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PC Gamer writer wants to quit multiplayer because...Battle Passes exist.

bender

What time is it?
I try to avoid games with battle passes because of my personality. I collected everything in Overwatch and by and large, the system was extremely fair and didn't often require you to spend money outside of the league costumes (meh) and league MVP skins (cool, expensive, but dropped really infrequently). ActiBlizz shutting off Overwatch when Overwatch 2 launched pissed me off so I haven't even tried it. No idea how exploitative it is, but I'm happy I'm not going to find out.

I also dropped Rocket League when they went from one scummy monetization system to another, both of which were exploitative.

I am a little worried about Diablo IV (supposedly the battle passes are only for cosmetics) and SF6. I was fine with how SF5 was monetized as there was no randomness to acquiring character customizations or stages. I also don't mind spending money on GAAS as long as things are fairly priced, not limited time and don't require grinds.
 
Battle passes are pathetic, and I know this because I play Destiny 2. I'm going to ride out that game, because it's the only online multiplayer game I like with PVP. But once it's over I'm done with these types of games too.
 

nemiroff

Gold Member
If game reviewers were worth a damn, they would deduce points of a game if it has a Battle Pass integrated. They are really that bad an exploitatative.
How does this at all affect you tho? You can just, you know, not buy the optional content and move on.
 

Guilty_AI

Member
How does this at all affect you tho? You can just, you know, not buy the optional content and move on.
Its fair criticism. If something makes the game worse it should be pointed out by all means. Sure you can ignore it, just like how you can ignore bad games or some bad mechanics. Doesn't stop anyone from saying how much they suck, how it shouldn't be there, or that looking for alternatives is better.
 
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T4keD0wN

Member
Cool, ive played 2 games that had a battlepass already and i am still confused as to what that is. Its so confusing and complicated its better to uninstall. If you want to exploit me for money dont make it a rocket science.
 
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hinch7

Member
Talk about being hyperbolic. Battle passes are pure shit though easily ignored.

It a shame this is thing because once upon a time you could play games and unlock stuff. Now MP games are expected to have stuff hidden under crappy payment models and lootboxes.
 

01011001

Banned
to be fair, Battle Passes are there to manipulate you into a fomo cycle through daily missions and giving back currency that you would lose if you didn't keep playing the game.

battle passes in most games are pretty predatory if you think about it.
 
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SmokedMeat

Gamer™
I don’t see a problem with the article?

Battle Passes are just shitty carrots on sticks to keep you tethered to the publisher’s treadmill. One of the reasons I quit Battlefield V was because it became work, instead of fun. Want the new weapon we’re giving away? Clear this series of objectives, doing things you don’t want to, in order to make your way towards the prize. Then do it all over again next week when we put another shiny new gun up for grabs.

Sorry, but they really are garbage.
 

Jaybe

Member
Video game companies missed the glorious arcade days of gamers pumping in quarters continuously, so they have finally invented the modern day equivalent: battle passes
 

Generic

Member
Who the fuck would defend battle passes? The main point of them is to create FOMO. Every other system of progress in multiplayer games now revolves around them and that purpose. So much of online gaming is just corporations min/maxing the best way of extracting money from players. It’s all disgusting and embarrassing and is definitely ruining shit.
"Who the fuck would defend battle passes?"

They replaced pay-2-win content. And yes they are completely optional, nobody is forcing you to get cosmetics.
 

Generic

Member
Its fair criticism. If something makes the game worse it should be pointed out by all means. Sure you can ignore it, just like how you can ignore bad games or some bad mechanics. Doesn't stop anyone from saying how much they suck, how it shouldn't be there, or that looking for alternatives is better.
The alternative is p2w. Battle passes saved f2p games.
 
You're right, but there may be more context you haven't included...

1. Pay full price up front.
2. Monthly subscription.
3. Included w/ GamePass.
4. F2P w/ Battle Pass cosmetics.
5. P2W.

All models have an impact on game design in order to extract the most from consumers. Of the 5 major payment models, isn't the F2P Battle Pass model the "most optional"?

