EA Adding Microtransactions to All Future Games

By Lawrence Sonntag | 27 February 2013 | 26 Comments

Remember how Dead Space 3 was absolutely, totally ruined by microtransactions? And remember how Mass Effect 3 was an unplayable piece of garbage because it had microtransactions?

Well, Electronic Arts is going to ruin all games forever, as confirmed by EA CFO Blake Jorgensen at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media, and Telecom Conference.

“We’re building into all of our games the ability to pay for things along the way, either to get to a higher level to buy a new character, to buy a truck, a gun, whatever it might be,” Jorgensen said.

And because people who are mad about microtransactions clearly make up 100% of the demographics of gameplayers, we all know that Jorgensen is dead wrong when he says the following:

“Consumers are enjoying and embracing that way of the business.”

I don’t know about you, but I’m the sort of person that gets offended at the mere presence of anything. If there’s someone sitting across from the bus wearing an annoyingly ironic t-shirt, I just have to passive-aggressively tweet about it. I mean, who does that guy think he is?!

That’s why I hate microtransactions. Sure there’s a game there that I could just play and the game would be the exact same even if the microtransactions weren’t there. I mean, sure games publishers are laying off employees and shuttering studios because they’re not getting enough revenue. That doesn’t matter though, because I hate seeing a menu option in my game.

God, Electronic Arts is so dumb.

[Seeking Alpha via Eurogamer]

26 Comments

Posted by Alchanii on 27 February 13 at 10:16am

You know what I love?
“Every purchase/download means a satisfied customer” seems to be the way of thinking with EA, and a few other companies.

…Just saying.
Posted by David on 27 February 13 at 10:29am

EA needs to get their head out of their ass. Seriously, this is ridiculous.
Posted by Thomas on 27 February 13 at 10:37am

I *might* keep playing EA games, particularly once they figure out that selling what amounts to a half finished game wrapped in an extortion scheme isn’t going to work and start offering them for free.
Posted by NinjaApe on 27 February 13 at 10:50am

I never bought a micro-transaction, I won’t start now. I’m okay if it’s weapon skins or some other cosmetic thing, but when you can pay to get the good stuff early like guns in Battlefield or cars in NFS, it’s a little ridiculous. It gives the richer people a slight advantage. I’ve heard stories of how multiplayer is tough on those that didn’t pay for upgrades.
Posted by George on 27 February 13 at 10:58am

The only reason he thinks that people love and embrace that way of business is because people buy the stuff because they want to get that weapon or continue to a higher level, they may not want to pay but if they do to get what they want.
Posted by galo on 27 February 13 at 11:22am

So EA estimates that base games are going to $10 more expensive AND they’re adding micro-transactions to everything they make? Wow, what a terrible company, it’s like they want everyone to hate them.
Posted by Holland883 on 27 February 13 at 11:22am

well, i guess simcity 3 will be the last game i will ever buy from EA. They just lost a customer and you know what? They deserve to be igored, machinima and other newssites should just not talk about them at all. Then the whole whing would solve itself really fast that way.
Posted by AdisBasic on 27 February 13 at 11:28am

Sorry to say that Ssx (2012) was and will be my LAST Ea game. I dont want to get ripped off like this. If im buying a game, then let me buy the entire friggin game, not let me buy it in parts.
Posted by Keisuke on 27 February 13 at 11:30am

I never asked for this!
Posted by dick fagginson on 27 February 13 at 12:31pm

Fuck….
- Posted by Mugenite on 27 February 13 at 1:01pm
  
  Good summation. Though, I would have added a “you,” at the end. You know, in case EA thought you were asking them to screw us even more.
Posted by RaveSaint5 on 27 February 13 at 12:34pm

Welp, they’re about to lose a lot of customers, including me. As if increasing games to $70 isn’t enough?

I want to see Blake Jorgensen suffer to save up money at a low paying job, paying bills, then see what he’s thinking when he goes to a store and see games for $70 that he want’s oh-so-much. And on top of that, DLC and all the other bull.
Posted by Sephi on 27 February 13 at 1:12pm

So, not only are EA predicting that next-gen games will cost around $70, but they’re also going to put DLC and microtransactions in ALL their games?

Whores. They are goddamn whores, literally. And the sad part, the part that REALLY gets to me; people are actually going to pay everything EA is asking. They’re whores, we’re sheep. Sad truth.
Posted by Arametzu on 27 February 13 at 1:15pm

Can’t say i agree with everything in this article, BUT i do agree that microtransactions are stupid. It’s a gimmick, plain and simple. It’s just another way they can squeeze every last penny out of the consumer’s pocket and as much as it sucks, i can only see it INCREASING i;n the future
Posted by neomew on 27 February 13 at 1:49pm

$70+DLC+Microtransactions=???
- Posted by Mugenite on 28 February 13 at 7:46pm
  
  +Arm/Leg+Soul… Yay gaming!!
Posted by ElectricDaisies on 27 February 13 at 2:13pm

Sarcasm is lost on the ignorant.
After all, I couldn’t possibly form an opinion on this article without first checking what all my friends think.
Posted by René Mathias Rojas on 27 February 13 at 2:32pm

ME3 unplayable? I liked it. If you mean the multiplayer yeah, that’s really like “throw money to get geared”, not only that but the things you buy, even with real money are randomized…

NEXT on Dead Space 4! For only 5 dollars you MIGHT get a good weapon… Or 10 health boosters.
Posted by Sam I Am! on 27 February 13 at 2:43pm

EA please just stop doing what you’re doing. Not only are you ripping people off with half finished five minute games but you’re saying “hey if you spend even more money, you can make the game slightly better and easier”. They’re just letting the rich get richer.
Posted by Mark on 27 February 13 at 2:54pm

Micro transactions are the new Pay to Play method, to me it’s obscene when it’s on paid games, at least on free2play there is that “they need to break even somehow” feeling.
Posted by that guy on 27 February 13 at 3:02pm

I actually really liked micro transactions in mass effect 3
- Posted by Mugenite on 27 February 13 at 7:08pm
  
  EA: “Yeeesss… I am assuming direct control… Spread the love of micro-transactions my little bees… Go! GO!! MwaHHAAHhHAhahaHAHAHAHHA!!!”
Posted by Overlord on 27 February 13 at 4:13pm

EA u bastard
Posted by Undying Zombie on 28 February 13 at 5:13am

Guess it is a good thing it has been a while since I actually bought an EA game. If they end up doing this for sure, I think I can keep on going without buying any of their stuff.
Posted by SAK on 28 February 13 at 11:46am

If we keep letting em know we are okay with this shit by buying into it, than in a few years games are going to be pay for a certain amount of time then when your times up pay more to continue, like a fucking arcade, we will come full circle.
Posted by Joe Doe on 11 May 13 at 11:53pm

Fuck you EA