God Of War's Director Promises No Microtransactions

11 hours ago

During these troubling times there are a lot of worries and consternation centered around the topic of microtransactions. Gamers are especially worried about microtransactions in single-player games, a monetary system that makes no sense for the end user. However, Cory Barlog, the creative director behind God of War, has assured gamers that there are no microtransactions in the game.

With the release of the game fast approaching this April, gamers have been asking more questions than ever before, including if the PS4 exclusive will feature microtransactions. One user in particular asked Barlog if there would be microtransactions requiring real money in order to purchase in-game items. Cory responded in the best way possible on Twitter, with a tweet that reads...

It doesn't get any better than that.

Some people might think gamers are just being paranoid, but there is ample reason as to why gamers are asking about microtransactions in a single-player game like God of War. Keep in mind that last year Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Monolith Productions' Middle-Earth: Shadow of War, the sequel to Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor, actually did feature microtransactions in the game despite the fact that it's a single-player title. Furthermore, the game didn't just have standard microtransactions but the much-dreaded premium loot boxes that have become the bane of gaming lately.

Things took a really nasty turn when gamers discovered that, during the Star Wars: Battlefront II beta test last summer, the game contained premium loot boxes. Gamers realized that the loot boxes could be used to unlock upgrades that could literally allow gamers benefits in the actual game by paying to unlock more loot boxes and craft better equipment. It was literally a pay-to-win model. The complaints during the beta didn't really do much, but things rapidly escalated just ahead of release as more YouTubers chimed in and social media began questioning Electronic Arts about the issue, and the community manager tried to make it sound like premium loot boxes were for the benefit of end users. This did not end well at all. The outrage went viral, even getting parents involved who eventually contacted Disney, who in turn contacted EA and had the company postpone the inclusion of premium loot boxes in Star Wars: Battlefront II.

There's still an ongoing issue with premium loot boxes that lawmakers have taken to investigating. So, typically, any game that contains loot boxes or microtransactions won't be viewed in the best light by gamers.

It's a smart move by Cory Barlog to distance Santa Monica Studios from any kind of talk about microtransactions being implemented into God of War. Of course, this doesn't discount that the game may have post-launch DLC, but so far the focus has been on the content that the game will launch with and not the far future of the franchise.

For many gamers who may have been holding out on adding the game to their wishlist for fear of loot boxes or other predatory microtransactions, at least now you know that God of War will be microtransaction-free when it launches on April 20th next month.