Star Wars Battlefront 2‘s loot box system will be “balanced,” according to EA, with the publisher reportedly looking into ways that will ensure that the game is “fun for everyone.”
In a post discussing the reaction to the beta, which saw many players expressing concern that the finished game would be pay-to-win as a result of its loot crates, EA wrote: “Rest assured, we’re continuing to listen to you coming out of Beta. We’re taking a look at some of the most discussed topics, from Crates and progression to Strike mode (which we’re considering changing to a best of three), the Specialist’s Infiltration ability (which might be a little too overpowered) and more.”
Also: The Biggest Improvements Star Wars Battlefront 2 Has Made Over the Last Game
The loot box system outlined in the beta saw players able to earn Star Cards in the game’s purchasable “crates,” which changed their abilities and were directly tied to progression in its multiplayer component. With these Star Cards dramatically altering the game — one particular Star Card could effectively make the hero character Boba Fett invulnerable for a short period of time — them being tied so heavily to loot boxes raised eyebrows across the gaming community.
EA has outlined a plan that they believe will prevent Star Wars Battlefront 2 from becoming pay-to-win. “As a balance goal, we’re working towards having the most powerful items in the game only earnable via in-game achievements,” they wrote. “We also have heard some players are looking for a way to play where all players will have the same set of Star Cards with flattened values. Like everything else, we will be continually making necessary changes to ensure the game is fun for everyone.”
The publisher continued: “We will work to make sure the system is balanced both for players who want to earn everything, as well as for players who are short on time and would like to move faster in their progress towards various rewards.”
It remains to be seen how these changes will affect Star Wars Battlefront 2‘s gameplay, but after really enjoying my time with the beta I’m glad to hear that EA is adjusting its stance on loot boxes. With many matches in the beta decided by which team had the players with the best Star Cards, making the most powerful cards only accessible via in-game achievements is a sensible move. Hopefully this makes Battlefront 2 a much fairer game, and nullifies the overall value of loot boxes so that they don’t become intrusive for players who don’t want to fork out more cash.
