Sales of Battlefront 2 are overall below the developers’ expectations. EA cites the controversy surrounding microtransactions as the reason. Strangely enough, these are supposed to return in the coming months.
“We want to listen to the players” is regularly heard from EA’s corner. But are loot boxes really what players want? “If done right, they certainly can be,” says EA.
After much back and forth, a decision regarding the loot boxes has now been made and communicated in a conference call.
Poor Numbers
Previously, CFO Blake Jorgensen had already announced that the shipments of Battlefront 2 had fallen short of expectations. Only 7 million copies were shipped instead of 8 million. At least: In terms of downloads, Battlefront 2 made a mark and recorded 5% more than its predecessor.
However, one has learned a lot from the controversy surrounding loot boxes and has been able to draw a lot for the future.
“Microtransactions are great if done right”
Initially, things didn’t go smoothly with microtransactions. Though implemented in the beta, they were significantly dialed back at the beginning of November. Rumor has it that Disney pushed for the loot boxes, causing strife in development. However, Jorgensen distanced himself from this notion.
“One should not believe everything you read in the press. We have a great relationship with Disney and have developed great games together. And if we find the right model for the players and community, I have no doubt that Disney will support us,” Blake Jorgensen
Early on, EA and DICE were confident that microtransactions would return as soon as a satisfactory and fair solution was found for everyone. Apparently, this is now the case. Jorgensen has now confirmed the return of loot boxes “within the next few months.”
He believes that loot box systems can help improve the overall gaming experience – if they are “done right.” They introduce the element of choice, which is an important component.
A Nod to the Players
They continue to work closely with the players to develop the best possible loot box system and are glad to have such passionate fans who tell them exactly when they are right and when they are wrong.
Although the game has not sold as well as expected, they are happy about the players gained. These spend twice as much time in Battlefront 2 compared to the same period in the predecessor. Moreover, 70% of players tackled the campaign, which is a proud number.
It will be exciting to see what the upcoming microtransaction system will look like. What are your expectations for it?
