Microtransactions
Ongoing coverage on Microtransactions.
Latest coverage
Latest EA sports game review bombed over single-player microtransactions
Players are review bombing EA Sports College Football 27 due to the inclusion of microtransactions in its single-player modes, a feature not present in preview builds. Despite significant backlash and internal developer frustration, Electronic Arts is reportedly unlikely to remove the controversial monetization, drawing parallels to the Star Wars: Battlefront 2 controversy. The game is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC.
How One Teacher (And A Private Investigator) Revived The Beloved Franchise Of Your Childhood
Playground Productions CEO Lindsay Barnett discusses the revival of the Backyard Sports franchise, culminating in the new Backyard Baseball game. The journey involved acquiring rights through a private investigator and partnering with Mega Cat Studios for development. The new title emphasizes a faithful representation of the classic 2D style in a 3D world, avoids microtransactions, and focuses on inclusion with diverse characters like Pablo Sanchez, Kenny Kawaguchi, and Sunny Day.
Ubisoft has added a cash shop and weekly challenges to its 'faithful' remake of the 13-year-old Black Flag,…
Ubisoft's remake of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, titled Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, has been criticized for the addition of a microtransaction store, weekly challenges, and battle pass-like reward tracks. The author argues these elements detract from the experience of a full-priced, single-player remake and are reminiscent of the monetization seen in live-service games.
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Nearly Hits 100,000 Concurrent on Steam Amid “Mixed” Reviews
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, a remake of the 2013 game, has achieved nearly 100,000 concurrent players on Steam shortly after its release. Despite the strong player numbers, the game has received "Mixed" reviews, with many users criticizing the inclusion of additional microtransactions for content not present in the Deluxe Edition, as well as other changes like cutscenes capped at 30 frames per second.
Evening Consolidation
College Football 27 will feature single-player microtransactions, a move that Insider Gaming suggests is just the beginning of a trend. Separately, the official PlayStation 5 launch trailer for Viking Frontiers was released.
Mobile game Mario Kart Tour is winding down
Nintendo is shutting down its mobile game Mario Kart Tour on September 29, ending service for the 2019 title. The company has ceased sales of in-game currency and subscriptions, and an offline version is not planned. This comes after a history of monetization controversies and statements from Shigeru Miyamoto about the challenges of mobile game development.
College Football 27 Is Pissing Everyone Off
Players are expressing significant frustration with EA's College Football 27, particularly regarding the introduction of microtransactions in its popular Dynasty and Road To Glory modes. These modes now allow players to pay to instantly improve their coach or athlete, with a full progression costing around $100. This change, coupled with the removal of faster XP slider options, has led to accusations that EA has intentionally slowed progression to encourage in-game purchases, sparking a boycott movement online.
EverQuest Legends attempts to quell uproar over pre-order beta’s slashed inventory availability
Game Jawn project director Eda Spause addressed player concerns regarding reduced inventory availability and paywalled features in EverQuest Legends' pre-order beta. She confirmed that loadout unlocks will be available through gameplay and that achievements will grant rewards like increased tradeskill depot space. Spause also clarified that the inventory space in the closed beta was larger than intended and that the pre-order beta inventory is closer to the final product.
How to Get Rerolls in Gakuran [Codes Included]
This guide explains how to obtain rerolls in the game Gakuran, which are essential for changing character stats and fighting styles. Rerolls can be acquired by redeeming free codes or purchasing them with Robux. The article also lists current active codes for free rerolls and details which character attributes can be modified using this system.
Former Xbox boss Don Mattrick once reportedly suggested Halo 4 should have a real-money auction house like Diablo 3 infamously did
Former Xbox boss Don Mattrick reportedly suggested that Halo 4 should feature a real-money auction house for in-game items, similar to Diablo 3's controversial experiment. This idea was met with internal disbelief by the development team, who recognized the potential negative impact on the game's reputation and completion status. Halo 4 ultimately launched without such a feature, and Mattrick departed Microsoft in 2013.
