21,000. Paying nearly twice the amount of a standard sedan for a shining add-on is one way to exemplify your bourgeois presence among the Ancients. The ethereal flame visual effect is impressive, a shining pink phosphorescence traces every step. But a later patch devalued the Wardog after legacy effects became accessible by applying a flaming gem to pets, dropping the Pink Wardog’s value to $4,000. Hopefully, the buyer is still happy with their purchase.

Eve Online - $51,000

While not renowned for voluntary transactions Eve Online’s infamy for scams, sabotage, and theft has to be mentioned. A ponzi scheme in 2011 netted Eddie Lampert and Mordor Exuel trillions of isk, equating to over $51,000. The cunning pair persuaded over 4,000 players to open accounts with their in-game investment company Phaser Inc., promising a 5% return on the investment (it was a pinky-promise). They had accumulated enough wealth “to buy 2,953 30-day time codes worth a total of $51,677.50.” While these stories may deter some prospective players it’s exactly what sparked my interest in traversing New Eden in the first place, and when the story broke I resubscribed. But the only scam I could get away was begging for isk in newbie chat.

Second Life - $50,000

It’s no surprise that Second Life makes the list. There are players who make careers out of selling fashion items to patrons as seen in the fascinating documentary Life 2.0. But the largest sale occurred in 2011. The virtual city Amsterdam (aptly named) was sold by “Stroker Serpentine” for $50,000. The digital rendition of the Red Light District specializes in adult entertainment, selling wanton merchandise. But patrons can also walk through several digital reproductions of the city, including a public square and canal lined with boats. Amsterdam was the first city to be constructed using high-resolution photos of its analog counterpart, making it a highly visited tourist destination.

Entropia Universe - $635,000

While people were recovering from the 2008 financial crisis the real estate market was booming in Entropia Universe. Jon Jacobs sold his virtual nightclub Club Neverdie for a total of $635,000. The property was broken into chunks and sold off to multiple investors—the largest chunk selling for $335,000. The club had previously been listed in the Guinness World Records book in 2008 as the most valuable digital item (bought for $100,000 in 2005). The numbers are staggering. The club was “equipped with a stadium, a shopping centre, and bio-domes, and earned him $200,000((£124,000) per year from people buying its goods and services.” The sale dwarfed the previous record-hold, also made in Entropia—Erik Buzz Lightyear’s purchase of the Crystal Palace Space Station for $330,000.

There is a growing body of micro-transactions every day and I did not mention all of them, notably Counter-Stike: Global Offensive due to market fluctuations. If you know of any enormous digital sales let us know and we'll add it to the list. All I want to know is where do people get the money to buy a half-a-million virtual night club?

Sources:

Imaginary Markets - $38000 Pink Puppy now worth $4k (Ethereal flames wardog) an almost 90% loss: RPS

Engadget - Biggest EVE Online scam ever recorded nets over a trillion ISK

Pr NewsWire - Planet Calypso Player Sells Virtual Resort for $635,000.00 USD

ZDNet - Amsterdam sold for $50,000