What you need to know
- Gears 5 launches in September on Xbox One and other platforms.
- The game eliminates the season pass and loot crates.
- There are still "direct purchase" microtransactions.
- You can preorder the game for $60 on Amazon.
Gears 5 launches in September and The Coalition keeps on providing us with new details about the upcoming game. Unlike Gears of War 4, Gears 5 features a number of changes to the business model. According to a post on the Gears 5 website, "Gear Packs are gone. So is Season Pass. You can earn exclusive customization."
The website said that loot boxes have been removed so that players know exactly what they're getting through the microtransactions. Additionally, the player base won't be fragmented because of the season pass. You can see a list of the major changes below.
- No season pass.
- No "Gear Packs."
- Additional maps are free for matchmaking and "Private Play."
- All store purchases are direct, so you always know what you'll get.
A new "Tour of Duty" system allows you to earn customization content including character skins. Luckily, how you can earn each piece is clear so you can focus on completing those challenges. Not everyone wants the same cosmetic items, so you can choose what to pursue. There's no pay-only content in Tour of Duty. Think of this system as seasons in other games.
Rewarding players is important to Gears 5, and for every minute you play in multiplayer, you earn a random item. These supply drops can't be purchased with actual currency.
Now comes talk of the microtransactions. Aside from the optional boosts which help you level up faster, it seems like everything else is cosmetic. Customization content can be bought with a premium in-game currency called "Iron." Iron is purchased with real-world currency on the Microsoft Store. Luckily, you can earn Iron through Tour of Duty.
The Coalition added that content found in the store is "direct purchase," meaning what you see is what you get. There is no randomness at all. Keep in mind that no items in the store will provide a competitive advantage for real-money purchasers, so only buy a skin if you really like it and want to stand out.
With a continued push against paid post-launch content and microtransactions, this is a step in the right direction. Let's hope The Coalition keeps its word and there are no pay-to-win mechanics in there.
A personal journey
Explore Sera. Skim across glaciers, sail over deserts, and descend into sunken ruins to discover the largest and most diverse Gears world ever created.
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