It’s wholesome to be skeptical once you see microtransactions in video games. Many titles cross the road from truthful to exploitative, all however forcing gamers to throw in cash that would purchase one other full recreation (or extra) to truly have a great time. So when preliminary stories surfaced about Helldivers 2’s microtransactions, individuals had been cautious. At first look, the now-popular live-service shooter makes use of some acquainted methods. There are each free and premium battle passes that characteristic objects that may have an effect on gameplay and a variety of currencies to parse out. Plus, there wasn’t a roadmap launched at launch, so it was robust to gauge how horrible any microtransactions may very well be.
However after enjoying it for round six hours, there doesn’t appear to be something to fret about. Whereas placing cash into Helldivers 2 will permit you to skip forward of different gamers a bit, it gained’t make a large impression on gameplay. Most significantly, the entire currencies will be farmed in-game, with just one being out there for buy. Builders at Arrowhead Sport Studios have created a system that may give sure gamers the tiniest edge, nevertheless it’s not unfair, nor does it doom gamers to a vicious cycle in microtransaction hell.
The sport has 4 sorts of foreign money — Requisition Slips, Medals, Samples, and Tremendous Credit — and the primary three are solely out there via enjoying missions. Whereas you could find Tremendous Credit (SC) in loot containers or via the battle passes, the primary technique to “earn” them is thru real-world cash. Then, you should utilize them to unlock upgraded armor within the Superstore. Some simply present beauty adjustments, whereas others offer you the next armor score or passive bonuses.
I can perceive why individuals get involved about premium foreign money like Tremendous Credit. Should you spend cash on a recreation, why do you then have to spend additional? Check out Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, which is a full-priced recreation that also provides microtransactions for optionally available cosmetics. Positive, you don’t want new outfits to beat the marketing campaign, and three outfits value round $10, however the complete recreation will set you again $70. Why do you have to spend much more than what lots of people can afford? Video games have been utilizing microtransactions for years now, with studios pushing issues like loot containers and DLC to get individuals to pay greater than the bottom value. Folks appear to be uninterested in the grind, with live-service efforts like Halo Infinite, Diablo Immortal, and Marvel’s Avengers crashing arduous.
![A menu screen in Helldivers 2 that shows off the Super Credits packages. 150 SC costs $1.99, and it goes up to 2100 SC, which costs $19.99.](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/pSS6F7hLd4bim_i3S2yPzYcIFhA=/0x0:2560x1440/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:2560x1440):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25282414/helldivers_2_super_credits.jpg)
![The Acquisition Center menu in Helldivers 2. We’re on the Superstore tab, which shows some armor sets and helmets for sale with Super Credits, the game’s premium currency.](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/9P4YVRJgr2OwBJxC1XdD8KFKyQA=/0x0:2560x1440/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:2560x1440):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25282419/helldivers_2_premium_acquisition_center.jpg)
It could possibly take some time to construct up the opposite foreign money. For instance, Samples are collected from numerous locations throughout the maps however you’ll be able to simply lose them in the event you die and don’t raid your corpse after a respawn. These are used to unlock ship modules, which offer you everlasting upgrades like elevated journal measurement or diminished cooldowns. The sport doesn’t clarify this totally, so in the event you don’t give attention to something past the primary aims in every mission, they’re very easy to disregard. Regardless of any confusion, the entire Helldivers 2 currencies simply push you to play extra of the sport at the start, which is all you’ll be able to ask from any recreation.
Microtransactions are throughout video video games as groups search for extra methods to fund more and more costly growth timelines, and it’s simple to make the most of customers. Battle royales, free-to-play cellular video games, and lots of EA sports activities titles are particularly responsible of making techniques to siphon cash. No matter whether or not the microtransactions go as far as to be pay-to-win, they’ll simply prey on individuals with loot containers, that are akin to playing, for the prospect to obtain premium awards or foreign money. Diablo Immortal is a current instance of recreation developer money-grubbing, with too many alternative currencies to maintain monitor of and the prospect to extend the chances of gaining Legendary Gems all working collectively to create an unscrupulous system the place individuals spent thousands of dollars in the months around launch and nonetheless couldn’t get the boosts they wished.
Dwell-service titles like Future 2 are nearer to what Helldivers 2 provides by way of microtransactions, and may very well be an indication of what the latter might grow to be if the builders aren’t cautious. Most of what you should purchase with Silver, Future 2’s premium foreign money, is only beauty, though you’ll be able to spend 2,000 Silver (so round $20) to skip a brand new growth marketing campaign. One of many bundles at present within the retailer prices round 2,000 Silver per character, so whereas it’s fully optionally available, the FOMO (concern of lacking out) you’ll really feel seeing all of the flashy skins will create loads of stress to sink in real-world money. That’s not even bearing in mind that you have to put in cash every time a brand new growth comes out. Being a Future 2 fan doesn’t require all of your cash, nevertheless it definitely helps.
![The Steeled Veterans menu in Helldivers 2. This is the premium battle pass, which shows options for items like armor for 18 Medals or an assault rifle that’s already been claimed. Highlighted are 100 Super Credits for 7 Medals.](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/IXEfv9eZiDqUD7cOxzMhXqoEuhw=/0x0:2560x1440/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:2560x1440):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25282467/helldivers_2_premium_battle_pass.jpg)
Picture: Arrowhead Sport Studios/PlayStation PC LLC by way of Polygon
I fear that Helldivers 2 will introduce extra complicated techniques to rake in additional dough over time, however proper now, there’s little or no right here that feels unfair. Arrowhead CEO Johan Pilestedt said on X (formerly Twitter) that the crew doesn’t need to pressure anyone to pay extra in the event that they don’t need to, so hopefully that continues through the recreation’s lifetime.
It’s definitely not pay-to-win due to one essential facet: the sport is PvE. Should you had been going up towards different gamers, together with some who threw in lots of of {dollars}, you would possibly really feel there was an unfair benefit. Nevertheless, in Helldivers 2, everyone’s working collectively. It not solely suits in with the sport’s patriotic narrative nevertheless it additionally creates a system the place you don’t should be aggressive with different gamers. Possibly anyone in your crew may need higher armor or a extra impactful gun, however gained’t that enable you to out ultimately?
Final weekend, redditor PathsOfRadiance posted a video exhibiting a participant diving in entrance of a projectile to dam it from hitting their occasion member. It’s the sort of self-sacrificing transfer you’d see on the finish of an motion film, with the hero slowly dying out within the arms of the particular person they saved. After all, Helldivers 2 is a online game, so the stakes are rather a lot decrease, but additionally this participant had heavy armor on, in order that they obtained proper again up and continued taking pictures. Possibly this particular person had been enjoying for longer, or they did throw cash into the sport for it. Regardless of the case, it benefited the entire crew, not simply the person. You’re not right here to “win.” You’re right here to do your half in a a lot bigger effort.