Plus, the PC Gamer writer doesn't even make your point. She basically says she's incapable of not pursuing cosmetics...to which I say...don't go outside because there's a loooot of industries that try to entice customers with cosmetics.
Oh agreed, there is a lot more to consider than I mentioned. My critique was focused on a traditionally "retail" game having a season pass, not a F2P game. If a season pass is your only payment to play then I honestly don't have much issue with it if implemented well. I played Warzone and thought it's season pass was very reasonable - I even earned enough currency each season to buy the next season, so I paid once and it lasted the 5 or 6 seasons I played. The cosmetic thing is even dumber:

Maybe because I am older at 55 but I have zero issue not buying a battle pass or loot bundle or skin off a store if it doesn't interest me

Maybe this is a problem for the younger generation that doesn't have good impulse control?

Where its gets shitty is when on overpowered weapon in a battle pass or bundle on a store.
I honestly wonder if people these days are being heavily conditioned at a young age to experience hyper fomo/need for instant gratification, because they really don't seem capable of ignoring literally anything that is put in front of them to buy. So many complaints about "It would take $20000 to buy everything!!!!!" but it's like, why the fuck do you even want to buy everything? 99% of cosmetics look like horseshit in the first place.
 

BlackTron

Member
Overwatch 2 is a joke, its not a new game, they just put a 2 as an excuse to implement the battle pass system.

Pretty much, while taking away OW1 which we already paid for...

They really had so much potential with this IP and just completely botched it somehow.
 

LRKD

Member
Okay, but the articles right? Battle passes are trash and do make me want to stop playing games. i'm fine with supporting a game with more dlc and shit to keep its life longer. But battle passes are a fomo chore, and make me loose intrest faster then if they had no support at all.
 

Esca

Member
In indifferent on battle passes mostly. But I dofeel they should all be like Halo infinite where you can work on it in your time. It's bs you pay for the pass but you can miss out on the content.
 

Shubh_C63

Member
Ok I don't understand. Can't you just completely ignore the existence of battle Pass if its purely cosmetic ?
Ofcourse it is worse than free lootboxes but clamoring over BPs means you the player value cosmetics more than the gameplay itself. (nothing wrong with that)

Battle passes are pathetic, and I know this because I play Destiny 2. I'm going to ride out that game, because it's the only online multiplayer game I like with PVP. But once it's over I'm done with these types of games too.
Destiny 2's Battlepass is unfair ? That's news to me because it is insanely easy to level up, and has not even that much value honestly.
 

Men_in_Boxes

Snake Oil Salesman
I have studied the thread and reached an understanding of the situation.

Go back to 2016/2017. Battle Passes are relatively new and universally praised as being the superior model.

Fast forward 6 years and the Battle Pass has grown in popularity in exponential measure.

It's dominance scares/annoys people who prefer alternative, more intrusive payment models. So these people will align with awful gaming journalism because the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Battle Passes reign supreme.
 
I have studied the thread and reached an understanding of the situation.

Go back to 2016/2017. Battle Passes are relatively new and universally praised as being the superior model.

Fast forward 6 years and the Battle Pass has grown in popularity in exponential measure.

It's dominance scares/annoys people who prefer alternative, more intrusive payment models. So these people will align with awful gaming journalism because the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Battle Passes reign supreme.

No one is "scared" of battle passes. They are just tired of greedy cunts trying to sell a "complete" game with less content while demanding more money for content that was previously part of the base release. Doesn't matter its form, whether it is loot boxes, MTX, or Battle Passes - it fucking sucks. Stop shilling for shitty companies.
 

jigglet

Banned
battle passes? the purely optional, cosmetic-only element that saved us from pay-to-win mechanisms? lmfao
 

MadPanda

Banned
If they're implemented right, I don't mind them at all. I had multiple completed battle passes in Warzone 1 and 2000 coins left almost half a year ago when I stopped playing it and I paid just 2 USD. I didn't even have to pay that if I held out for longer but I wanted to speed it up. Most of the battle passes in premium games give you enough coins back if you complete them so you just have to pay once and have infinite battle passes if you're playing actively.
 

