It happened with Star Wars: Battlefront, so would anyone expect otherwise from DICE and EA when Electronic Arts’ fourth-quarter earnings report brought up the prospects of bringing micro and macro transactions to Battlefield 1? If you didn’t expect it… well… surprise! Micro-transactions and map packs are coming to Battlefield 1.
“Given that in Battlefield 1, you will see both macro monetization opportunities from us like maps and large scale content, as well as micro monetization opportunities, smaller increments of gameplay, and then over time, what you will see from us is elements of gameplay that allow gamers to engage and drive, and extend and enhance their experience, much the way people do with FIFA Ultimate Team or Madden Ultimate Team today. We feel very confident in our ability to deliver that in a way that is deemed valuable by our player, and drives increased engagement over time with them.”
– Andrew Wilson – Electronic Arts Inc. – CEO
That’s right. Despite heavily critical reception by reviewers and fans over the lack of content in Star Wars: Battlefront, EA DICE’s next project will once again feature macrotransactions in the form of map packs. What’s worse is that unlike Battlefront, Battlefield 1 will also feature micro-transactions. Fortunately, Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson reassures us that the micro-transactions will not heavily affect gameplay.
“As relates to Battlefield 1 and extra monetization opportunity, taking a step back, any time we think about extra monetization inside an experience, we really think about it on two vectors: One, are we able to provide value to the gamer, in terms of extending and enhancing their experience? And two, are we able to do that in a world where we give them choice? We never want to be in a place where there’s a belief that we are providing a pay to win mechanic inside of one of our games.”
– Andrew Wilson – Electronic Arts Inc. – CEO
As stated in the above quote, the micro-transactions in Battlefield 1 aren’t going to be pay-to-win purchases, but they will undoubtedly be present.
It does bring into question what these features will include if they are not pay-to-win purchases. Will they be skins for vehicles and weapons? New costumes for players? Maybe something to prevent the gangrene that came as a result of fighting in the trenches during World War 1?
Who knows. Only time will tell. Hopefully the base game will have enough content this time around to warrant the macro-transactions though.
What do you think of micro-transactions and map packs coming to Battlefield 1? Are you cynical after Battlefront that these will be sold at the price of a full game in order to have a decent amount of content? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!
