1. Loot boxes with game-changing advantages – gambling in MMOs
A trend that is becoming more prevalent is loot boxes, which can be earned through gameplay or purchased with real money. If the contents are purely cosmetic, it is not a big deal. It becomes a problem when the contents also bring significant advantages in gameplay.
This includes stronger weapons, boosters, or the ability to quickly improve oneself with money. Such things are occasionally seen, which many players find very annoying and unfair.
Loot boxes work on a random basis. They are essentially the surprise eggs of video games. Gambling is increasingly making its way into MMOs.
Randomness is always accompanied by frustration, especially when you want to achieve something in a game and are waiting for a particular item that just won’t appear in a box. Then you keep on buying new boxes over and over again, only to often be disappointed – and poorer.
Additionally, loot boxes often bring accusations of Pay2Win. Especially when they contain boosters. Here the question arises as to what is considered unfair. Is the experience scroll from The Elder Scrolls Online already Pay2Win because it allows you to gather EXP faster? Opinions vary on this.
Note: There are certainly more than five trends that annoy players in MMORPGs, therefore: What trends annoy you in MMORPGs? Let us know in the comments.
