Update: EA has stated that the referenced article mischaracterized certain comments that are not attributable to EA. As US Gamer notes, EA is “currently evaluating Star Wars Battlefront 2’s microtransactions and that they have nothing further to share beyond the original statement.” The original story has been updated to reflect this clarification.
Star Wars Battlefront 2‘s microtransactions may have been indefinitely removed from the game, but when they return it seems like they’ll still be tied into player progression.
EA made the decision to remove the ability to purchase crystals, currency used to unlock in-game loot boxes, just ahead of Battlefront 2‘s launch in an effort to change public perception of the game. However, the statement from the publisher noted that they would “return at a later date,” and despite confirming that they would continue to tweak their influence on the game post-launch, it seems that when they’re reinstated they will still be linked to in-game progression.
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The news comes from a call EA reportedly held with USGamer, in which the publisher touched upon providing a balance between those who don’t want in-game progression tied to microtransactions, and others who would be comfortable with EA allowing avenues for an accelerated experience.
The “accelerated experience” in this instance would be the purchasing of loot boxes, which contain Star Cards that both grant players in-game advantages by upgrading their abilities / equipment, along with allowing them to progress through the game’s multiplayer component.
With crystals now having been removed as a paid currency, it remains to be seen how EA plans to alter the fundamentals of Battlefront 2’s multiplayer experience in order to enforce more balance. We gave the game a 2.5 out of 5 in our review, stating that while it was a fun multiplayer experience, but that “it would take a full overhaul of the leveling and progression system to straighten up [the] mess” that its predatory microtransactions had caused. EA is at least looking to make necessary improvements post-launch, but judging by their statement, it seems that those who want microtransactions removed from the game’s progression system entirely will be left disappointed.
