Microtransactions and loot-boxes are nothing new for gamers, but it doesn't mean that the community accepted these "innovations", as publishers sometimes push the boundary way too far. EA's
Need for Speed: Payback won't break the trend and the game's developers have a few words about the issue.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Marcus Nilsson, executive producer of Ghost Games explains why the developer decided to implement in-game purchases: “
It’s clear prices haven’t really gone up. That’s clear. I also know that producing games is more expensive than it has ever been. The game universe is changing in front of us now. We see more people playing fewer games for longer. Engagement is important. But how do we deliver longer experiences?”
His team had long discussions about choosing the right decision, as
"it’s very hard to find this golden path that’s liked by everyone. We make games that are $60 and some might think that it’s worth $40. What’s the value in the package delivered? Something like GTA 5 and GRA Online versus The Last of Us, which you can play through in 10 hours. How do we value that? That’s probably a long discussion" - the producer concluded.
Nilsson also ensured that the monetization system won't be too invasive, but it's hard to believe that looking at the recent decision of Electronic Arts in
Battlefront II, Mass Effect: Andromeda and remaking Visceral Game's untitled
Star Wars production.
Need for Speed: Payback releases on November 10.