Battlefront II update: Microtransactions return, but Lootboxes are not purchasable

[Captain Marvelous_v1legacy]

They promised the microtransactions would return and here they are! On March 21st and update will change the progression system and remove star cards from crates, which cannot be purchased. Cosmetic items will be added in April.

While this can be seen as progress on EA's part, I'm still apprehensive. All this Lootbox controversy has done is make regular old Microtransactions look better. Now developers can say "We don't have Lootboxes, only Microtransactions!" and they're automatically much more endearing.

Source: https://www.ea.com/games/starwars/battlefront/battlefront-2/news/progression-update[hr]

Side Topic: While we're on the subject of Microtransactions, and because I don't want to make another topic for it, Ubisoft confirmed Far Cry 5 will have microtransactions. Surprise surprise! There don't seem to be any Lootboxes, but there will be cosmetic and time saver packs. Oh, and the campaign is playable offline.

Source: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/far-cry-5-has-microtransactions-campaign-is-playab/1100-6457460/

 

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

Regarding FarCry 5, of course they would have it and I bet mostly its gonna be those gaudy ass paint jobs on guns that you see in Counter Strike Global Offensive.

Time Saver Packs I assume is XP bonus for multiplayer I am assuming.

And I am glad the campaign is playable offline. And thats what I am gonna play FarCry 5 for anyway.

 

[fix-the-spade]

Yep, back to a system that's only a bit worse than Battlefield 3 from seven years ago.

I've no doubt that the progression system will be skewed to the point that getting all the unlocks will take years, which has been a problem with DICE games since Battlefield 2 all the way back in 2005.

It doesn't change my opinion on EA and it doesn't make me look any more kindly on micro transactioons either, they are still a skeevy and grasping as they were before the loot box epidemic.

 

[Neurotic Void Melody]

*Wheeze*Sterling shill incoming!
*splutter*

Wait, why is a single-player campaign being availabe offline something special now? It should be standard procedure. I find this escalation of expectations worrying

 

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

*Wheeze*Sterling shill incoming!

Sycophant

And why its special because pretty much every game these days have some form of internet connection requirement, Vermintide games for example is unplayable offline.

 

[FakeSympathy]

I'd say too little too late.

Why couldn't the progression have been like this from the get-go?

And even then the game still suffers from the terrible vehicle play, useless class system, laughable number of maps, weak hero gameplay, and boring game modes

 

[Canadamus Prime]

Remember when Day 1 DLC was big thing we all hated? Man have our standards fallen. Well I say "our," but I really mean everyone else's because to me these Publishers can still go fuck themselves.

 

[Vendor-Lazarus]

Remember when Day 1 DLC was big thing we all hated? Man have our standards fallen. Well I say "our," but I really mean everyone else's because to me these Publishers can still go fuck themselves.

You are not alone.
I said enough is enough way back when games started coming with either the steam DRM or another form of insidious DRM.
It's gone downhill from there, in general.

 

[Catfood220]

Still not buying it, I'm not rewarding EA for being slightly less awful than before.

 

[aegix drakan_v1legacy]

Good for you EA, you're only about 4 months too late for anyone to care.

I don't really see this saving the game all that much, but it's a nice gesture that they rolled the game back to early 2017 levels of shady microtransactions, at least.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

Remember when Day 1 DLC was big thing we all hated? Man have our standards fallen. Well I say "our," but I really mean everyone else's because to me these Publishers can still go fuck themselves.

You are not alone.
I said enough is enough way back when games started coming with either the steam DRM or another form of insidious DRM.
It's gone downhill from there, in general.

I don't really consider Steam DRM, but yeah DRM is another thing that can still fuck right off.

 

[Squilookle]

Remember when Day 1 DLC was big thing we all hated? Man have our standards fallen. Well I say "our," but I really mean everyone else's because to me these Publishers can still go fuck themselves.

You are not alone.
I said enough is enough way back when games started coming with either the steam DRM or another form of insidious DRM.
It's gone downhill from there, in general.

I don't really consider Steam DRM, but yeah DRM is another thing that can still fuck right off.

Then the DRM has won by making you think that. Steam is -by definition- DRM.

Honestly EA can just fuck right off. Even if it never tried this lootbox bullshit, even if it never locked stuff off in DLC and had more than a paper thin campaign, included instant action and galactic conquest, it's still too late. Three years too late.

As for Far Cry 5- taking a wild-exotic gun sandbox and transplanting it to rural anywhere-USA was enough for me to lose interest completely, but microtransations as well is just the icing on the 'get lost' cake.

