I admire your optimism, but Fortnite, CS:Go etc. have proven the insane cash potential of meaningless skins, and that market can't exit in a solo game since the whole point of new skins is to show them off to other people.
I think the pay-to-win model is dying because it alienates a healthy chunk of the potential audience, but pay-to-be-pretty is here to stay.
Good point, absolutely correct.
I recently felt after getting heavily back into Overwatch the strength of their cosmetic economy.
I’m ashamed to say this, but I spent $50 on loot boxes to
A: get some skins and currency to maybe get a couple I actually wanted.
B: see just how bad they were in terms of what you get.
C: because I was frustrated at how slowly I was getting them and just wanted a bunch.
I am deeply against loot boxes, but I had to self analyze what made me do such an insane thing in that moment of weakness and say **** it and pull the trigger.
I’ve spent very little money on micro transactions in my life, I’d say easily under $200 including this purchase, but those few times I’ve done so, we’re nothing compared to this.
The insidious nature of loot boxes and their insane gravitational pull is frightening, I absolutely want to purchase more and I’m someone who’s not a gambler or anything, play a bit of black jack and that’s it.
These things are awful and while being able to just pay upfront for The skin or whatever else it is you want is preferable and a step up, it’s still a shame it has to be this way.
I don’t blame the publishers from a business perspective for doing what they do, but unfortunately for them, I predict the loot box system is going to bring the industry a world of hurt if they don’t self regulate this insanely underhanded system.
The other side of the coin is the consumer of course, if they didn’t buy in, the publishers wouldn’t do it, but that’s where the underhanded and predatory nature of loot boxes renders that argument a little moot, upfront transactions instead of making it a matter of progression is where the consumer is more responsible and could turn the tide by choosing not to purchase.
The Whales will keep the former system going as long as legislation doesn’t stop the publishers.
Sorry for the long post, rant over.