Microtransactions
Ongoing coverage on Microtransactions.
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Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced sold 3 million in its first week
Ubisoft announced that Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced has sold over 3 million units worldwide in its first week, surpassing the sales of Assassin's Creed Shadows on Steam. Despite a strong sales performance and the upcoming addition of a New Game Plus mode, the remake faced controversy due to extensive microtransactions and initial PC instability.
Games Inbox: What new Fallout game will be the best?
Readers discuss the future of the Fallout franchise, expressing excitement for potential remasters and a sequel to Fallout: New Vegas, while also lamenting the long wait for new entries. The conversation touches on Microsoft's influence, studio management, and the broader state of game development and preservation.
I’m giving up on modern gaming and I know I’m not the only one - Reader’s Feature
A long-time gamer expresses disillusionment with the modern gaming industry, citing the shift from complete, creative experiences to live service models, microtransactions, and endless monetization. The author feels current trends alienate veteran players and that younger generations are indoctrinated into a system that prioritizes profit over artistic integrity. This sentiment leads the author to abandon modern gaming in favor of retro titles and physical media.
College Football 27 Review: The Best Entry in Franchise History Comes with a Catch
EA Sports College Football 27 is hailed as the best entry in the franchise, featuring a deeply overhauled Dynasty mode with realistic NIL mechanics and improved gameplay. However, the game is marred by controversial paywalls for coach XP sliders and certain coaching trees, leading to community backlash despite its overall quality.
EA Sports FC 27 release date leaks and it’s still coming to PS4
A leak suggests that EA Sports FC 27 will be released on September 25 and will still be available on older consoles like the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, alongside current-gen platforms. This contrasts with other major releases like Grand Theft Auto 6 and Call of Duty, which are skipping last-gen hardware. Electronic Arts is reportedly keeping the game on older platforms to maximize sales and microtransaction revenue.
EA exec says in-game advertising is a "huge opportunity" for devs, especially for games like Skate
Electronic Arts vice president of advertising, Alexander Dao, believes in-game advertising presents a significant opportunity for developers, particularly for free-to-play titles like the upcoming Skate. EA is actively developing its advertising platform, integrating brands into games like Madden NFL and Skate, and Dao encourages developers to design with advertising in mind from the outset to create more native experiences.
+1 DMG Per Revive codes (July 2026)
This guide provides a list of active codes for the Roblox game '+1 DMG Per Revive', which grants players a permanent damage buff each time they revive. The article explains how to redeem these codes within the game and where to find new codes, typically on the game's Discord server or through the developer's social media channels. It also mentions that most codes have a limited lifespan of about two weeks.
EA Backed Down on College Football 27, But the Battle Isn’t Over
Players have voiced strong opposition to paid progression systems in College Football 27's Road to Glory and Dynasty modes, viewing them as detrimental to the core gameplay experience. Electronic Arts has acknowledged the backlash, stating the paid progression did not deliver intended value, but the article argues the studio has not fully addressed the issue, suggesting future installments like College Football 28 may still feature similar monetization tactics.
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Team Focused on Core Combat Because Edward is Already Powerful
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced game director Richard Knight explained that core combat was prioritized over features like picking up enemy weapons due to protagonist Edward Kenway's existing power. Despite mixed reviews on PC regarding microtransactions, Ubisoft stated the Standard Edition is complete and optional DLCs offer power boosts. The game has achieved significant player counts on Steam and generated substantial revenue from its DLC packs.
League of Legends Classic players clash against old-school skin cosmetics, as the faithfulness of the new game mode is called into question
Riot Games is facing community backlash over its decision to charge for classic champion skins in League of Legends Classic, a mode recreating early game experiences. Players argue that these original models should not be paywalled, especially when compared to Blizzard's approach with World of Warcraft Classic. The controversy stems from the fact that these classic skins are only usable within League of Legends Classic and not the modern version of the game.
