Ashes of Creation is a new MMORPG with a subscription model. However, according to Game Director Steven Sharif, the mandatory costs should end there. Nevertheless, there are discussions surrounding the game’s monetization, especially regarding the shop.
How is Ashes of Creation funded? During the Kickstarter campaign, the MMORPG revealed that it would be a Pay2Play game. You will need to pay about 15 dollars monthly to play Ashes of Creation.
As Steven Sharif revealed in a discussion on reddit, there will be no further costs. Those wanting to enter the MMORPG at release will not have to purchase a game box. Future expansions are also expected to be free:
It is important to remember that Ashes is a subscription game without acquisition costs with an optional cosmetic shop. This allows us to achieve several goals with our monetization model.
Having a lower entry barrier for players to try the game, without needing to pay $60 for the box price, is beneficial – our box price is $0. This also emphasizes the attachment to the game and our continuous updates and content creation to keep players playing and staying. […].
It also means that players do not have to spend $60 each time there is an expansion.
This makes the monetization model of Ashes of Creation appear very fair at first glance and even gives it an edge over established brands like WoW or Final Fantasy XIV. Both regularly rely on new expansions that must be purchased separately.
However, Sharif’s statement emerged from a discussion around the Ashes of Creation shop, which is viewed critically.
Real-money cosmetics and the fear of many reskins
What was the discussion about? The catalyst for Steven Sharif’s statement was a controversy regarding the shop in Ashes of Creation. It is said to contain no Pay2Win elements but a lot of cosmetic content. However, this very aspect worries some players.
A statement from the developer livestream in December led players to interpret that identical or very similar sets would also be present in the game and worn by NPCs. Some feel that they paid money only to end up looking like an arbitrary NPC.
Specifically, Marketing Lead Margaret Krohn said:
We are often asked to what extent [the cosmetics in the shop] will help the world we are creating. We always explain that they help us create the creatures of the world, the guards that you see in the game, and such things.
You will not create the exact same sets as in the exclusives, those are specifically for those who support us. But you will see variations of them in the world. You will see these variants in the world, with NPCs, but not with other players.
The shop is generally viewed critically: Even before release, there are various in-game sets that can be purchased for real money along with alpha or beta access. These sets rotate monthly, resulting in many paid cosmetics that few players might afford.
The reddit user efrenenverde is therefore concerned that there may be too few obtainable armors:
This really worries me. There are already more of these equipment sets than most MMOs have had in their first years of total endgame equipment, so I am a little worried about what options we will have left.
If they continue like this, we will start with about 40 of these equipment sets. Will we also have 40 visually appealing sets available in the game? Or will we end up with 4 each for cloth, leather, and heavy sets with a 40/16 ratio?
Sharif refers to “visual diversity” that is supposed to be greater than in other MMORPGs
What does Sharif say about the accusation? In his statement, the Game Director explains that there will be no simple recolors. However, there will be variants where existing armor sets are disassembled and their parts are recombined at an NPC.
Moreover, Sharif emphasizes that there is supposed to be great visual diversity in Ashes of Creation:
The intention behind our approach to cosmetic content and the cosmetics that will be available in the game is to provide a richer experience of visual diversity than we have been used to in the MMORPGs we have played in the past.
There will be legendary cosmetics that are ONLY obtainable in the game, of which players can be assured that they will not be offered in any cosmetic shop in the future that undermines their performance.
What do the players say about this? Some players remain critical even after the statement. With each support set, there are also special furniture, mounts, and other features. Sharif did not clarify whether these will be available elsewhere in the game.
The referral system is also viewed critically
In addition to the shop, there have been discussions about the referral system offered by Ashes of Creation since the Kickstarter start. Every player can invite other players using their own link. Such a principle is also offered by other games and companies.
In Ashes of Creation, however, you receive real money that you can convert into subscription time or even withdraw.
Some players are concerned that the MMORPG will be heavily promoted by YouTubers and influencers so they can profit from it. Whether the game will actually meet these expectations could become secondary.
What do you think about the funding model of Ashes of Creation? Do you find it fair or does the focus on the shop concern you as well?
Starting on April 1, there will finally be more gameplay of Ashes of Creation to see. The Alpha 1 is officially set to start, after which the NDA for testers will be lifted.
