If reception to Baldur’s Gate says anything, it’s that people hate microtransactions in their AAA games.

If reception to Baldur’s Gate says anything, it’s that people hate microtransactions in their AAA games.

  •  Gargleblaster   ( @Gargleblaster@kbin.social ) 
    44•11 months ago

    Baldur’s Gate 3 is certainly the latest and most prominent example, but Elden Ring, both Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. The Witcher 3. The Last of Us Part 1 and 2. No cash shops, substantive DLC, if there is any.

    And what do all those games have in common?

    They’re solo games.

    It’s PvP and MMOs where you can purchase an advantage, show off your bling, or purchase expansions to get a head start on the competition. That is where the microtransaction infestation occurs.

      •  NightOwl   ( @NightOwl@lemmy.one ) English
        2•11 months ago

        I have wondered what percentage of gamers don’t purchase any mtx in those type of games. We get revenue numbers, but I’ve wondered how many gamers avoid that aspect while playing the game.

          •  alternative_factor   ( @alternative_factor@kbin.social ) 
            2•11 months ago

            I’ve been an MMO gamer for a VERY long time and I would say the whaling thing is a perfect analogy. I often pre-order expansions to MMOs like WoW and FFXIV but I have never bought cosmetics other than two race changes for FF, which would make me a “dolphin”.

            I noticed in WoW and FFXIV that if someone has one mount you can only get from the cash shop, they are VERY likely to have bought TONS of other cosmetics from the cash shop. If they don’t have any cash shop mounts, they won’t have any cosmetics from it either. It seems like most people are either “all in” or nothing, people like me are very rare.

            •  frog 🐸   ( @frog@beehaw.org ) 
              2•11 months ago

              I’m a lot like you as well. I’m one of those players who buys cosmetics from cash shops when I see something I really fall in love with, but I don’t feel the need to buy everything. I look at it as an occasional treat: sure I won’t own it when the game shuts down at some point in the future, but if I spent the money on, say, a takeaway meal or a night out, that lasts a couple hours and then it’s gone. I’m definitely a dolphin, not a whale.

              But I wouldn’t spend a vast fortune on trying to get everything if I have to spend real money. In some MMOs I’ve bought cash shop cosmetics from the auction house, though. I think that can distort the impression of how much someone has spent in the cash shop, making it look like they’re “all in”, when in reality, they’ve just been playing for so long that they have more in-game currency than they know what to do with.

              I reckon the “dolphins” are more common than you think.

          •  NightOwl   ( @NightOwl@lemmy.one ) English
            2•11 months ago

            Oh yes. Well aware of that. Just more wondering how much of the userbase never actually spends money. Curious as to either how much of a majority or minority the active users who don’t buy any mtx is.

          •  NightOwl   ( @NightOwl@lemmy.one ) English
            1•11 months ago

            Is there any actual concrete sources? It’s what I believe to be true too, but would be nice to see something concrete. It is fascinating how a small percentage of gamers change the landscape for a huge majority of gamers.

    •  ampersandrew   ( @ampersandrew@kbin.social ) 
      10•11 months ago

      I don’t want the lesson to be learned that devs should only make single player games either. Baldur’s Gate 3 itself is co-op, for instance, and Elden Ring has substantial online components for multiplayer and otherwise.