10 Modern Video Game Tropes Everyone Is Rejecting

Just when we thought we got rid of the predatory invasiveness of microtransactions and loot boxes, greedy executives found another means of wringing as much money out of our pockets as possible. This is, of course, Season Passes.

Sometimes called Battle Passes, these are purchasable passes that give players access to extra content for the duration of a set season. With the rise of free-to-play games and the live-service gaming model, the Battle Pass option sounds like a reasonable means for a project to earn money over a longer period to support development while giving players shiny cosmetics without the need for any nefarious loot boxes.

However, the problems begin to appear when you notice how expensive these items can be. Especially when players have already purchased the game in question, asking them to shell-out around $10-$20 to get those premium items all adds up. Even worse is the gigantic cost of cosmetics in in-game stores, with it reportedly costing over $1000 to purchase everything in Halo Infinite’s first season.

While games like Sea Of Thieves have included versions of Battle Passes that are far less intrusive and cost effective, this tactic is becoming increasingly exploitative.