Ex-Xbox dev slams game execs as ‘money grubbing idiots’ in quote of the year
A former Bungie and 343 Industries developer, Dan Callen, has criticized game executives, calling them 'stupid detached money grubbing idiots.' Callen shared an anecdote about former Xbox executive Don Mattrick suggesting Halo 4 should implement a real money auction house for mech skins, a concept that had previously failed in Diablo 3. This criticism comes amid recent layoffs at Sony and Microsoft, highlighting ongoing issues within the games industry.
Digital-only GTA 6 Ultimate Edition screenshot literally says "buy more useless s***"
A screenshot from the Grand Theft Auto 6 Ultimate Edition reveals an in-game sticker that reads "buy more useless shit," sparking discussion about digital-only releases and the value of premium editions. The $100 Ultimate Edition offers digital items that do not impact gameplay.
Overwatch escapes "Mostly Negative" Steam reviews 3 years after becoming the worst-rated game on Valve's store: "In 2026, we finally got back to just Overwatch"
Overwatch has seen its Steam review rating improve from "Mostly Negative" to "Mixed" after three years. This shift is attributed to a recent influx of positive player feedback, with some reviews praising new characters, battle pass value, and cosmetic offerings, despite ongoing criticisms regarding microtransactions and past disappointments.
Overwatch's Steam reviews creep up to "mixed" as playercount surges
Overwatch is experiencing a surge in player count on Steam, with recent reviews improving to a "mixed" status after previously being "mostly negative." Despite new content and collaborations, player criticism largely targets Blizzard Entertainment's aggressive microtransaction pricing, with some bundles costing up to $100.
Massively Overthinking: Unbundling the MMORPG genre, 12 years later
Industry figures like Raph Koster discuss the 'unbundling' of the MMORPG genre, where its core components like live services and subscription models have been adopted by other game genres. The article explores what truly defines an MMORPG in the current landscape, with contributors suggesting elements like persistent virtual worlds, community, and a unique 'glue' holding disparate game elements together, rather than just player count.
Love And Deepspace Cancels Its New Love Interest After Fan Backlash
Developer Papergames has canceled the debut of a new love interest named Valko in its mobile dating sim, Love and Deepspace, following significant fan backlash. The company cited that they were not ready to introduce the character and will instead focus on the existing five love interests. The decision came after players expressed dissatisfaction with new content development and perceived catering to 'whales' who spend heavily on microtransactions.
The original version of Dead or Alive 6 was delisted in favor of a rerelease that's currently at 70% negative reviews on Steam: 'Tecmo just sees this as the coomer franchise'
Koei Tecmo has delisted the original Dead or Alive 6 in favor of Dead or Alive 6: Last Round, a rerelease that has garnered significant negative reviews on Steam. Players are criticizing the expensive DLC, lack of significant visual upgrades, and the continued focus on fan service over core fighting game mechanics. The rerelease also notably omits previously purchased crossover SNK characters and lacks rollback netcode and crossplay.
I’m honestly not buying GTA 6 because it’s digital-only - Reader’s Feature
A reader expresses their decision not to purchase Grand Theft Auto 6 due to its digital-only format, criticizing Rockstar Games for prioritizing digital sales and microtransactions over physical media. The author argues this move is anti-consumer and a manipulation tactic to maximize profits, contrasting it with the perceived value of physical ownership and the entertainment provided by previous titles like Grand Theft Auto 5.
GTA 6 pre-order editions explained: What do you get with each version?
Rockstar Games has detailed the pre-order editions for Grand Theft Auto 6, with the Standard Edition priced at $79.99 and the Ultimate Edition at $99.99. Both editions include a month of GTA+ and a Vintage Vice City pack for pre-orders, but the Ultimate Edition unlocks additional vehicles, weapons, customization options, and activities that are otherwise locked behind a paywall or will be available separately later.
GTA 6 fans worried you'll have to pay extra for online mode
Fans are concerned about the potential cost of Grand Theft Auto 6's online multiplayer, especially given the game's high initial price. While Rockstar Games has confirmed a single-player experience at launch, speculation is rife about whether a future online mode, potentially a successor to GTA Online, will be a free add-on or require a separate purchase, with many hoping for a free-to-play model supported by microtransactions.
