The upcoming fantasy MMO with sandbox elements, ArcheAge, will launch with a Free2Play model complemented by a cash shop. Are there items in the cash shop that look like Pay2Win?
ArcheAge’s payment model features a “Patron” status, which is only available to players who either subscribe or obtain this status through a tradeable license within the game. In addition to this “quasi” Pay2Play model, ArcheAge has a cash shop. These are common in Free2Play games but remain a sensitive topic: How powerful are the items available for purchase there? Can players buy advantages that cannot be obtained otherwise?
The US site mmorpg.com has taken a detailed look at the items available in the ArcheAge cash shop and reassures that a large portion of the items there are purely cosmetic. However, two exceptions exist regarding inventory and storage space expansion.
5 Categories of Items in the ArcheAge Cash Shop
The items roughly fall into five categories:
- Clearly cosmetic items such as alternatively colored mounts; costumes; the ability to print one’s seal on items; special furniture; unique colors. In short: “Vanity” items. Eye-catchers and attractions for other players. These items also indirectly affect gameplay, as one might buy a Euro-mount with in-game currency instead of a standard mount, but typically this should remain within reasonable limits.
- Useful, permanent items: Currently, there are still few of these, and most relate to mounts. The shop includes some faster mounts and moderate equipment for them, as well as gliders with a special skill. How these items affect balance will be seen. They likely are not items that would provide significant advantages in the endgame.
- Typical account service stuff: Also in the cash shop are character services that one would need an account service for in WildStar or World of Warcraft: gender changes or facial shape adjustments.
- Potions and scrolls that grant temporary bonuses: This is the type of item known from browser games or Guild Wars 2. Convenience items intended to make progress a bit easier for the player. For one hour, there may be more EXP or more honor points, armor does not degrade upon death, and one can access the mailbox from any location—typical stuff as found in F2P or Buy-to-Play games.
- Quasi-must-buy shop-only items: Mmorpg.com finds and criticizes items that they feel should not exist in an item shop. The criticized items all revolve around inventory expansion—either for the warehouse or for the player themselves. Currently, it seems that there is only a visit to the cash shop to expand the space. However, this might just be an oversight or a snapshot, and a later patch may reintroduce an in-game method, perhaps during crafting.
My MMO says: The Pay2Win risk seems manageable in ArcheAge. It currently appears that the specifics of the western market are being considered, and the topic is being handled sensitively. Everything is still in flux. How it will be under “real conditions” will only be seen at release. However, one should not be overly skeptical. On one side is the commentary from the Trion chief, and on the other is the history of Trion Worlds: There, Free2Play models have always been fair and player-friendly. Of course, Trion Worlds needs to earn money somehow.
