Back in early 2016, Bethesda Game Studios head, Todd Howard let the word out that the publisher's in-house studio teams were working on three “huge” unannounced projects. We have heard very little about what Bethesda's internal team has been up to since then but it looks like at least one …
Read More »Evolve, Siege, what other games were killed by micro-transactions?
One of the more common complaints among gamers is that AAA studios play it safe. They release the same game with minor updates year on year and are rewarded for it. That's why it can be so exciting when a developer releases something new and deviates from the path, but …
Read More »Destiny now sells overpriced level boosters
Destiny fans have grown wary of Bungie in recent months, thanks to the introduction of micro-transactions and the change of business model following the launch of The Taken King expansion. While these extra purchases started out as packs of ‘Silver' to buy social or cosmetic items, it has now evolved …
Read More »Metal Gear Solid V’s multiplayer is not locked behind a paywall
GameSpot caused quite a stir today when the site published an article claiming that Metal Gear Solid V's PvP multiplayer mode was locked behind a paywall. The mode is known as ‘forward-operating-base, or FOB for short, at the time, the site claimed that in order to access this mode you …
Read More »Halo 5 multiplayer will have micro-transactions
Now for the disappointing news of the day, Microsoft's biggest exclusive title of the year, Halo 5: Guardians, will have micro-transactions thrown in to the multiplayer portion of the game, apparently as a “matter of convenience”. As you would imagine, this has become a pretty big talking point right now …
Read More »Mortal Kombat X lets you buy easy fatalities through micro-transactions
It has been a while since we've had a good example of micro-transactions done wrong in a triple A title. While easier fatalities is something people have wanted to see in Mortal Kombat for some time, I don't think anybody wanted to pay extra for them. Mortal Kombat X launched …
Read More »3DS exploit bypasses microtransactions in Pokemon Shuffle
Nintendo launched a little free to play title on the 3DS a while back called Pokemon Shuffle. Since it is a free puzzle game, micro-transactions were incorporated but a new 3DS console exploit allows you to completely bypass the annoying paid for items and just enjoy the game. The 3DS …
Read More »Blizzard: Diablo 3 micro-transactions won’t come to EU or US
Over the last few days there have been some concerns about Blizzard incorporating micro-transactions in to Diablo III outside of Asia. The publisher has now commented, clearing up the confusion by saying that while micro-transactions are being tested in Asian territories, there are no current plans to bring them over …
Read More »Sega to expand mobile division with new buyouts
Sega Networks, the mobile arm of the classic gaming publisher and developer is looking to expand its influence in the West, by investing heavily in two mobile game developers and buying one out entirely. With plans to launch more than 30 free to play mobile titles in the near future, …
Read More »Apple adds ‘pay once and play’ category to App Store
Micro-transactions have become the norm these days, particularly in mobile games, so much so that it can be difficult to track down games that don't feature them. However, Apple is looking to make things a little bit easier for you with its new ‘Pay Once and Play' category on the …
Read More »Here is what the Elder Scrolls Online’s new store will let you buy
You have probably heard by now that Zenimax Online is taking The Elder Scrolls Online in a new direction by dropping the monthly subscription requirement and adding in a micro-transaction ‘crown store' to the game. Now some details have come out, letting us know what we will be able to …
Read More »iOS drops the ‘FREE’ icon on F2P apps
Apple's iOS App Store will no longer advertise ‘free to play' or ‘freemium' apps as free, instead these applications will now have a ‘+ GET' icon beside them, giving users a better warning that an app likely has a heavy focus on micro-transactions. Apps such as Angry Birds, Candy Crush …
Read More »EA to release SimCity for mobile devices
It seems that EA is having another crack at mobile gaming as the publisher just announced SimCity Buildit, an app for iOS and Android devices. This will be the first high profile mobile release from the company since the disaster that was Dungeon Keeper. EA says that the app will …
Read More »Google to pay $19 million to settle in-app purchases case
Google is set to pay out at least $19 million to refund parents who were billed for in-app purchases made by children that weren't authorized to do so. The case has been going on for some time now but it looks to be coming to a close as Google considers …
Read More »Assassin’s Creed Unity will have micro-transactions
Following on from last night's report that Ubisoft wants to take PC gaming ‘more seriously', it has been revealed that Assassin's Creed Unity will contain Micro-Transactions for those who would rather pay for progress than play the game. Assassin's Creed IV had a similar option, users could buy ‘DLC' resource …
Read More »Titanfall now has in-game currency
Respawn has just revealed in a blog post that in-game currency will be coming to Titanfall in the game's fifth update, which is due out on the 31st of July. These in-game credits will allow users to buy items on the black market such as Titan insignias and burn cards. …
Read More »Valve’s Steam Summer Sale tactics are bad for all gamers
If there's one thing PC gamers hate, it's those horrible, by-the-numbers, mobile gaming mechanics championed by the likes of King and Zynga. The micro-transactions, pay to win scenarios, games that become more about some meta-management, rather than actually playing the game itself. Scores of companies have been smashed for this, …
Read More »EA CEO: Dungeon Keeper remake misjudged the economy
This may be too little too late at this point but EA's CEO, Andrew Wilson, has admitted that the company made a lot of mistakes with the “free to play” mobile version of Dungeon Keeper. “You have to delivering value, and always err on the side of delivering more value, …
Read More »Freemium apps account for 98% of Google Play Store revenue
Free to Play and Freemium style apps have been a huge source of income for developers but it also turns out that these apps generate most of the Google Play store's overall revenue. The Play Store surpassed 1 million apps last summer and now the total number of apps on …
Read More »Dungeon Keeper on Android filters out 1-4 star reviews
When Dungeon Keeper arrived on mobile devices, many fans of the original games branded it as a micro-transaction greed fest, not many people like the game at all. So you might be wondering, if so many people hate the game, why does it have such a high rating on the …
Read More »A new site lets you find Android games free of in-app purchases
It can be hard to find a game for your phone or tablet that doesn't feature micro-transactions these days, the IOS app store does give you clear warning but its usually harder to tell on Google Play without downloading and finding out for yourself. Fortunately, Honest Android Games has arrived …
Read More »Gran Turismo 6 micro-transactions aren’t cheap
If you didn't know I'm sorry to break the news to you, but the next Gran Turismo game is going to have micro-transactions. That's right if you want to you can play the game as usual and earn your way to the newer cars, or you can just pay to …
Read More »Forza 5 economy adjustment incoming
Forza 5 released as one of the few 1080p launch titles on the Xbox One. While the game is very pretty and runs at a smooth 60 frames per second, gamers found the cost of micro-transactions was ruining the experience, so the developer has now decided to change that. I …
Read More »Wargaming makes pledge to end pay to win in F2P
One of the biggest concerns people have with free to play games, is that by monetising them through unlocks or experience boosters, it can often make it far easier to make your way through game content or unlock more powerful stuff, if you simply dump cash into the game instead …
Read More »PC games sales made £13.24 billion in 2012
An organisation that combines the two giants of gamer chip creation, AMD and Intel, has announced through a new report that PC gaming grew once again in 2012, managing to generate well over £10 billion. Known as the PC Games Alliance, a non-profit organisation with aims to further PC gaming …
Read More »EA planning to add micro-transactions to every game
If you thought the odd micro-transaction in free to play games was annoying, wait until you play any of EA's upcoming games – all of them will come equipped with some form of in-game payment system. EA has already taken flak for including micro-transactions in the single player heavy Dead Space …
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