We’re conditioned to invest, both financially and emotionally, not only in what a game is right now, but what it will be in a year. We cling to roadmaps like lifeboats and wield Reddit threads as weapons of sentiment for or against the developers we’ve hitched our wagons to. It’s a fuzzy parasocial relationship that only gets less healthy the more money is wrapped up in it. I’m sick of games that glare at me with dollar signs in their eyes from the moment I press play.
This review heated up fast
The lack of a battle pass is really great imo, whenever games include them it puts a bad taste in my mouth. It’s also really scratching the BF3/4 itch that’s been missing from the market since Dice took Battlefield in a less vehicle focused direction, and tossed any sort of thoughtful map design off a cliff.
There’s no battle pass, no cosmetic store (though there is a $20 “Supporter Pack” that comes with gun skins)
The fact that they already have “a” microtransaction available means they invested a significant amount of time building out the infrastructure required to support them, there is a 0% chance they aren’t planning on putting in more once the game gets big
Not familiar with the game in question, but look at games like Deep Rock Galactic. No pay to win there, but they sell plenty of purely cosmetic “supporter” DLC because people do in fact like to show support when they think they’ve got a good deal and are enjoying the game.
I’ve been playing it myself. It’s been so damn good. It feels like a love letter to bad company 2 with a few modern tweaks.
