Microtransactions are a part of our gaming life. This doesn’t mean they’re a good thing, rather they’re something we have to deal with. Some games handle them well, like both Battleborn and Overwatch , where these microtransactions deal with purely cosmetic things. But not all developers handle things that well. There are far too many companies that see them as an easy way to ensure a game keeps paying off, even if they aren’t good for its players. These ten recent games offer some of the most egregiously bad microtransactions made available over the last few years.
GTA Online
Grand Theft Auto Online is a pretty great game. New modes and features are constantly being added. But then, so are more things you can purchase, like outfits, weapons, vehicles, and residences. It’s staggering. Earning all of the things you want legitimately is impossible. Which is probably why Rockstar has made over $500 million in microtransactions . People can pay real cash for Shark Cards, which give them between $100,000 and $8,000,000 in-game money to spend on anything they’d like. That means spending between $2.99 and $99.99 on virtual items for a game. Ouch.
Destiny
Destiny started out as one of the good ones. It had Eververse microtransactions, which initially were limited to emotes. Except then, this year, Sterling and Radiant Treasures were added. Basically, these are blind boxes of loot, which can include actual armor and weapons. These items are rare and, while they do need to be infused to be worthwhile, it’s still giving people an opportunity to pay real cash for rare equipment. The cost? A couple hundred pieces of Silver, which goes for 500 pieces for $4.99 or 2,300 pieces for $19.99. Since it’s randomized, you may even need to pay the higher prices for a chance at a full set of armor.
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
When it comes to Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, microtransactions are everywhere. If you’re going through the single-player campaign, you can pay real cash for immediate credits and Praxis Kits. Which is a bit skeevy, but fine. You don’t have to pay for them. But then Breach has Chipset Packs which can make a difference when you play, which isn’t so great when you have a multiplayer component in a game. Put them together, and it feels like Square Enix is nickel and diming you.
Rainbow Six Siege
Getting new characters in games is great. Knowing that it’s much easier for people to pay a fee to unlock them, rather than earn them yourself, isn’t. Rainbow Six Siege added microtransactions that were both cosmetic and changed gameplay. Weapon skins? Sure. That’s fine. But operators cost 25,000 Renown or 600 R6 Credits ($4.99). It can take over an hour to earn 1,000 Renown, which means you could need to spend over 25 hours to get enough for one extra character. Or, you could pay $5. It just feels wrong.
Halo 5
Oh, Halo 5, we trusted you. The Halo series has usually been pretty fair, but this recent installment went all-in with its Requisition System. You can pay to get extra equipment for the online multiplayer modes. Feel like you need some help in the Arena and Warzone? Pay $2 or $3 for a Silver or Gold REQ Pack. Granted, you can earn these packs with 5,000 or 10,000 RP you earn as you play, and there are even REQ Packs you get for leveling up, but it still doesn’t feel right to know a few bucks could give you an edge over other players.
Mortal Kombat X
Do you want to play Mortal Kombat X , but not actually play Mortal Kombat X ? There are microtransactions for that! For $19.99, you can unlock every item in the Krypt. So much for spending hours actually enjoying your game. You can get it all at once. Even more egregious are Easy Fatalities. You can get simplified inputs for Fatalities in the game. It’s $0.99 for five finishers or $4.99 for a pack of 30. So much for showing your skill on the field of battle.
Pokemon Go
Given that Pokemon Go is a mobile game, you have to expect microtransactions. But the pay-to-play element is strong here. Getting Poke Balls is no big deal. They’re liberally doled out at PokeStops. But the other things you might want or need? You better hope you level up soon or conquer gyms, otherwise you’ll have to pay for Pokemon-drawing Poke Stop lures or general location incense. And if you want to hatch more than one egg at a time, you better pay for more incubators. 100 PokeCoins at $0.99 to 14,500 PokeCoins for $99.99 can start looking pretty attractive when people get desperate.
Gears of War 4
When it comes to Gears of War 4 , its packs have been incredibly frustrating. There are different tiers, with only the Elite Packs guaranteeing you at least one rare or better item and improved chance at Legendary cards. Except, these cost 3,500 credits. You don’t get packs as a reward for leveling up. Seeing how some people were reporting only earning about 20-30 credits per match, collecting enough in-game points for an Elite Pack feels like a monumental task. But hey, you can always spend $4.99 to immediately get one, or even $49.99 or $99.99 Deluxe and Ultimate Airdrops that include multiple packs! Ick.
Evolve
When Evolve was a paid game, it went overboard with add-ons. There were $2.99 character skins. There were $7.49 extra hunters. The extra monster was $14.99. And it wasn’t like there was one bundle you could acquire to get everything at a discount. No, there were hunting seasons with some content, like extra characters and skins, bundled together. Transitioning to a free-to-play game hasn’t made things any better. Now, it’s just randomized. You can collect Basic and Premium Crates as you play, having a chance of unlocking either three or five random things once you pay for the Silver or Gold key to unlock them. There might no longer be a cover charge, but you’ll never be free.
Metal Gear Solid V
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain takes the cake. Yes, there are superfluous add-ons, consisting of appeals and outfits, which you expect. But then, there’s Forward Operating Base insurance. FOB insurance can protect your in-game base from virtual attacks by other players for days or weeks at a time. This costs real money, of course. MB coins are used for this, of course. These are available in bundles, starting with 100 MB coins for $0.99 and going up to 6,000 MB coins for $49.99. One days’ worth of insurance is 50 MB coins, about $0.50, while two weeks can be 300 MB coins, or $3. It’s a frivolous excuse to milk money out of people and quite possibly the stupidest and worst microtransaction in recent memory.