EA Adds Microtransactions To Skate… In Alpha Stage
Yes, you read that right. EA has added microtransactions to Skate already, despite the game currently being in alpha.
Fans of Skate may be put off by EA’s latest announcement.
EA and microtransactions go hand in hand like Activision and microtransactions. Or 2K Games and microtransactions. Or EA and microtransactions. Wait, I’ve done that one. The point being, the vast majority of gamers loathe microtransactions - or as they’re becoming, macrotransactions - and no other game company is more notorious for shoe-horning in unwanted in-game purchases than EA. Not even Bethesda, who started the whole fiasco back with horse armour DLC in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.
And EA, being EA, has once more added microtransactions to another of their releases, Skate. Or should that be their pre-release alpha of Skate. Players now have the option to purchase in-game currency for premium items. In a game that hasn’t even launched yet. I feel I’m repeating myself because I find it so hard to believe, even for EA. Skate developer Full Circle have been letting players test the game in a closed alpha while they test their ability to add microtransactions to an unfinished product.
The premium currency, called San Van Bucks, was added in via an “exciting” update to the game to “ensure players have a positive experience when purchasing items from the Skate store,” as stated by the developers. Full Circle has also stated that player progress will be reset before the game launches into early access later this year and any in-game purchases will be refunded back into the San Van Bucks as long as players are using the same EA account throughout the experience. So, while players don’t get their money back, they will receive all spent in-game currency for future use.
What do you think about MTX being added into a game’s alpha test? Is this too far, even from EA? Sound off below!
I created this website as I feel the state of the games industry and games reporting as a whole has gotten overly negative and full of clickbait. While I understand both of these are a great way to generate engagement, it’s a detriment to those gamers (like myself) that are just trying to enjoy games and not have to worry about the negativity of the current state of the gaming industry. I want a space where gamers can come for unbiased news that doesn’t rely on clickbait or rumours with a dash of humour and have the opportunity to share their passion for games.
