A new discovery has sparked outrage from Marvel’s Avengers players as it was revealed that the in-game marketplace now features an option where players can spend credits (purchased using real money) on consumables which offer bonuses like temporary XP boosts and resource gains.
With these boosts, players can essentially pay to progress through the game in a quicker, easier manner (what some may consider pay-to-win). This comes in stark contrast to previous statements made by Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix who vowed to never implement any sort of pay-to-win system.
Instead, it was communicated that microtransactions would solely be for cosmetics alone. Obviously, this is no longer the case.
Marvel’s Avengers Players Express Outrage at New Paid XP Boosts
Photo Credit: VGC
Marvel’s Avengers was recently added to Xbox Game Pass, though this isn’t the only notable news concerning the game.
Overshadowing the title’s Game Pass release is a new discovery that reveals players can spend credits, which are purchased using real money, on consumable items that provide things like temporary XP boosts and resource gains.
Any sort of ‘pay-to-win’ scenario in a game is disappointing to see, but for Marvel’s Avengers players, this is being met with outrage as Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix are essentially walking back previous assertions that microtransactions would be for cosmetics only.
As VGC pointed out in their report, a senior community manager stated at E3 2019 that Marvel’s Avengers would never have “random loot boxes or pay-to-win scenarios” which was then followed up a week later with a similar statement by Crystal Dynamics studio head Scott Amos.
Speaking with GamesIndustry.biz, Scott Amos stated:
“In terms of how we monetize, we’ll have cosmetics. No gameplay paywalls.”
Additionally, in a previous blog post on the Square Enix website, more assertions that microtransactions would be for cosmetics only can be found.
“We’ve also committed that content purchasable with real money in Marvel’s Avengers will be aesthetic-only additions, which will ensure we can keep the game fresh for years to come. The fight against AIM is only just beginning, there is much more story and many more heroes on the horizon.
Our in-game economy is built on a player-first approach where you can earn outfits, emotes, nameplates, and amazing gear through play, as well as tailor your style with store cosmetics purchased using Credits obtained by exchanging real-world currency.”
Traditionally, most gamers don’t seem to have an issue with microtransactions when they’re limited to cosmetic items, but once you start offering people a way to pay their way through a game, that’s when problems and intense discussions arise.
If Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix had been transparent about their monetization plans from the beginning, the subject would likely have been limited to how awful pay-to-win options are, whether these XP boosts count as pay-to-win, along with people asking that they be removed.
Unfortunately, because of previous statements that were made like the ones mentioned above, people are not only upset about the paid XP boosts, they also feel like they were lied to. Other issues are being brought up on the subreddit for Marvel’s Avengers including a lack of communication, removing earnable cosmetics, and more.
You can read through the full list of other issues here, and it’s worth scrolling through the responses as people point out other issues they’ve experienced as well.
All in all, we hope Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix consider reversing the decision to offer players the option to pay for things like XP boosts and revert back to their original plan of limiting the game’s microtransactions to cosmetic purchases only.
Obviously there are other issues that need to be addressed, but this one in particular is clearly one of those “last straw” moments for a lot of Marvel’s Avengers players. After learning that Marvel’s Avengers is now offering paid XP boosts, we’re curious what your thoughts are on the situation.
Are you disappointed, or did you see something like this coming? Let us know in the comments below, or on our social media channels including Facebook and Twitter.
Related: Marvel’s Avengers Coming to Xbox Game Pass on September 30
