Game developers and publishers are under increasing financial pressure, and it shows. Whether pay-2-win or sophisticated monetization systems - the mechanisms for asking players to pay are becoming increasingly sophisticated. However, these strategies are increasingly being criticized, especially in successful titles such as "Apex Legends", "Call of Duty: Black Ops 6" and now also "Marvel Rivals". Three current examples that are really annoying players!
Apex Legends: A masterpiece of monetization?
Once celebrated as a flagship project, "Apex Legends" is now, according to professional gamers like HisWattson on Twitch is a prime example of how monetization stifles innovation. The streamer, who is one of the best players of the Battle Royale title, has made a video criticizing the current developments. In his opinion, EA, the game's publisher, is consistently ignoring the suggestions of developer studio Respawn. Instead, the focus is being placed on cosmetic items, the prices of which are increasing while the quality is decreasing.
New skins and items in the in-game store make the game more expensive without enriching the gameplay. At the same time, old problems remain unsolved, and real innovations? Not at all. According to HisWattson, he is leaving the game because he no longer sees any improvement - a hard blow to an already growing rift between the community and the publisher.
There has been no official statement from EA, but the anger in the community is growing.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 - When skins become pay-2-win
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is also currently facing fierce criticism. The accusation of pay-2-win is the main issue here. Certain skins influence the gameplay to such an extent that players feel disadvantaged if they don't buy them. One example is a skin that creates a colored cloud when hit, which restricts the view of enemies.
Players on Reddit reporthow frustrating this mechanic can be. On the rush map "Stakeout", for example, such a cloud led to players blindly walking into a trap - the opponent used the cover to continue undisturbed.
Activision and Treyarch's decision has been heavily criticized in the forums. Players complain that these skins were deliberately designed to boost sales - at the expense of a fair gaming experience. "I can't understand why people buy this crap in the first place", writes an annoyed player.
Marvel Rivals: Criticism despite puppy protection
As a relatively new live service title, "Marvel Rivals" had a strong startbut the monetization strategy is already causing displeasure. The system based around Chrono Tokens, an in-game currency that expires at the end of a season, is a source of annoyance for many players.
Although the developer triesto minimize the loss of tokens with an automatic redemption system, but the core of the problem remains: players feel pressured to spend their resources quickly or buy the paid Luxury Battle Pass to protect their investment.
The introduction of a system in which purchased tokens can be carried over to the next season is a step in the right direction - but only for players who are prepared to pay extra. Tokens earned for free are excluded from the transfer, which many feel is unfair.
Games such as "Apex Legends", "Call of Duty: Black Ops 6" and "Marvel Rivals" show how difficult it is to establish monetization systems without upsetting the community. Many players feel that their loyalty is being exploited in order to maximize the publisher's revenue. It remains to be seen whether publishers will find the right balance - or whether the next big shitstorm is just a matter of time.
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