Star Wars Battlefront 2 Changes Will Balance Those Who Want Gameplay Progression and Those Who Want an Accelerated Experience [Updated]
EA has removed microtransactions from Star Wars Battlefront 2, but only until they figure out a better way to implement them.
This article first appeared on USgamer, a partner publication of VG247. Some content, such as this article, has been migrated to VG247 for posterity after USgamer's closure - but it has not been edited or further vetted by the VG247 team.
Update: The original story included quotes that appear to be directly attributed to EA. EA clarified to USG that they are currently evaluating Star Wars Battlefront 2's microtransactions and that they have nothing further to share beyond the original statment. The original story has been updated to reflect this.
Today, EA announced that it will be removing microtransactions from Star Wars Battlefront 2. However, this is only a temporary measure until EA can achieve what they hope is the right balance between microtransactions and an accelerated experience.
The developers will be going back to the drawing board in attempting to balance out Battlefront 2's microtransactions. Their ultimate goal is to find a way to balance the needs of their large playerbase.
In trying to strike a balance, EA appears to be suggesting that Battlefront 2 will eventually return to offering the opportunity for players to spend money on accelerators—industry jargon for gameplay boosts that can be purchased with real money. Aside from Battlefront 2, Need for Speed Payback is a recent example of EA's attempt to introduce balanced "accelerators" through loot boxes.
It's currently unclear what form those changes will ultimately take. EA's rep would only stress that the publisher is seeking balance in their approach to microtransactions.
In a statement issued on Twitter earlier today, EA apologized for not getting Battlefront 2's loot box-driven progression "right." In response to a player backlash that went so far as to demand several governments to investigate EA for promoting gambling, EA has turned off all in-game purchases in Star Wars Battlefront 2. But the key words EA used in its apology was that the company will "now spend more time listening, adjusting, balancing, and tuning[,]" the microtransactions in the game.
We broke down the ongoing controversy here, and why Battlefront 2's microtransactions ultimately harm the balance of its progression.
For the moment, loot boxes are only purchasable with in-game currency in Battlefront, with premium currency set to return at an unconfirmed date. It launches tomorrow on November 17 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.