DOOM Eternal may have been delayed by months, but players who are against post-sale monetization with be glad to learn that the sequel to iD Software’s 2016 reboot of the series won’t have microtransactions, as players will earn cosmetics with XP. This signals a break from what has become the new normal in gaming, with a company providing a full product for the actual purchase price rather than the purchase price plus a series of costly microtransactions.
Lots of DOOM Eternal information has surfaced, and it looks stunning enough to be considered one of the most anticipated video games of 2020. Not only does it include DOOM 64 as a preorder bonus, but it boasts new enemies, stunning visuals, and fast-paced action. For fans of the series, the new game is shaping up to be quite a treat. But one feature stands out above all the rest: the lack of post-purchase purchases.
SpielTimes reports that Creative Director Hugo Martin confirmed that there will be no real money item shop. No loot boxes. No microtransactions at all. “Nothing you can unlock in Eternal with XP has anything to do with player abilities or content that would impact your game in any way,” he says in a private Facebook group for fans of the game. In fact, the only thing you can unlock with experience points is cosmetic items.
“Eternal is a $60 game, not a free to play game or mobile game,” Martin says in the post, jabbing at companies that choose to favor the bottom line over the consumer. He says that unlocking skins is something one can engage in or ignore entirely without it impacting the user experience at all. Players will be able to deck their Doom Slayer out in various outfits, but they won’t need to spend an additional penny to do so.
Loot box culture can be found everywhere, from pay-to-play games like Overwatch to free-to-play ones such as Apex Legends. Many games attempt to squeeze additional money from players by selling them items and advantages or by letting them engage in an addictive gambling system to get the items they want. Loot box spending is projected to hit $50 billion by 2022. Loot boxes have become such a problem that some government officials in the United States have suggested banning them, along with pay-to-win features like Fallout 1st’s unlimited junk stash. When a company makes a decision not to engage in this vampiric practice, it’s something that affects the bottom line. And when a company makes the decision to offer a full game for the purchase price, it is worth taking notice.
Next: It’s Time To End Loot Boxes Once And For All
DOOM Eternal releases on March 20, 2020 for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Google Stadia.
Source: Facebook (via SpielTimes)
