The 3 worst microtransaction schemes in video game history.

For all of the internet outrage surrounding video games and its culture, perhaps the only thing that everyone agrees to hate is microtransactions. For those out of the loop, microtransactions are small purchases involving real money that give some sort of benefit or content in-game. These purchases often appear as “loot boxes” or some form of premium currency that is either impossible or incredibly inconvenient to earn in-game. Microtransactions have crept into every conceivable game genre and triple-A franchise. Their astronomical profitability makes publishers require that developers include them in their games.

Publishers after discovering the magic words “loot box”

While there are some big games that arguably do microtransactions right, such as Fortnite and Overwatch, publishers have continued to push the limit of gamers’ tolerance towards the prominence of in-game purchases. Here are some of the worst examples of microtransactions in gaming.

The worst microtransactions in video game history

A disturbance in the Force

EA’s Star Wars Battlefront 2 is by far the most high-profile recent case of microtransactions ruining a game. Pre-release anticipation for the game was incredibly high, as the game included content from multiple eras of “Star Wars” movies and seemed to have more depth to its gameplay. This hype quickly died down after release as players quickly realized that progression in the game’s online multiplayer was tied to randomized loot boxes. Unlocking the ability to play as iconic characters like Darth Vader required either dozens of hours of tedious, loot box-based grinding or shelling out real life money.

Additionally, many of the game’s most powerful weapons and abilities were locked behind loot boxes, giving players who purchased them en masse an advantage. Understandably, players were furious, and one of EA’s responses to the controversy became the most downvoted comment in Reddit history.

Thankfully, EA eventually revamped the progression system and removed the ability to pay for game-altering content with real money. Instead, only cosmetic items can be purchased with real money, similar to Overwatch. Unfortunately for them and fans of the game, the damage was done. The reputation of the game and the number of active players were both hit hard by the controversy. Hopefully, EA has learned its lesson moving forward, as there is a great Star Wars game hidden beneath all of the greed.