A brand new Apex Legends and Ultimate Fantasy VII Rebirth crossover occasion launched January ninth — a primary for EA’s free-to-download battle royale — and it’s been a giant supply of criticism from gamers as a result of excessive worth of its microtransactions.
Respawn just lately launch a brand new collaboration with Sq. Enix as a part of the run-up to the discharge of Ultimate Fantasy VII Rebirth. The occasion brings with it a brand new class of cosmetics, and it has the potential to price gamers a whole lot of {dollars}.
Beforehand, every Occasion Pack price 700 Apex Cash, or round seven {dollars}. On this occasion, the worth for one occasion pack is 1,000 Apex Cash, or about $10. With that change alone, that is the most costly occasion thus far for Apex Legends, with Milestone Rewards just like the occasion’s Demise Field pores and skin costing as a lot as $290.
~1% likelihood to tug the sword out of $10 packs and a $360 DEATH BOX. ?
— primehgss *insert one thing quirky* (@hgssprime) January 6, 2024
Nice crossover, however not price $295 for all of the stuff .
— Benzrkx (@Benzrkx) January 9, 2024
What’s extra, the pricing isn’t as simple because it was in earlier occasions. When gamers load up the Seasonal Occasion tab, they’re greeted with a free occasion field and a brand new Milestone Reward monitor that exhibits the “free” reward for that tier. The 2 most controversial gadgets are the brand-new Demise Field pores and skin and the Heirloom Buster Sword R5 cosmetics, the costly gadgets assured on the finish of the Milestone Rewards.
There are two choices for buying packs: particular person and bundled. When gamers have a look at the choices earlier than hitting the primary milestone, the packs price a reduced 100 Apex Cash individually, or 1,600 for the 4. Nonetheless, this pricing adjustments the extra packs you buy.
I found this after making an attempt to see what number of Apex Cash the complete 36 gadgets would price with that preliminary discounted worth. I noticed that after my first 4 pack bundle buy, the pricing jumped from 100 Apex Cash to 500, pushing it to 2,400 Apex Cash. The pricing slowly crept upward, and I wasn’t even midway via the Milestones when the pack costs have been again to 1,000 Apex Cash.
I discovered myself with 21 gadgets left to unlock earlier than getting the ultimate controversial Demise Field pores and skin for “free.” I’d have needed to spend a further 21,000 Apex Cash ($210) on prime of the earlier 8,000 ($80) I already spent with a purpose to get hold of it. In complete, with all offers utilized, the 36 gadgets — 35 not counting the free pack on login — would have price me 29,000 Apex Cash, or $290 USD.
So it’s lower than $360, however not by a big margin. On prime of that, the Apex Cash can’t be purchased at a 1:1 ratio. As a way to get 29,000 Cash to buy all of the gadgets, you must go to the Apex Cash bundles and purchase from the obtainable quantities. The fluctuating costs relying on what number of packs you’ve purchased isn’t addressed or said within the occasion messaging.
Whereas it’s theoretically potential to acquire this stuff at no cost, it’s not simple. Gamers have been shocked on the chance probabilities of the Buster Sword being unlocked via buying Occasion Packs, which is lower than one p.c. For gamers not desirous to spend more cash, the probabilities are close to unimaginable to win earlier than unlocking all occasion gadgets.
Respawn has been criticized by gamers earlier than for not together with extra free rewards that may be earned from simply taking part in the sport and limited-time modes. Within the present free rewards store for this crossover occasion, you’ll be able to earn as much as three free occasion packs, which saves you round 3,000 Apex Cash in the event you’re making an attempt to get all of the cosmetics. Nonetheless, it hardly makes a dent in opposition to the 36 complete that you must purchase.
In earlier assortment occasions, gamers have been capable of at the very least go to the occasion store and purchase the particular Legend Skins, however Apex Legends’ new crossover occasion solely permits gamers to buy the character skins for two,150 Apex Cash ($21.50), with no further Occasion or Apex Packs.
Briefly, that is the most costly occasion Apex Legends has ever placed on, and followers should not completely satisfied about it.
IGN has reached out to Respawn and EA for remark.
Stella is a Video Producer, Host, and Editor at IGN. Her gameplay focus is on aggressive FPS video games and she or he’s beforehand reviewed Apex Legends, Hyper Scape, Halo Infinite Multiplayer, Trendy Warfare 3, Warzone, and Battlefield 2042. She often hosts and shoutcasts aggressive Apex Legends and Halo Infinite tournaments when she is not streaming on her Twitch channel after work outs. You possibly can comply with her on Twitter @ParallaxStella.