Blizzard has killed off the controversial Diablo III auction house ahead of the launch of the game’s first expansion, Reaper of Souls, next week.

The service was shut down at approximately 10am GMT. No new auctions can now be made on the auction house, and remaining auctions have been automatically finalised–either going to the highest bidder or returned to the seller.

Players will still be able to claim gold and items from the auction house into their in-game stash until June 24, however.

“All active auctions will expire as normal following the shutdown of the gold and real-money auction houses on Tuesday, March 18,” said Blizzard. “Once the shutdown is complete, items will either be delivered to the current highest bidder or returned to the seller, appearing in each player’s Completed tab. Unclaimed gold will also appear in the Completed tab. Players will be able to claim gold and items and from this tab until June 24, 2014.”

“Items and gold not claimed by this date will be consumed by Treasure Goblins, never to be seen again.”

Blizzard announced that it would be killing off the Diablo 3 auction house in September last year.