The upcoming online multiplayer game Bleeding Edge is perhaps flying under the radar. Bleeding Edge is developed by Ninja Theory, the creators of action games like Heavenly Sword, Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, and DmC: Devil May Cry. The action-game developer is bringing its action genre experience to the competitive multiplayer scene, but it still needs to persuade fans that Bleeding Edge is worth buying into. It now has another great supporting argument, as it's confirmed Bleeding Edge won't have microtransactions.
Rahni Tucker, Bleeding Edge's creative director, confirmed the news in the game's first Q&A Youtube video. When asked if there are any microtransactions in Bleeding Edge, Tucker says directly that, "There is absolutely none right now." She goes on to say that everything in the game as of right now is unlockable through gameplay. There will be cosmetics, but none of them come with a premium price tag.
Tucker does leave the door open to microtransactions being introduced to Bleeding Edge in the future. She doesn't say that Bleeding Edge won't ever have microtransactions, but she does add that Bleeding Edge will never introduce gameplay-altering microtransactions, as in purchasable items that would affect a player's relative power or strength in a game. If Bleeding Edge does introduce microtransactions post-launch, they'll be cosmetic only.
Ninja Theory is already experimenting with the idea of premium microtransactions, even if there aren't any in the game currently. While the game won't have microtransactions at launch, it does have a pre-order bonus filled with assorted cosmetics. The Punk Pack is given to everyone that pre-orders Bleeding Edge. It includes three unique skins for specific fighters, a unique hoverboard cosmetic, in-game stickers, and three taunt emotes, providing an idea of what Bleeding Edge's microtransactions would look like if Ninja Theory decides to include them at some point.
The somewhat confusing situation that Ninja Theory has created is perhaps a red flag. Bleeding Edge won't have microtransactions at launch but clearly is open to the idea of adding them later. That type of message indicates that Ninja Theory is likely going to base its future decisions on what happens at launch. If Ninja Theory was confident in Bleeding Edge's launch sales and player retention, it would make sense for post-launch support and monetization to be in place and already publicized to players. That it isn't, hints at a lack of confidence or dedication. Bleeding Edge players will at least receive a product with no microtransactions at launch, though.
Bleeding Edge releases March 24 on PC and Xbox One.