“Pay-to-win” aka P2W is a term used by online gamers for any game system or mechanic that allows a player to acquire advantages over other players using real-world money.
pay to win
Massively on the Go: Pokemon Go’s third anniversary report card
Well hey, it seems like it's another birthday for Pokemon Go, so you all know what we have for the anniversary party: another report card!...
EVE Online controversy breaks out over new starter pack, CCP addresses the community
EVE Online has a long and complicated history when it comes to the debate surrounding microtransactions. The playerbase literally revolted against developer CCP Games...
Massively Overthinking: The one about MMO superfans, zealots, and insidious tribalism
We recently received two pieces of mail from longtime MOP readers and commenters that worked together perfectly to form a unified topic. Alex emailed...
The Daily Grind: What’s been the biggest change to the MMORPG genre in the last 20 years?
A while back, there was a thread on Reddit from a younger MMO player who was curious about changes to the way players perceived...
Interview: Astellia’s westernization covers everything from monetization and VO to dodging and grouping
It seems as if every time we write about incoming MMORPG Astellia, confusion over its guiding principles dominates the ensuing discussion. One of those...
Lawful Neutral: Why Josh Hawley’s lockbox regulation Senate bill is dead-on-arrival
There's a special place in my heart for lootboxes and exploitative monetization, and that place is somewhere below the revulsion I feel for Martin...
Anti-lootbox Senator claims gaming lobbyists are getting worried; Nintendo pulls mobile titles from Belgium over lootboxes
It's a day that ends in "y" and so that means some fresh lootbox-related news to share with you fine folks!
First up is an...
Massively Overthinking: Unpopular MMORPG opinions
Unpopular opinions: We all have them. In fact we have so many that it's a straight up meme. This week's Massively Overthinking is one...
US Senator takes aim at lockboxes and pay-to-win with ‘Protecting Children From Abusive Games Act’
The gamblebox issue isn't dying down any time soon, it appears. As Kotaku first reported, Missouri Senator Josh Hawley has announced he plans to...
Interview: Astellia deep-dives its dungeon systems and Western tweaks
Incoming buy-to-play MMORPG Astellia has been a whirlwind in 2019 as Nexon and Barunson EA have prepared the game for release in the west:...
Fallout 76 is introducing controversial repair kits to the in-game store after promising no P2W
Back in October 2018, Bethsoft's Pete Hines verbally pounded on the desk stating that Fallout 76's in-game store wouldn't feature pay-to-win items. That insistence...
Massively Overthinking: If an MMO item is buyable with gold, does that excuse its presence in the cash shop?
This week's Overthinking topic comes from longtime MOP reader and commenter Sally Bowls. It's about monetization, but it's a nuanced argument we don't see...
Desert Oasis: Reframing player perceptions of Pearl Abyss’ MMO Black Desert
Hello and welcome to our revival of the Black Desert column! The Desert Nomad decided it was time to reroll for the new meta, and...
Legends of Aria pulls controversial item from in-game store as dungeon patch and anti-gank spell go live
This week we've been covering the unfolding concern over Legends of Aria's newly instituted in-game store, specifically the release of a power hour potion...
Legends of Aria players grumble over perceived pay-to-win items in new cash shop
Yesterday, Legends of Aria players were startled to see the new cash-shop in the early access version of the game. Upsetting players even more...
Astellia confirms it’ll be buy-to-play in the west, won’t be a ‘smash-and-grab’
At PAX South this weekend, Astellia reps did indeed sit for a panel on the game as promised - a panel hosted, apparently "at...
Interview: Astellia’s western team on pay-to-win, themeparks, and dodging early access and battle royale
Yesterday we covered the news that South Korean born MMORPG Astellia is heading westward in 2019, with its holy trinity classes, solid PvE and...
Massively on the Go: The key MMO features in The Walking Dead Our World
As a franchise, The Walking Dead is probably past its prime, but I'm admittedly still a bit of a fan. In fact, I was playing...
Interview: Bless Online on early access, pay-to-win, and its western refuge on Steam
Last night's bombshell that Bless Online is closing down its final Korean servers, leaving the game's Steam version in the west as the only...
Valve’s Artifact will feature no moderation and no cards earned through play
Oh boy.
If you've avoided hearing about Valve's upcoming digital card game, Artifact, you might want to take a look at the latest interview from...