Men_in_Boxes

Snake Oil Salesman
No one is "scared" of battle passes. They are just tired of greedy cunts trying to sell a "complete" game with less content while demanding more money for content that was previously part of the base release. Doesn't matter its form, whether it is loot boxes, MTX, or Battle Passes - it fucking sucks. Stop shilling for shitty companies.

Willing to bet my first born daughter that you're a SP gamer who fears the rise of the Battle Pass as the dominant model moving forward. You can smell a SP gamer from a mile away.

How could I have possibly known that?!

Embrace progress my friend.
 
Willing to bet my first born daughter that you're a SP gamer who fears the rise of the Battle Pass as the dominant model moving forward. You can smell a SP gamer from a mile away.

How could I have possibly known that?!

Embrace progress my friend.

I love good, complete games regardless of if they are SP or MP. Meanwhile you are over here mindlessly defending terrible design choices that nickle/dime players, progressively pushing them toward weaker and lesser games while they end up paying more in the long run.

Who knows, maybe you are a young teen who never saw the glory days of Unreal Tournament and Quake - of having complete games with no MTX or DLC, with maybe one or two big expansions and constant updates/new maps from the rabid fan community.

But I doubt that. You are just mindlessly shilling for a company simply because they were bought buy your favorite plastic box manufacturer.
 

Guilty_AI

Member
The alternative is p2w. Battle passes saved f2p games.
There are tons of alternatives besides battle pass and p2w. Pay upfront, cosmetic dlc, reworking the battle pass model to make them non-intrusive... and i mean one of those, not all of them at once and a few more like some companies do.
 
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Ok I don't understand. Can't you just completely ignore the existence of battle Pass if its purely cosmetic ?
Ofcourse it is worse than free lootboxes but clamoring over BPs means you the player value cosmetics more than the gameplay itself. (nothing wrong with that)


Destiny 2's Battlepass is unfair ? That's news to me because it is insanely easy to level up, and has not even that much value honestly.
I said it was pathetic, as in seasonal content is locked behind the premium battle pass. Who said "unfair" ?
 

Guilty_AI

Member
Willing to bet my first born daughter that you're a SP gamer who fears the rise of the Battle Pass as the dominant model moving forward. You can smell a SP gamer from a mile away.

How could I have possibly known that?!

Embrace progress my friend.
I see nothing wrong with fearing the growth of a shitty monetization model that often makes game lesser. One that only manages to grow at all because a bunch of teenagers and young adults are unnable to keep their FOMO in check.

I used to play MP games more often, until they became objectively worse because of shit like this.
 
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Midn1ght

Member
Not related to Overwatch but Epic with their battle-pass/season-pass took all the fun out of my daughter and I when they acquired Fall Guys. We would often play on weekends and what my daughter loved above all else was unlocking new costumes and putting them on. Before Epic, we only needed to play a bunch, get some crowns/coins and buy them in the in-game store or just straight up unlocking a bunch in the free seasonal event. After Epic went free to play, the only thing you can buy with crowns or coins are shitty hats, glasses or backpacks. Everything else needs real money to buy costumes or pay for the seasonal event pass.

Even if it's affordable, there's no way I'm teaching my 6 years old that in order to enjoy a game, she has to pay a fee every 3 months or use real money for a simple cosmetic.

Game was uninstalled and we moved on to Sackboy where we're having a blast playing co-op and where every costumes in the game (there's tons of it) is unlock-able by just playing the game.
 
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Reizo Ryuu

Gold Member
Something is wrong with y'alls brains if you can't play the run around shoot game for its running around and shooting; imagine being so soft entirely optional "content (lol)" prevents you from enjoying what's supposed to be actual core of the game. Sounds like you didn't really like playing it in the first place.
 

Fbh

Member
Something is wrong with y'alls brains if you can't play the run around shoot game for its running around and shooting; imagine being so soft entirely optional "content (lol)" prevents you from enjoying what's supposed to be actual core of the game. Sounds like you didn't really like playing it in the first place.

