EA addressed the Star Wars Battlefront 2's loot box controversy by temporarily removing microtransactions from the game. This move went down well with players, but that hasn't stopped some from fearing that similar things could happen with the publisher's other games, such as BioWare's Anthem.

The hotly anticipated sci-fi RPG offers areas to explore, loot to collect, and gear to equip. Fans argue there is a lot of potential there for exploitative monetization, and they have called upon EA not to make the same mistake again.

Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter is confident that EA won't put its foot in it with Anthem, though. In a recent interview, Pachter explained that EA is currently on "probation" with gamers and that it cannot afford to "put an onerous microtransaction scheme in any game going forward, they need to re-earn gamers’ trust again." Everyone is watching EA to see what it does next.

Pachter suggested that Anthem's microtransactions have the "potential" to be like Overwatch's loot boxes. The BioWare game may simply offer cosmetic loot (rather than gameplay affecting loot) so that "no one bats an eye." The analyst also pointed out that had Star Wars Battlefront 2's loot boxes gone the cosmetic-only loot route, "I don’t think anyone would have said anything."

Anthem loot boxes microtransactions BioWare

Many will agree with Pachter's comments. Star Wars Battlefront 2's sales were slammed by the loot box controversy, and even the strength of the Star Wars brand wasn't enough to save it. BioWare's Anthem will be a brand new IP, so without the fame and recognition of an iconic property like Star Wars to bolster its credibility, gamers would likely be turned off completely with a pay to win business model, which could tank the franchise before it's even begun.

Moreover, BioWare itself is still reeling from the backlash towards Mass Effect: Andromeda, which launched in early 2017. That game missed the mark critically and financially. Fans criticized the title for its poor facial animations, technical issues, and weak narrative, and this was reflected in the game's disappointing sales performance. If Anthem is a high-quality game, then BioWare can get back in its fans' good graces – but a bad business model will stop that from happening.

It seems as though there is as much riding on Anthem's business model as there is on the gameplay itself, so EA and BioWare will have to tread carefully. Many will be glad to hear that BioWare is still discussing the game's loot boxes and how these will (or won't) be implemented, but it could still be a few months yet until fans get to see what has been decided.

Anthem is currently scheduled to release sometime in the fall of 2018 for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

Source: GamingBolt