The "Red Dead Redemption 2" microtransactions are expected to be more extensive than "Grand Theft Auto Online." This is after the publisher of "GTA Online" claimed they are "under-monetizing on a per user basis."
According to PlayStation Universe, there are already reports that players are spending hundreds of millions on Shark Cards to purchase virtual items. To think that there is still inefficiency in monetizing their product seems out of this world.
However, Take-Two Interactive is convinced that they can achieve more with the microtransaction model. This was apparent in CEO Strauss Zelnick's speech in the recent Cowen & Company media conference call.
"We are convinced that we are probably from an industry view under-monetizing on a per-user basis," said Zelnick. He believes that they can still do more without compromising their strategy while also delighting their customers. "We're not going to grab the last nickel," he assured fans.
VG247 reported that Take-Two is currently working alongside Rockstar Games on "Red Dead Redemption 2." This means that whatever Zelnick and company have in store, the title will be the first one to implement it.
While the concept of microtransaction seems harmless especially when it comes to cosmetics, it has the potential to destroy user experience. There are countless examples of games that took the model too far by creating a pay-to-win environment, drastically reducing the game's enjoyment.
So far, cosmetics and downloadable content have been the predominant way for games to profit from microtransactions without affecting gameplay. This has proven quite successful over the years with developers making huge profits from what used to be a one-time transaction.
Whatever Take-Two decides to implement in "Red Dead Redemption 2," it will certainly pay-off, no pun intended. With 15 million in projected sales, the title is already shaping up to be one of the most anticipated games of the decade.
Hopefully, the Zelnick makes good on his promise not to compromise player experience for profit. In the cut-throat world of video game development, it's very easy to kill a product in one wrong move.