This.
I don't particularly like the battle pass system (pay to unlock stuff to grind for? No thx) but as long as it's limited to cosmetics I don't get how it's a deal-breaker to people.

Then again I also don't get the appeal of cosmetics in a first person game like Overwatch
 

MagnesD3

Member
I can behind rarely wanting to play multiplayer, single player is where you find the most memorable moments in gaming.
 

The Cockatrice

Gold Member
I have studied the thread and reached an understanding of the situation.

Go back to 2016/2017. Battle Passes are relatively new and universally praised as being the superior model.

Fast forward 6 years and the Battle Pass has grown in popularity in exponential measure.

It's dominance scares/annoys people who prefer alternative, more intrusive payment models. So these people will align with awful gaming journalism because the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Battle Passes reign supreme.
Your opinion is shit and your thread proves it. You can shove your battle pass somewhere.
 
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FUBARx89

Member
Only Battlepass I've found decent is Fortnite tbh, least you can buy the next battlepass with the fortnite bucks ya get through the season pass.
 

Griffon

Member
entirely optional "content (lol)" prevents you from enjoying what's supposed to be actual core of the game
Again, OW2 locks actual gameplay features, heroes, behind its battle pass. This isn't just some cosmetics.


I was fine with Halo Infinite BP because it didn't matter. But Blizzard decided to be scummy with their version of it.
 
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64bitmodels

Reverse groomer.
overwatch, more like hogwash amirite?

its so nice to see all areas of GAF from the green rats to the blue snakes to the PCMR collectively coming over to take a giant steamy dump on battle passes.

too bad there's not enough people like us around to make games better
 

Guilty_AI

Member
I don't particularly like the battle pass system (pay to unlock stuff to grind for? No thx) but as long as it's limited to cosmetics I don't get how it's a deal-breaker to people.
For me personally is a matter of immersion. Imagine reading a book, immersed in its world and characters, only to suddenly have a line right in the middle of it saying "You can know more about this character's backstory by buying our spin off book for only 9.99!"

Sure you can ignore it, you dont have to buy that spin off, you might not even like that character. But these elements highlight to you a grim nature of that product, that it doesn't exist because someone thought it was beautiful, interesting or entertaining, but because a faceless company wants sell you a life-style that constantly needs to make money off of you.

In short, it turns something that should've been fun and made you forget the worries of life into a reminder of things utterly depressing.
 

Filben

Member
I'm not fond of battle passes aka paying for the option of cosmetics that could forfeit if you miss out the season and thus trying to create FOMO and manipulate people.

However, you can enjoy these games without. Some games are rather intrusive, though, and constantly remind you of the """benefits""". What's even worse is ingame currencies for singleplayer games. Imagine paying real money to get runes in Elden Ring. Yet Ubisoft is king in this. Where does this chest full of supplies come from when I pay, metaphysically to the ingame universe, for it? It just materilizes and breaks immersion.

back to multiplayer: What bothers me more, however, that every multiplayer game is now life service, constantly changing and never been finished, with manipulative match making, and attracts hard-core audiences. Try to get into these games after a year and everyone is mopping the floor with you. Win too many games and you gonna lose the next ten matches until you about to leave and than MM kicks in again and you win the next matches. There's no steady challenge, it's all wild and calculated just to keep you as long as possible in the rat race and try to milk you for money.

Well, that's a reason to quit when it's not fun any more. But battle passes alone never did that to me. More like the mention things above and toxic communities who hides behind their anonymity and act like assholes they'd never dare to in real life.
 
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ReBurn

Gold Member
most of my 27 years of living
Tells you all you need to know about their perspective of online multiplayer games, really. Someone isn't old enough to remember paying for new maps, pay to win weapons, and being left behind if you were too poor to pay for DLC.
 
Battle passes are shit though so I get it. I’ve gone right off multiplayer in the last year or so and I think it has a part to play in why.

I miss it when games were just a bit less predatory and not always asking for fucking money.
 
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Husky

THE Prey 2 fanatic
Do we really hate game journalists that much that we're gonna criticize them for being right?
 
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