PayToWin

The Escape from Tarkov universe is expanding with the release of a new spin-off, Escape from Tarkov Arena. The game doesn't have a release date yet, but we do know it will not have any microtransactions.Nikita Buyanov, studio boss at Battlestate Games, told GameSpot in simple terms that Arena will have "no microtransactions for sure." He went on to say that there will be no pay-to-win elements either. "We are against that," Buyanov said. You need a javascript enabled…

Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 has struggled to retain players due to odd gameplay decisions and controversial mechanics that have divided the community. A new feature, though, has players especially up in arms. Recently, publisher Activision released an in-game store bundle that some players consider a “pay-to-win” option, stirring up criticism once again. The paid bundle, “Roze and Thorn,” gives DMZ players a free unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that temporarily reveals the locations of enemy players at the start of a…

The Bomb Squad has an unfair advantage Infinity Ward released a new type of cosmetic bundle in the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2.0 store that is stirring up quite the controversy. The new Bomb Squad bundle offers certain DMZ players an advantage through its otherwise innocuous items, and much of the community is unhappy about this. DMZ Bomb Squad Season 3 bundle, released The new Bomb Squad cosmetic bundle is far different than anything else Infinity Ward and Activision has done before. This bundle…

A new Apex Legends patch was released today, finally addressing the "pay-to-win" Flatline skin that was introduced to the game nearly two weeks ago. The Splash Zone Flatline skin--which arrived in game as part of the Sun Squad Collection Event--originally had a pair of iron sights that, according to players, gave anyone using it an unfair advantage. This was addressed by Respawn in late March, but no changes were made until the release of today's 16.1.1 patch. Though no official patch notes were released,…

Marvel Snap is undoubtedly one of the best free-to-play mobile games on the market. With over 14 million downloads and counting, it’s clear that the quality, as well as the casual and card game nature of the title, are doing a great job at keeping a sustained interest among players. MARVEL SNAP | Gameplay Trailer However, the beloved card game has started to turn a corner as its popularity has grown. Marvel Snap‘s once-low barrier for entry has gradually risen since launch as its microtransaction model has created an…

Diablo 4 will not feature pay-to-win mechanics. In a developer blog post, Activision Blizzard has confirmed that the hotly-anticipated dungeon crawler title will only contain cosmetic items in its in-game store. The deliberately fashioned statement comes in the wake of the controversy surrounding their last release, Diablo Immortal, which offered gameplay advantages in exchange for real-world money. The upcoming Diablo 4 also includes a battle pass system and is set to release sometime in 2023, across PS4, PS5, Xbox One,…

Blizzard has published a long-awaited update on its monetization plans for Diablo IV. The short version of the blog post is that Diablo IV will be a full-priced title with an in-game shop and optional seasonal passes. However, the only way to make your characters more powerful will be by playing the game. Here's how monetization will work.  Blizzard plans to structure Diablo IV’s endgame around seasons. The game will feature up to four seasons per year, with the first one launching shortly after the game’s release. Each…

Lost Ark's next major update is on the horizon, but when it does arrive on June 30, it won't include a previously promised feature--Yoz's Jar.In a new blog post outlining features coming to the free-to-play MMO in the Wrath of the Covetous Legion update, Lost Ark's Western publisher Amazon states the Yoz's Jar cosmetics system described in the game's recent roadmap won't be featured in the upcoming update as originally planned. You need a javascript enabled browser to watch…