In The Division, premium credits are heating up debates. Since 1.6, they are the currency for microtransactions.
About a year ago, even before the launch of The Division on March 8, 2016, some players noticed the existence of Phoenix Credits during the Open Beta. Many suspected that this could be a currency for microtransactions and asked Ubisoft for clarification.
Ubisoft’s Natchai Stappers explained via Twitter that Phoenix Credits could only be obtained through gameplay. He continued tweeting happily that there would be no microtransactions in The Division – and definitely no pay-to-win.
Now, in March 2017, it is said: “Check out the offer from the premium vendor!”
The prices of the premium vendor are “ridiculously high”
As early as 2016, Stappers backtracked, tweeting that he needed to be more careful with such statements. The Creative Director Magnus Jansen also revealed that there would definitely be no “shortcuts” through microtransactions. However, they were no longer completely ruled out.
With update 1.6, it was time: from then on, there were microtransactions. But they are all cosmetic in nature. No one “has to” invest additional real money to be successful in The Division. Because all microtransactions are optional. Nevertheless, they are under heavy criticism.
One reason for this is the horrendous prices: 500 premium credits cost 5 euros in the shop – 100 premium credits are worth about 1 euro. Some weapon skins cost 500 premium credits, some emotes even 800. Many agents can only shake their heads when asked to pay 8 euros for a single emote.
The prices are dismissed as ridiculous and exaggerated.
Massive has already taken a stand in a livestream: They emphasize that all purchases are optional. Nevertheless, they will pay attention to the feedback. But one should not rely on discounts in the near future.
Premium Credits – Bug
Since the launch of 1.6, there have been problems with premium credits on the Xbox One. Because of them, the servers were down for hours longer than planned on February 28. Massive decided to restart the servers on Xbox without premium credits. The plan was for Xbox players to be able to purchase the credits but only receive them once the issue was resolved.
Shortly thereafter, Massive gave the all-clear, stating that the issue was resolved. However, Xbox agents still complain today that they have not yet received premium credits – and this is almost two weeks after the launch of 1.6.
Massive writes in a current article that they are working as intensively as possible on a solution. They recommend not to purchase new premium credits with real money until they receive the premium credits.
When the issue will be resolved on Xbox is still unknown. Until then, the criticism of this currency is sure to continue.
Even if fans are up in arms, it is clear to the developers at Massive that The Division needs premium credits.
In the livestream about year 2, the Creative Director Julian Gerighty emphasized that the efforts with update 1.4 and the subsequent improvements required not only a lot of work and time but also a lot of money. Therefore, microtransactions can also be seen as an important reason why they can offer the entire year 2 for free. When paid DLCs or even a sequel will come again is currently up in the air.
What is your opinion on microtransactions in The Division? Do you completely avoid them or invest the occasional hard euro?
The three major innovations that year 2 will bring are presented here.
