In the Free2Play MMORPG ArcheAge there was an unfortunate slip on Facebook where they indirectly admitted: We used to be Pay2Win.
ArcheAge has long been confronted with the accusation of being a Pay2Win game. These are games where players can gain a significant advantage over “non-paying players” by spending real money. This is frowned upon among many MMO fans.
Frowned Upon Accusation: You are Pay2Win
Developers and their most loyal fans usually vehemently deny this: No game ever admits to being “Pay2Win.” At most, they might say that players can save time and therefore play at a level comparable to their friends who may have less money but spend more time in the game. Then everything would be fine.
Now the new Update 3.0 “Revelation” for ArcheAge is on the way and interest in the game is increasing. ArcheAge is active on Facebook, responding to fans’ comments. They are visibly trying to bring many of them back to the game.
ArcheAge: New servers should manage without Pay2Win
One of the new gimmicks of 3.0 is “fresh servers,” where everyone will start from the beginning. A user asked on Facebook: Are you selling packages on the server again, so that players have an advantage?
ArcheAge responded: No, this package (referring probably to the Revelation package) is only available on the old servers. On the fresh servers, we have a different package that focuses purely on cosmetics and not on power or “Pay2Win.” We want everyone on the fresh servers to have the same opportunities.
Ouch, there was the dreaded word. Even if in the context of “like before” they no longer want to be that way. But the statement already implies that in the past, particularly on the old servers, they were certainly “P2W.” The US site Massivelyoverpowered jumped on the episode with the cheeky headline “ArcheAge inadvertently admits it is a Pay2Win game.” The actual “questioner” on FB shows relief: Great, that is exactly the answer I wanted to hear. Other fans are more skeptical on FB: “Do you really believe that?”
This is included in the “P2W” Revelation package
Regarding the “new package” that ArcheAge mentioned in their response, it is likely the €150 “Revelation package” with the Flame Steed and various advantages.
So, what do you think? Second chance for ArcheAge? Or do you not trust it?
One of the strangest episodes in ArcheAge is the so-called “Dolphingate”: At that time, a new producer tried to do the fans a favor and gave them an item that was previously a valuable and expensive cash shop item…
ArcheAge: Shitstorm Reloaded – Trion Worlds angers whales with a dolphin [Update]
