10 Ways Video Games Keep Lying To You

Surprisingly, it seems like we're gradually settling into a reasonable space with microtransactions and loot boxes. And to think, all it took was video game publishers pushing the concept to breaking point, where multiple world governments had to either intervene or at least warn them they would.

Until recently though, microtransactions were a jungle of publishers trying everything they could to wring every last penny out of consumers. The concept of "pay-to-win" just didn't last long amidst player outrage.

Or, at least, not openly. If you want to spend dozens of hours grinding and praying to the RNG gods, then you absolutely don't need to spend money.

One of the worst of these was Middle-Earth: Shadow Of War. The game was totally beatable without paying for loot boxes. Unless you wanted to see the game's "true" ending, which required you to replay lengthy fortress sieges over and over, gaining and losing followers, levelling them up, etc., etc.

Of course, you could buy a loot box and hope you get some overpowered orcs to use instead. If not, try again! Eventually you'll get something to alleviate this very intentional chore.