Monster Hunter Wilds is getting a permanent price cut less than 18 months after launch
Capcom is implementing a permanent price reduction for Monster Hunter Wilds, effective August 4, 2026, less than 18 months after its initial release. The company is also discontinuing and reintroducing several bundle options, consolidating paid cosmetic DLC into new packages. This move comes as the base game's $70 price point has been a point of contention for some players.
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced enjoys the best launch of any AC game on Steam, making avast sum of money there
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced has achieved the biggest launch for an Assassin's Creed title on Steam, generating $35.1 million in revenue as of July 13th. Data from Alinea Analytics indicates that the game sold 701,000 copies on Steam alone, significantly outperforming recent releases like Assassin's Creed Shadows. Despite strong sales, the game has faced some backlash regarding its launch-day DLC and microtransactions.
Black Flag Resynced glitch splits the sea and lets ships sail underwater
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced features a recurring glitch that causes ships to sail underwater, a bug also present in the original 2013 game. This comical issue has emerged amidst player complaints about day-one microtransactions and PC offline mode problems. Meanwhile, the team at Ubisoft Barcelona responsible for the game's underwater sections is reportedly facing layoffs, sparking protests from staff.
That annoying day one DLC in Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced was less than 3% of its initial Steam sales, but…
Despite player criticism, day-one DLC for Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced accounted for approximately 2.8% of its initial Steam sales, generating around $1 million. This analysis highlights how gamers' purchasing habits, even with cosmetic and convenience DLC, can still reward publishers like Ubisoft, similar to past examples like World of Warcraft's expensive cosmetic items.
The day-one Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced DLC everyone said they hated has earned Ubisoft nearly $1 million,…
Despite mixed reviews and controversy surrounding its day-one DLC and microtransactions, Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced has become a significant financial success for Ubisoft. The game has generated millions in revenue on Steam, outperforming previous titles like Assassin's Creed Shadows, Valhalla, and Mirage in its initial sales period.
The World Cup is getting serious – best bring Shrek into the new FIFA Heroes game where you can spend £99.99 on in-app purchases – kill me now
The mobile game FIFA Heroes has introduced a Shrek-themed Season Pass, which includes expensive in-app purchases up to £99.99, loot boxes, and advertising, despite a 9+ age rating. The article criticizes the monetization strategy, particularly its presence in a game accessible to children, and questions the inclusion of mythical characters alongside football icons.
You could buy two copies of GTA 6 for the price of setting up GTA Online's new Heist from scratch
A new heist in Grand Theft Auto Online has a high barrier to entry for new players, requiring approximately $179.96 in real-world money to purchase the necessary in-game currency for the required mansion and art studio. This cost is more than double the pre-order price of Grand Theft Auto 6, highlighting the significant investment needed to access new content for players without existing in-game wealth or GTA+ benefits.
With Dragon's Dogma 2's new infinite fast travel, Dark Arisen's director wants you to know they're "not forcing" you to use it
Capcom has updated Dragon's Dogma 2 to include an infinite fast travel option via the new eternal ferrystone, a change producer Naoto Oyama and director Kenta Kinoshita state is intended to offer players more choice without forcing its use. This update also removes the controversial microtransactions that previously allowed players to purchase portcrystals. Director Kenta Kinoshita acknowledges player time constraints and the potential for repetitive travel, while also defending the game's original design that encouraged strategic navigation.
Midday Mobilization
Apple has achieved a 20% global smartphone market share, though a new report indicates slowing iPhone builds due to price increases. Separately, the Madden NFL franchise is removing its microtransaction mode and will be available on Apple Arcade.
Madden Ditches Its Microtransaction Mode To Come To Apple Arcade
Madden NFL 27 is launching on Apple Arcade on August 6, offering a version of the popular football simulation game without microtransactions. This iteration will include core modes like Quick Play and Franchise, but will omit the Madden Ultimate Team mode due to Apple Arcade's policy against in-app purchases. The game will be playable on iOS devices with touch controls or external controllers.