10 Things That Prove EA Have Completely Lost Their Way
Is Battlefront 2's microtransaction controversy a step too far, or simply the norm?
It's certainly no secret that EA isn't the most popular game publisher out there.
Although the days of being voted as the worst company in America feel long behind us, many would argue that EA have actually managed to get worse.
Nowhere is this more apparent than in their recent treatment of games like Mass Effect: Andromeda and Star Wars Battlefront 2. Both titles have had most of their enjoyment and value for money undermined by shady business practices and a general lack of care, both of which are becoming features all too common with EA as a publisher.
It's definitely true that the company have been making strides to get rid of their negative reputation, but most of these moves are simply reversing previous bad decisions that should never have been green-lit in the first place. If EA really want to win back the trust of their consumers, they need to start listening and making changes for the better.
From burdening games with microtransactions to outright murdering talented studios, it's quite easy to see that EA have completely lost their way.
10. Star Wars Battlefront 2's Microtransactions
This recent fiasco is easily one of the biggest examples of a studio alienating their customers by treating them like walking ATM's.
Star Wars Battlefront 2 initially launched with a huge "pay-to-win" structure that allowed people to spend real money on loot crates for a greater advantage against would rather not pay more on top of the price of the game. This kind of model makes sense for free to play titles, but is an absolutely disgusting move for a full priced AAA release.
This is on top of the original controversy regarding character unlocks and the amount of time needed for each (40+ hours per character). Gamers have thankfully been fighting back against EA and their shady practices, resulting in the amount of time needed being decreased and microtransactions being temporarily disabled.
However long this microtransaction ban lasts, it's extremely scummy that EA ever attempted to include them in a fully priced product, never mind to the extent they affect gameplay.
Let's hope they truly learned a lesson this time.