Microtransactions through loot boxes are one of the most disdained features in video games right now, which is why multiplayer game "Fortnite" is making sure it does not earn the ire of its players with its microtransaction system.
The developers of "Fortnite" have seemingly executed it well, so much so that it was even hailed as an answer or alternative to the hated loot-box system in video games. This microtransaction system from "Fortnite" is called Battle Pass that involves a subscription reward service in-game which contains 100 tiers, each with its own reward for a total of 100. These range from glider skins to in-game emotes mostly cosmetic stuff.
This was the monetary structure employed for "Fortnite: Battle Royale," which is the games take on the battle royale mode popularized by its competitor "PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG)." So far, Epic Games, the developers of "Fortnite" has been able to avoid taking flak from gamers during the wake of the recent loot box controversy due to its seemingly fair and non-exploitative microtransactions system.
What makes "Fortnite's" Battle Pass system more rewarding is that it actually provides a clear goal of what players should be aiming for in terms of progression. Battle Pass gives players a roadmap showing all of the possible rewards laid out and scoring points in-game will unlock a progressive tier of rewards. This gives players something to work toward compared with other games' systems where points are used to purchase loot boxes, which will then have random rewards.
Even "Fortnite's" rival "PUBG" users randomly won crates that contain randomly given items in each crate, making luck instead of hard work a bigger factor in getting rewards. Granted, "Fortnite's" Battle Pass actually costs $10 per season of the game, though, in hindsight, it contains 100 different and varying rewards, whereas in games like "PUBG" and "Overwatch," players can spend that much and only get a handful of items with random value. Players will also be able to earn points in-game to progress through the Battle Pass without spending money.
In the future, critics hope that other games will come up with something similar in design to "Fortnite's" Battle Pass system.
