Electronic Arts (EA) Games caught fan backlash when they implemented paywalls in their game "Star Wars Battlefront II." It seems that the company can take a lesson from Rockstar Games, developers of the action-packed first-person shooter "Red Dead Redemption 2" ("RDR2") and the open multiplayer experience "Grand Theft Auto 5 Online" ("GTA 5").
Rockstar Games has just announced that "Red Dead Redemption 2" will have microtransactions similar to the system used in "Grand Theft Auto 5 Online." If the player reception to the online game is any indication, this could mean that the "Red Dead" sequel will be implementing something akin to the online game's "shark cards."
Shark cards are a way for "GTA 5" players to convert their real-world cash into in-game currency. In a way, it is like buying game stuff with real money, but there are significant differences between shark cards and EA's crates and loot box system.
For one, people who buy shark cards know what they are paying for. This is in contrast to EA's randomized system, wherein players have no idea what they are getting when they spend real-world cash for loot boxes and crates.
The way they affect gameplay is different, as well. Shark cards mainly lessen the grind time in "GTA 5." However, in EA, items in the bought with real money can give genuine advantages to players.
Microtransactions are common among online games today. However, the recent fiasco about EA and "Star Wars Battlefront II" made an example of how not to implement the said payment model.
EA recently released patches to improve gameplay and minimize the grind in "Star Wars Battlefront II." This included higher payouts after each match and a higher limit on single-player rewards. However, most of the bonuses, notably Star Cards, can still be obtained only via randomized loot crates.
Meanwhile, Rockstar Games also launched an update for "GTA 5" recently. "Red Dead Redemption 2" will be released in spring of 2018.
