Helldivers 2’s microtransactions are actually good

It’s healthy to be skeptical when you see microtransactions in games. Many titles cross the line from fair to exploitative, almost forcing players to throw in money that could be used to buy another full game (or more) in order to actually have fun. So when the first reports about it surfaced Helldivers 2Given the microtransactions, people were cautious. At first glance, the now popular live service shooter uses some well-known strategies. There are both free and premium battle passes that contain items that can impact gameplay and a range of currencies to analyze. Additionally, no roadmap was released at launch, so it was difficult to estimate how terrible microtransactions might be.

But after playing it for about six hours, there doesn’t seem to be any cause for concern. While I put money into it Helldivers 2 This will allow you to get a little ahead of other players, but it won’t have a big impact on gameplay. Most importantly, all currencies in the game can be farmed, with only one available for purchase. Developers at Arrowhead Game Studios have developed a system that can give certain players the opportunity the smallest Edge, but it’s not unfair, nor does it condemn players to a vicious cycle of microtransaction hell.

The game has four types of currencies – Requisition Tickets, Medals, Samples and Super Credits – and the first three are only available by playing missions. While you can find Super Credits (SC) in loot containers or through the Battle Passes, the main way to “earn” them is with real money. You can then use it to unlock upgraded armor in the Superstore. Some simply offer cosmetic changes, while others give you higher armor ratings or passive bonuses.

I can understand why people are worried about premium currencies like Super Credits. If you’re going to spend money on a game, why do you need to spend more? Take a look Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, a full-price game that still offers microtransactions for optional cosmetics. Sure, you don’t need any new outfits to beat the campaign, and three outfits cost around $10, but the entire game will cost you $70. Why spend even more than many people can afford? Games have been using microtransactions for years, with studios pushing things like loot boxes and DLC to get people to pay more than the base cost. People seem to be fed up with the hustle and bustle of live church services Halo Infinite, Diablo ImmortalAnd Marvel’s Avengers crash violently.

Building the other currency can take a while. For example, samples are collected from various locations around the map, but you can easily lose them if you die and don’t loot your corpse after a respawn. These are used to unlock ship modules, which give you permanent upgrades like larger magazine size or shorter cooldowns. The game doesn’t explain this in detail. So if you don’t focus on anything other than the main objectives of each mission, it’s easy to ignore them. Despite all the confusion, everyone Helldivers 2 Currencies primarily just push you to play more of the game, and that’s all you can ask for from a game.

Microtransactions are ubiquitous in video games as teams look for more ways to fund increasingly expensive development schedules, and it’s easy to take advantage of users. Battle royales, free-to-play mobile games, and many EA sports titles are particularly guilty of creating money-extraction schemes. Regardless of whether the microtransactions are pay-to-win, people can easily exploit them with loot boxes that resemble gambling for a chance at premium rewards or currency. Diablo Immortal is a recent example of game developers’ greed for money, with too many different currencies to keep track of and the chance to increase the chances of winning legendary gems, all working together to create a ruthless system, in the human spent thousands of dollars in the months surrounding launch and still couldn’t get the boosts they wanted.

Live service titles like Destiny 2 are closer to what Helldivers 2 Offers related to microtransactions and could be a sign of what could become of the latter if the developers are not careful. Most of what you can buy with silver Destiny 2The premium currency is purely cosmetic, although you can spend 2,000 Silver (so about $20) to skip a new expansion campaign. One of the packs currently available in the shop costs around 2,000 Silver per characterSo even though it’s completely optional, the FOMO (fear of missing out) you’ll feel when you see all the flashy skins will create a lot of pressure to make real money. This doesn’t even take into account the fact that you have to invest money every time a new expansion comes out. Be Destiny 2 The fan doesn’t require all your money, but it definitely helps.

Image: Arrowhead Game Studios/PlayStation PC LLC via Polygon

That’s what I’m worried about Helldivers 2 will introduce more complex systems over time to make more money, but for now there’s very little here that feels unfair. Johan Pilestedt, CEO of Arrowhead said on X (formerly Twitter) that the team doesn’t want to force anyone to pay more if they don’t want to, so hopefully that will continue throughout the game’s lifespan.

It is certainly not a pay-to-win game, for one very important aspect: the game is PvE. When you’re competing against other players, including some who have thrown in hundreds of dollars, you might feel like you’re at an unfair advantage. However, in Helldivers 2, everyone works together. Not only does it fit the game’s patriotic narrative, but it also creates a system where you don’t have to compete with other players. Maybe someone on your team has better armor or a more powerful weapon, but doesn’t that help you in the end?

Last weekend reddit PathsOfRadiance posted a video It shows a player jumping in front of a projectile to prevent it from hitting their party member. It’s the kind of self-sacrificing movement you see at the end of an action movie, when the hero slowly dies in the arms of the person he saved. Naturally, Helldivers 2 Since it’s a video game, the stakes are much lower, but this player also had heavy armor on, so they immediately got back up and continued shooting. Maybe this person has been playing for a long time, or they have invested money in the game. Whatever the case, it benefited the entire team, not just the individual. You are not here to “win”. You are here to do your part in a much larger effort.