EA has temporarily removed Battlefront II's premium currency, pending "changes" to the systems that incentivize paying for advantages over other players. Many have noted that they could simply return later on after the game's launch, in a cynical attempt by EA to downplay negative press.
Still, the issue of loot crates and premium currency in full priced "AAA" games isn't going away. As games get increasingly expensive to make, developers are looking towards other sources of revenue for growth, most notably in paid crates that offer you a "chance" to get a cool item, similarly to slot machines in casinos and other gambling establishments.
One developer that took a firm stance against predatory practices early on was CD Projekt RED, who pledged over a dozen free pieces of DLC for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, shipping gargantuan expansions for relatively low prices. With their next hotly anticipated title, Cyberpunk 2077, getting ever closer, many fans were wondering whether CD Projekt RED would succumb to the loot crate craze for that game as well. So far, it doesn't look like it.
Replying on Twitter, CD Projekt RED said that Cyberpunk 2077 will be an "honest" gaming experience like The Witcher 3. The studio also said they will leave "greed to others," seemingly taking a swipe at EA.
.@PrettyBadTweets Worry not. When thinking CP2077, think nothing less than TW3 — huge single player, open world, story-driven RPG. No hidden catch, you get what you pay for — no bullshit, just honest gaming like with Wild Hunt. We leave greed to others..@PrettyBadTweets Worry not. When thinking CP2077, think nothing less than TW3 — huge single player, open world, story-driven RPG. No hidden catch, you get what you pay for — no bullshit, just honest gaming like with Wild Hunt. We leave greed to others.— CD PROJEKT RED (@CDPROJEKTRED) November 19, 2017November 19, 2017
Cyberpunk 2077 is an upcoming sci-fi RPG from CD Projekt RED. The project is shrouded in mystery, but it's expected to be even larger than The Witcher 3, as CD Projekt RED continues to push the boundaries of RPG expectations.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt remains our pick for the best game on Xbox One today, and it's discounted for Black Friday right now. You really, really should buy it, especially since CD Projekt RED is one of the few AAA developers taking a stand against EA's manipulative premium currency systems.
