In the survival MMO H1Z1, there is trouble regarding the Battle Royale mode, which is now supposed to become paid.
The Battle Royale mode in H1Z1 was originally announced as a “paid premium mode” and was also planned that way. It always was compared to a round of “Arena” in Hearthstone, where it might be significantly harder to earn the tickets, the access, in the game itself than in Blizzard’s card game.
However, access to Battle Royale was free during Early Access. The mode, a kind of last-man-standing with limited duration, was playable for free by everyone for two months. Yes, moreover, players could even win something in the mode.
Slowly, it seems the developers think this needs to change. Several weeks ago, studio head Smedley openly considered introducing a kind of “monthly pass” for it. Now it has been made official: The mode is supposed to really consume the purchasable and winable tickets soon. For $6.99, players can buy a monthly pass. Furthermore, when Battle Royale becomes ticket-required, the winnings are also supposed to be increased again; they were previously reduced.
The news came via reddit: Oh, by the way, after two months, we are now taking tickets and thus money for the mode you have come to love. The message was linked to the offer of a monthly pass and better winnings, but … that didn’t make the bitter pill any easier to swallow.
H1Z1 faced with angry fans again
This was a spark that caused the volatile powder keg H1Z1 to explode again after the dispute over the air drops. A thread calling for a boycott has blossomed into significant size on reddit in the last few hours.
It seems to backfire that now money is being taken for something that players perceived as “free” over the last two months. There is resistance to being asked to pay in an Early Access. Moreover, there is again trouble: The developers had announced the Battle Royale differently, one dies too quickly, making the tickets not worth their money, and it is much too difficult to earn the tickets in the game. Furthermore, it is outrageous to demand a subscription fee for such an unfinished game.
The developers have reacted to the protest, taken note of it, and want to discuss it.
We are listening to your feedback about Battle Royale. We’ll determine what we are going to do tmw.
— John Smedley (@j_smedley) March 20, 2015
Difficult relationship between customers and providers in a paid Early Access of a Free2Play game
Mein MMO thinks: Psychologically, it is difficult to give players something for free first and then start charging for it. Moreover, H1Z1 is indeed in an extremely early state, and asking for money for it puts the developers in a strange position from the outset. When one embarks on such a wobbly boat (Yes, we are still developing and want your feedback, oh by the way, to play it, we would like 20 Euros), then such an action throws it into a wobble again. On the other hand, nobody was forced into the game; the demand is there and high; the developers have clearly communicated what they intend to do and where they want to go, even if there have been communication difficulties.
H1Z1 is in a strange state: People are playing it like crazy, even though it is still in an early phase, and they were willing to spend money on it. However, many only do so grudgingly. Now having to pay permanently for something that has been free until today heats up tempers. Furthermore, fans of survival games are not exactly the typical MMO audience used to paying consistently.
The entire direction in which the player-industry relationship is moving has been thrown out of balance by games like H1Z1. Many players disagree with the industry’s offer, such as with a paid Early Access, but still take advantage of these offers and feel repeatedly deceived.
There are many factors coming together that will not be easy to solve, as the causes of the stress now lie much deeper.
