In the fantasy MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online data miners have now unearthed an EXP booster in the cash shop that would provide 50% more experience points for two hours.
At the end of last week, a player posted in the official The Elder Scrolls Online forum an image of an EXP booster, presumably from the cash shop. The booster promised 50% more EXP for two hours.
The image sparked a “Pay2Win” discussion as expected. What is still okay? What is already crossing the line? Elder Scrolls Online just switched to Buy2Play last week and during such a transition, many eyes critically observe what kind of items are being offered. Currently, a subscription comes with a 10% bonus. Zenimax had assured that The Elder Scrolls Online would not take the “wrong” path of free-to-play games, in which players can buy crucial advantages for money.
A Zenimax Online Studios employee then commented: The image comes from data miners, which is also okay (data miners can also look at the database for things that are not yet live in the game). However, just because something is in the database does not mean that the item will necessarily make it into the game. In principle, however, it fits into Zenimax’s philosophy to offer items in the cash shop that bring time savings.
What does Pay2Win actually mean?
Mein MMO says: Pay2Win is an open term. It is not black or white, but always to be viewed in relation, it depends on the perspective. For some, even the smallest purchasable conveniences are already “Pay2Win” and only completely cosmetic items are okay. Others take a more extreme view and even reject those if they cannot also be obtained in some way in the game.
The other extreme is formed by people who say that you can also buy significant advantages for real money as long as non-buyers have at least a small chance of winning or as long as the best purchasable items are only “somehow” achievable in the game, even with a tiny chance. After all, it is called “Pay2Win” and large sums of money do not guarantee victory, they just increase the chances of it.
In general, such “convenience” items like EXP boosters, which only bring a time saving, are considered unproblematic. Even if they provide such a high bonus as in the example image. The switch of a payment model and the introduction of a cash shop always marks a delicate time: One can assume that The Elder Scrolls Online will be closely monitored by fans in the coming months.
