“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
Anti-P2W MMO Lionhearts is on Kickstarter selling duchies and duke titles for $10,000
A few weeks back, we covered a new-to-us strategy MMO, Lionhearts - a game effectively spun out of a Roblox game by indie studio...
Hands-on: Co-op roguelike Lynked Banner of the Spark is ready for launch and more fun than ever
I think all gamers have a dream game in their head that they wish somebody would make, a mashup of the best parts of...
Star Citizen’s new cash shop offerings provoked fresh pay-to-win and predatory monetization accusations
The Invictus Launch Week free-fly event of Star Citizen is usually meant to be a time of celebration; a way to try out ships...
Massively on the Go: Niantic games under Scopely may not be so bad, actually
In case you missed the news, Pokemon GO's Niantic has finally confirmed that it is indeed offloading its games to Scopely. Oddly enough, it...
Stars Reach Kickstarter hits $450K, unlocks crafting appearance customization as devs say headstart isn’t P2W
As the Stars Reach Kickstarter nears half a million dollars, the Playable Worlds team is using Kickstarter memos to further explain how the game's...
Stars Reach: ‘We’re not gonna break the economy for the sake of the Kickstarter’
If for some reason were home on a Saturday watching a stream instead of playing a game, then you likely just got an eyeful...
Not So Massively: Holidays in The First Descendant are truly the blurst of times
When I first tried The First Descendant, I hit a brick wall over the fact that I didn't enjoy playing the two freebie characters...
Once Human’s new achievements are powered by cash shop currency – obviously, players aren’t happy
News about what's next for survivalbox Once Human was pouring out of NetEase's Starry Studio last week to the point that a bit of...
Massively Overthinking: How much does gross monetization really affect your MMO play decisions?
Over the last couple of weeks, we've had several MMORPG tiffs over pay-to-win claims in our games. DC Universe Online just straight up added...
Albion Online players are not happy with new P2W bundles that fast-track skill learning
Last week, Albion Online decided to offer up something new for players to purchase: warden mastery packs, a series of four new bundles with...
DC Universe Online launches new Harley Quinn episode – and controversial paid currency
This week's content release for DC Universe Online would normally be a nice thing to point out since, you know, it's adding new gameplay...
Throne & Liberty KR adjusts item drops for its rune socketing system to reduce grind
A couple of weeks ago, the Korean version of Throne & Liberty got a significant update that applied multiple changes to the MMORPG, among...
The Daily Grind: Which MMORPGs are low-key pay-to-win but somehow avoid criticism?
A thread on the MMORPG subreddit caught my eye a few weeks ago as the post author suggested that Albion Online was not only...
Throne & Liberty KR showcases updates to progression, new activities, a new region, and artifact system
Earlier this week, NCSoft brought a four hour-long smorgasbord of information out of Throne & Liberty's Korean version, with devs hosting a TL meet-up...
Massively Overthinking: Unfair stigmas that follow MMORPGs
A few weeks back, our team was discussing the intersection of survival sandboxes, MMORPG virtual worlds, and gankboxes - and how hard it is...
The Game Archaeologist: Runes of Magic, an MMO that made millions disappear
In more ways than one, the year 2004 was a pivotal one for the MMORPG community. Even as games like City of Heroes, EverQuest...
Stick and Rudder: So let’s talk about those Elite Dangerous pre-built ships
Over the past couple of days, I've been watching and writing about the fun little tire fire that Elite: Dangerous ignited when it announced...
Elite Dangerous shares additional details on engineering updates and pre-built ship bundles
Yesterday saw Frontier Developments enrage the Elite: Dangerous playerbase when it announced plans to sell pre-built ship bundles in its cash shop, with many...
Elite Dangerous plans to sell ship bundles – including its upcoming new ship – in the cash shop
A new announcement from Elite: Dangerous has lit a tinderbox among its playerbase, as Frontier Developments has confirmed that it plans to start selling...
Four years after MapleStory 2’s western sunset, the global fans on the Korean version are dwindling
We still mourn the loss of MapleStory 2 'round these parts, particularly since the well-liked sequel appears to have been frustratingly canned as an...