OpenCritic, the review aggregator that made waves with its unweighted and inclusive approach, is looking into informing consumers if a game contains microtransaction loot boxes.
OpenCritic continues to push forward with the same communicative strategy that has already earned them no small amount of respect among consumers looking for a fair evaluation of the avalanche of video game releases. Currently, the conversation centers around the abusive employment of in-game microtransactions, specifically the thinly veiled gambling-lite that is the “loot box” model.
We're going to take a stand against loot boxes. We're looking into ways to add business model information to OpenCritic.
— OpenCritic (@Open_Critic) October 9, 2017
Destiny 2, Forza Motorsport 7, Middle-Earth: Shadow of War, and Star Wars Battlefront 2 are just the biggest names slipping in these predatory tactics in hopes of padding their bottom line. Assassins Creed: Origins will feature loot boxes, but their purchase will not be tied to real money — which should save them the wrath of the gaming community at large, so long as they have the self-control to keep intrusive microtransactions and real-world equivalent currencies out of the works.
With consumer discontent with the business model at an all-time high, many have begun to make serious purchasing decisions based on whether they can enjoy a game — for which they have already paid — without having to slap away the intrusive fingers of a greedy publisher or slog through a game rebalanced to make spending additional money more appealing.
To that end, OpenCritic is accepting ideas for how to rate a game’s business model in a “fair and scalable way,” especially with regard to its intrusiveness on the experience.
– Exclusively paid vs can be acquired in game
– Prompts during gameplay vs dedicated store
– 100% unlock completion time with no payment— OpenCritic (@Open_Critic) October 9, 2017
It is good to see more outlets paying attention to the exploitive business practices becoming so common in the world’s fastest-growing pastime.
Follow Nate Church @Get2Church on Twitter for the latest news in gaming and technology, and snarky opinions on both.
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