 

[Arnoxthe1]

Vermintide games for example is unplayable offline.

Holy shit. Seriously? I'm definitely not buying them now.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

Vermintide games for example is unplayable offline.

Holy shit. Seriously? I'm definitely not buying them now.

I don't understand how it's a problem that multiplayer only games aren't available offline. They aren't worth playing alone, all the fun is in playing them coop, they're specifically designed around that.

Games that are meant to be single player have no excuse not to have an offline mode, but games that are meant to be exclusively multiplayer don't really need one.

I have a bunch of gripes about Vermintide 2, but a lack of an offline mode doesn't seem worth getting worked up over.

 

[JemothSkarii]

-snip-

Well, I think it is. I for one like to play those kinds of games solo (Lost Planet 2 and Resident Evil: ORC spring to mind) and I'm clearly not alone in that mindset. Furthermore, I imagine some people like to open it solo for practice, map memorization etc. You know, really competitive peeps.

Plus there's always the issue of unreliable net, where yeah, if you're doing MP that's kind of shitty, but you should be able to access the solo mode on your own. Like look at Metal Gear Survive. That has an entire solo campaign with post game content and that's always online. On my shitty Aussie net that does drop out, it'd probably infuriate me.

 

[Arnoxthe1]

I don't understand how it's a problem that multiplayer only games aren't available offline. They aren't worth playing alone, all the fun is in playing them coop, they're specifically designed around that.

Games that are meant to be single player have no excuse not to have an offline mode, but games that are meant to be exclusively multiplayer don't really need one.

I have a bunch of gripes about Vermintide 2, but a lack of an offline mode doesn't seem worth getting worked up over.

Maybe they are worth playing alone. Maybe they aren't. Either way though, in this case, it's not like it's an MMO that NEEDS always-online in order to deliver a huge chunk of the core game experience or more. They could have made it soloable. But now, since they didn't, if their servers go offline for ANY reason, everyone's fucked. It places a huge demand on company servers and it takes control away from the customer.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

Remember when Day 1 DLC was big thing we all hated? Man have our standards fallen. Well I say "our," but I really mean everyone else's because to me these Publishers can still go fuck themselves.

You are not alone.
I said enough is enough way back when games started coming with either the steam DRM or another form of insidious DRM.
It's gone downhill from there, in general.

I don't really consider Steam DRM, but yeah DRM is another thing that can still fuck right off.

Then the DRM has won by making you think that. Steam is -by definition- DRM.

Well not really. Steam is a digital distribution client and I can't speak for Valve, but I'm sure the constant connection requirement is for the Steam community component. Also it does have an offline mode.

 

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

Vermintide games for example is unplayable offline.

Holy shit. Seriously? I'm definitely not buying them now.

Eh but playing with bots is not recommended. They are dirt stupid.

Also to play devil's advocate, when are you not without your internet?

 

[Arnoxthe1]

Eh but playing with bots is not recommended. They are dirt stupid.

Also to play devil's advocate, when are you not without your internet?

Maybe they are worth playing alone. Maybe they aren't. Either way though, in this case, it's not like it's an MMO that NEEDS always-online in order to deliver a huge chunk of the core game experience or more. They could have made it soloable. But now, since they didn't, if their servers go offline for ANY reason, everyone's fucked. It places a huge demand on company servers and it takes control away from the customer.

 

[Squilookle]

Remember when Day 1 DLC was big thing we all hated? Man have our standards fallen. Well I say "our," but I really mean everyone else's because to me these Publishers can still go fuck themselves.

You are not alone.
I said enough is enough way back when games started coming with either the steam DRM or another form of insidious DRM.
It's gone downhill from there, in general.

I don't really consider Steam DRM, but yeah DRM is another thing that can still fuck right off.

Then the DRM has won by making you think that. Steam is -by definition- DRM.

Well not really. Steam is a digital distribution client and I can't speak for Valve, but I'm sure the constant connection requirement is for the Steam community component. Also it does have an offline mode.

Steam Manages your Right to access the Digital content it provides. If Steam disappears or ceases to function, your access to the entire library of games hosted by Steam is gone. It is specifically designed so that it is physically impossible for you to play a Steam-purchased game without using Steam. THAT is DRM, as clear as day.

Now, if Steam was simply a download client that let you download onto your hard drive to play without any further interaction with Steam (like GOG's model), then it wouldn't be DRM. But since using Steam is a requirement any time you want to play the game, that is 100% DRM.