For the first time ever a major AAA publisher has had in-game digital purchases, subscriptions and microtransactions outsell digital copies of their complete games. Does this set a worrying precedent for the future?
Only a matter of time before this happened since its introduction last gen. “Player Recurrent Investments” has had enough time on the market for younger gamers to have grown up with microtransactions/season passes as a normal thing, so I expect this to probably get worse. The real kicker is how the industry will use it to their advantage now - if they tend to abuse, that is. This is indeed worrying, but expected.
It is inevitable. Simple as that. But it might crash in a few years, when games get SO bad design/progression-wise, that it might collapse over itself.
Oh trust me it will happen with regards to gamers who have been playing a long time who don't put up with this bs. Must everything become a point of sale? This will truly change and destroy gaming eventually. What about that poor gamer that can barely afford the console game and TV not to mention the active internet connection and stupid monthly membership? So what they are at a disadvantage? Shame on the game developers for letting this happen and I do believe this article is bogus. No Activision and EA are so f#cken greedy your selling out your hardcore user base to make a few extra bucks. The f#cken idiots at the top of these companies don't even game.
The reviewers and game journalists are in favor of this and make it sound that is ok and good for the gamer. I have yet to hear a game journalist against microtransanctions. They even fought against pc gamers in regards to paid mods. PC gamers were against paid mods but the gaming media insisted to not fight back and take it. We have no official voice that helps gamers that is the problem.
When Reality Crash currently boastsover $3.5 million made from its virtual currency thanks to microtransactions before the game is even out, you know things have depressingly gotten out of hand
And we can thank the casual clueless players for this.
Gaming is on a fast trak to ruin. I said this when they introduced DLCs first that it will get to this but everyone called me an idiot. Yet, here we are. Pay to win. Content held back for MT and loot boxes and DLC is the norm. If you guys think it can't get any worst, think again. It will get much, much worst within a few years.
My advice: don't buy a single MT, loot box and dlc. Only buy games at $20 from now on. That is the only way we can show companies what we think. They don't give two shits if we write them e-mails or create petitions.
Folks that have a high interest in certain titles & have $60 dollars to spend are going to still buy including myself,folks don't have to buy a single loot box or MT to enjoy the game & not buying them sends a message alone.I'm loving Shadow of War,played a year of Overwatch,D2 & several other games & I haven't spent a dime on loot boxes or MT's.
The younger generation will see this new gaming structure (microtransactions) as natural, and thus will spend their money without realizing they are paying for things that used to be free, and/or unlockable.
There is a mentality to want to have a better/fuller product. Instead of us being delivered one, we are sold it in bits and pieces. If someone has a general love for the game, they will be more prone to spend their money (And honestly, you can't hate someone who loves a product and wants more of it, but you can certainly label them as the weakness). There are those who seem to drop tens of thousands of dollars on a single game (At that point, hate them)... It's undeniably clear why the Devs/Pubs want to change the gaming landscape. While 100 gamers might drop off, 1 gamer will make up for that loss of revenue and then some.
The problem is now that the games themselves are feeling less and less "for the gamer" and more and more "for the profit." The change alienates the older generation (because the games are garbage -> Battlefront 2, what are you? You're not a game - you're just a slot machine). This also warps the minds of those naturally growing accustomed to paying more for literally colour schematics and prettier emojis because, hey, that's what they've seen more of rather than games as a full product upon release day.
Soon the days of owning multiple games and enjoying their stories will be gone. If you love gaming, you may end up with 1 title, and constantly put money towards it... Because if gaming is now a service, we all know we won't want to pay for multiple services.
Slicing off parts of a game and stuffing them behind a paywall is yesterday's travesty. Today's is much worse. “Player recurring investments” are a continuous predatory fleecing of the player, without adding anything of substance to the game.
No kidding. It has gone beyond worrying. We need alternatives to these big publishers, starting like right now. They are all in on it because it is their fiscal duty to their stockholders to do so. You can't blame dogs for barking or sniffing your butt. It's what they are. Now that Pandora's loot box is open, there is no closing it again. Bottom line: we need a way to fund good game development outside of this ruined environment.
Gamers funding game development, is one possible way to go. Look at Divinity II. Made by good developers, for gamers, let's see more of that. It's time for new a new model of game development.
You can thank cell phones for this. Why do you think cell phone title shot through the roof?!!! Companies saw that type of model and applied it the most effective ways.
God, what is wrong with today's gamers. Seriously, they give in so easily to anti-consumer practices because their friends do it or it won't magically affect them. Stop complaining and do something about it.
'I know personally I’ve spent a good chunk of spare change on loot boxes and microtransactions over the past year and I don’t feel any happier or better off since I did.'
The author IS THE PROBLEM. Writing an article condemning a practice you are FUNDING and supporting is downright moronic. Vote with your wallet. DON'T support the micro-transactions and they will stop. The problem is people with self control issues are being easily separated from their money.
I am sure EA, UBI, Activision etc all feel like they are shooting fish in a barrel. They are MOCKING you and laughing all the way to the bank.
As they say, 'A fool and his money are soon parted'.
Only a matter of time before this happened since its introduction last gen. “Player Recurrent Investments” has had enough time on the market for younger gamers to have grown up with microtransactions/season passes as a normal thing, so I expect this to probably get worse. The real kicker is how the industry will use it to their advantage now - if they tend to abuse, that is. This is indeed worrying, but expected.
When Reality Crash currently boastsover $3.5 million made from its virtual currency thanks to microtransactions before the game is even out, you know things have depressingly gotten out of hand
Outpaces digital sales, but that doesn't mean microtransactions are outpacing overall sales. That'd be the time to worry.
And we can thank the casual clueless players for this.
Gaming is on a fast trak to ruin. I said this when they introduced DLCs first that it will get to this but everyone called me an idiot. Yet, here we are. Pay to win. Content held back for MT and loot boxes and DLC is the norm. If you guys think it can't get any worst, think again. It will get much, much worst within a few years.
My advice: don't buy a single MT, loot box and dlc. Only buy games at $20 from now on. That is the only way we can show companies what we think. They don't give two shits if we write them e-mails or create petitions.
The younger generation will see this new gaming structure (microtransactions) as natural, and thus will spend their money without realizing they are paying for things that used to be free, and/or unlockable.
There is a mentality to want to have a better/fuller product. Instead of us being delivered one, we are sold it in bits and pieces. If someone has a general love for the game, they will be more prone to spend their money (And honestly, you can't hate someone who loves a product and wants more of it, but you can certainly label them as the weakness). There are those who seem to drop tens of thousands of dollars on a single game (At that point, hate them)... It's undeniably clear why the Devs/Pubs want to change the gaming landscape. While 100 gamers might drop off, 1 gamer will make up for that loss of revenue and then some.
The problem is now that the games themselves are feeling less and less "for the gamer" and more and more "for the profit." The change alienates the older generation (because the games are garbage -> Battlefront 2, what are you? You're not a game - you're just a slot machine). This also warps the minds of those naturally growing accustomed to paying more for literally colour schematics and prettier emojis because, hey, that's what they've seen more of rather than games as a full product upon release day.
Soon the days of owning multiple games and enjoying their stories will be gone. If you love gaming, you may end up with 1 title, and constantly put money towards it... Because if gaming is now a service, we all know we won't want to pay for multiple services.