Summary

• Baldur's Gate 3 and Helldivers 2 demonstrate that quality games can thrive without predatory microtransactions.
• Developers should prioritize releasing content-rich games like Baldur's Gate 3 and Helldivers 2 to earn player trust.
• Capcom's Dragon's Dogma 2 launch woes highlight the negative impact of deceitful microtransactions and unfinished releases.

In an era rife with microtransactions and games released in buggy conditions, titles like critical success of Baldur’s Gate 3, Helldivers 2, and other recent examples like Palworld prove that if a game is well-made and fun to play, buyers will it. The cost of AAA game production is skyrocketing, and while that, too, is a problem plaguing the industry, predatory microtransactions are not the answer – quality is.

Dragon’s Dogma 2 is the latest release to incur the wrath of public opinion, with developer and publisher Capcom receiving backlash for the game's monetization. The highly anticipated RPG was released with multiple bugs and a litany of microtransactions that were largely hidden from the public before release. Any publisher misguidedly looking to nickel-and-dime consumers with microtransactions in a full-priced, AAA release need only look to the success of Baldur’s Gate 3 and Helldivers 2. A quality game is more than a sign of fine artistry; it represents respect for those who it. DD2, while flawed, can still meet that standard.

Predatory Microtransactions Have Been Around For Decades

Microtransactions have been a common topic for several years, but the phenomenon began around the mid-2000s. 2003’s Second Life is one of the earliest examples where s could purchase in-game goods using Linden Dollars, the platform’s in-game currency. A lack of regulations made the virtual world a haven for unchecked gambling and money laundering. A federal investigation was finally levied against developer Linden Labs, which instituted a ban on in-game gambling in 2007. By the time the ban was enforced, many were already in financial distress. Twenty years later, predatory microtransactions are less blatant, but they are just as dangerous.

Recently, Capcom has recently announced DD2 updates that will include the choice to start a new game, but it's still baffling that this standard feature was not there at launch. Currently, with the inability to simply start a new game, the Art of Metamorphosis in-game item is a suspiciously convenient extra purchase for those who wish to change their custom character's appearance – for the price of $1.99.

Capcom seemingly chose to keep DD2's microtransactions under wraps until the game's release. It is possible the publisher didn't want to dampen the hype before the game’s release, though there's no way to confirm this was the sentiment. Doing so made mention of any microtransactions scarce in most reviews, setting up consumers for an unpleasant surprise after purchasing the game for $70. Granted, many of the assets behind DD2’s price barrier can be obtained through enough gameplay hours, but it still misleads consumers to promote basic content as microtransaction purchases.

As a $40 title, Super Credits, can be acquired for free within a reasonable number of gameplay hours. Being a live-service title, buyers knew in advance that in-game purchases would be part of Helldiver's structure. DD2, a AAA, $70 single-player experience, made no mention of microtransactions. Trying to balance generating post-release revenue and maintaining an enjoyable player experience can’t be easy, but it's possible. Helldivers 2 offers a compelling experience that can be enjoyed equally by s who engage with in-game purchases and those who don’t.

Bloated Budgets & Self-Imposed Deadlines Make Problems Worse

Further exacerbating these problems are the titanic budgets and self-imposed deadlines that are rampant across the entire industry. When production costs balloon into the hundreds of millions, even successful titles can end up as financial failures. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is the highest-selling PS5 game to date, yet still struggled to turn a profit against a production budget exceeding $300 million. These bloated budgets not only entice publishers to implement aggressive microtransactions, but can also lead to mass layoffs and studio closures if a game underperforms financially. Layoffs from major publishers like EA and Activision are proof that "all or nothing" is unsustainable.

Dragons Dogma 2 was launched in such a buggy state that an apology was isterd by Capcom – a studio usually known for its quality and prestige.

The cynical argument would be that microtransactions and buggy releases are an unfortunate necessity. No one expects every game to be released in perfect condition. Likewise, no amount of QA testing can foresee every problem until a game is being played on a mass scale. According to Games Radar, Capcom is working to address the performance issues that PC players, in particular, have encountered with DD2, including freezing, frame rate dips, and crashes. The question is whether these issues are an honest oversight, or another example of publishers pushing to meet deadlines knowing they can address the problems with post-launch updates.

Baulder’s Gate 3 & Helldivers 2 Prove Publishers Like Capcom Have No Excuse

It's easy to pile criticism onto DD2 as it is the most recent example of a game being buggy at release and coming loaded with invasive microtransactions. However, the list of similar offenders is a long one - many of which are arguably more egregious than DD2. Skull and Bones seems bound for a similar fate: a big-budget spectacle that often feels repetitive and lacking substance, embracing live-service elements that are detrimental to the experience itself.

It's confounding that Capcom allowed DD2 to release in its current form, considering its track record of excellence. The remakes of Resident Evil 2, RE3, and RE4 are a masterclass in honoring the developer’s illustrious past while building a roap for the franchise's future. Street Fighter 6 was met with immense acclaim by both critics and players, and Capcom deserves ample praise for its recent triumphs. It's all the more baffling that much of what plagues DD2 seems mostly avoidable. It's a strange stumble for Capcom, but given its revered status, it's more than capable of getting DD2 back on track.

A company the size of Capcom is composed of many moving parts and departments trying to work in unison. It's important to there are many employees who worked long hours trying to make DD2 an awesome experience, many of whom may be as disappointed by the publisher's tactics as buyers are. There is still a lot to enjoy about DD2, and it's possible that its technical issues can be fixed with future updates. Its microtransactions, however, will continue to feel out of place in a full-priced, single-player RPG. Baldur's Gate 3 and Helldivers 2 are proof that microtransactions aren't always necessary, but when they are, they don't have to be predatory.

Sources: Games Radar