If you’ve ever been in doubt over how much weight your criticism carries, use today as a reminder that it’s pretty strong. Following a weekend of strong criticism against many of Star Wars Battlefront II’s economy features, EA and DICE are already making big adjustments to the systems ahead of the game’s launch today. And even if their first action isn’t addressing the biggest issue, it’s certainly a step in the right direction.
Hero unlocks are one of many tiers in Battlefront II that would have required a massive time investment, one that bordered on the ridiculous. As some players began calculating, it would take roughly 40 hours of play just to unlock Luke Skywalker at his previous 60,000 Credit cost – a saving game that would’ve meant missing out on many loot crates, disadvantaging the player online. Other characters, such as Darth Vader, Emperor Palpatine and more were also locked in this manner, making the idea of eventually obtaining them all seem like an impossibility.
As a result, EA has slashed their pricing by 75%. Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, for example, will now cost on 15,000 Credits (less than four loot crates), while characters such as Palpatine and Chewbacca will cost only 10,000. Battlefront II’s newest character, Iden Versio, will remain locked, but have her cost slashed even lower to 5000 Credits.
It’s a positive change, but also one that is definitely trying to divert attention from the more pressing issue with the game. Its loot crate economy and overall leniency towards players who pay for advantages breaks the online experience in many respects, and will take a lot more tweaking to fix. EA is hosting a Reddit AMA this Wednesday to further hear concerns from fans, so use it as a chance to speak your mind about how these systems seem overtly exploitative.
Just don’t start threatening to kill some developers. Let’s not be stupid.
[Update]According to Gameinformer, EA has not only cut the cost of heroes, but also slashed the rewards players earn, making it all moot. Says GameInformer:
“…completing the campaign earned players a unique loot crate that contained 20k credits. That reward is now 5k credit”
Last Updated: November 14, 2017
Trevor James
November 14, 2017 at 08:40
Also decreased the amount of credits you can earn in the campaign by 75%
Ottokie
November 14, 2017 at 08:53
If they want to make games into online casino’s then they better be ready for people coming after them from every angle.
Original Heretic
November 14, 2017 at 08:54
EA hosting a Reddit AMA? I foresee much negativity directed at them.
Don’t threaten to kill developers, just kill the “micro”transactions!!
Ottokie
November 14, 2017 at 09:03
I honestly hope No mans Sky gets a better Metacritic score than this trash. My heart weeps for the people who support this game.
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 14, 2017 at 09:41
That’s no man’s sky, that’s a fully armed & operational loot box.
Admiral Chief
November 14, 2017 at 09:24
I’m posting this Hammer gif again
https://media.giphy.com/media/o8OK4nYybokiA/giphy.gif
Magoo
November 15, 2017 at 08:41
Me too. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/1df6f1ba1021637b4257f0a4cc825b732336c5bac64651138416d859c8cf0d91.gif
Allykhat
November 14, 2017 at 09:46
BUT!!
What they didn’t tell anyone is that they proportionally cut the match rewards too….
WE DECREASED THE PRICE GUYS!! WE DID WHAT YOU ASKED!!!… It’s going to take just as long though… BUT WE LISTENED!!
I hope to Christ this game burns.
BakedBagel
November 14, 2017 at 12:31
$260 is what GameSpot had to spend to unlock the hero’s
After $60. lmfaooooo ive never seen such Greed
Allykhat
November 14, 2017 at 15:15
Yeah bro… it’s friggin insane….
ReverendFunk
November 14, 2017 at 11:02
As usual, Jim Sterling says it best…
BakedBagel
November 14, 2017 at 12:30
Lets all be thankful that we are not employed or own any bit of EA
What a shit-show.
After hearing all this bs, i decided to buy and download the original Battlefront 2. They got new MP Support for GoG and steam. F EA.
SUCK MY TOLLIE