A rising issue in the gaming industry is microtransactions and the chance for some players to ‘pay-to-win’. This problem can take the form of more powerful weapons, camouflaged skins, and unfair boosts. However, Helldivers 2 has taken a new approach to the predatory pay-to-win problem and made quite a statement with it.
Is Helldivers 2 pay to win
When speaking on the subject of monetization and pay-to-win in Helldivers 2, the CEO of Arrowhead Games commented, “We really applied ourselves to not make it p2w even though items are functionally different. The only item that’s p2w is the revolver… Only (minor) problem is that it’s not that good.” This was in response to the players having an issue with the purchaseable battle pass system.
However, this battle pass system, known as War Bonds, although purchased with a buyable currency, isn’t entirely locked behind a paywall. The currency used to buy the premium items in the game can be found throughout the game. The team believes that rather than making the premium version exclusively paid for, it can be earned, too.
In a separate interview, the CEO claimed that games should “earn the right” to be monetized. He went on to mention that if players wanted to purchase the Warbonds for money, they could as a way to support the game. However, by making them readily available in-game, it still leaves the extras open to everyone. Because of this, everything in the battle pass is earnable, leveling the playing field.
What the gaming industry can learn from Helldivers approach to monetization
Helldivers 2 isn’t the first game to make earning premium currency in the game a thing. One of my favorite all-time games, Hunt Showdown, has been doing it for years. I was able to actually purchase the last season’s pass with the currency I had earned solely in the game. However, I feel that the practice is so rare that it needs to be addressed.
A game with pay-to-win items is just one issue that stems from a much larger one: greedy monetization. A game is always going to have certain items that are better than others. This is all part of natural gameplay, get better at the game, get better stuff. Play to win, not pay to win. Without this mechanic, most games wouldn’t work. However, when you put those elite items behind a paywall, the game is no longer a game; it is a fancy-looking digital marketplace.
Paying respect, not tax
Helldivers 2 and Hunt Showdown’s approach to monetization is a refreshing one. I was able to buy the seasonal pass in Hunt Showdown because I buried hundreds of hours into the game and completed so many challenges. But I would have done that anyway, with the promise of premium currency or not, because the game is a masterpiece. Helldivers 2 is in the same vein.
If I choose to buy the premium currency in Hunt or Helldivers, it is because I want to show my respect to the developers. I know that it isn’t necessary, but I can give them a little extra cash as a way of saying well done when a new update comes out. It is almost like a Patreon system. The problem with forced monetization is the expectation of it.
With a Helldivers 2 model in place, the in-game currency can be bought in two ways: with time or money. Playing the game for long enough will result in the same outcome as paying money. This is a much fairer system of advancement and ensures that no players are left behind; they just have to invest more time. In a game as good as Helldivers 2, this is hardly a big ask. It’s both pay-to-win or play-to-win in Helldivers 2.
