EA temporarily removed microtransactions from Star Wars Battlefront 2 as fans voiced their frustrations at the game's business model. But the Star Wars shooter is not the only EA game to undergo a major overhaul in that department, as the developer behind Need for Speed Payback has now announced big changes, too.
In a post on Reddit, Need for Speed Payback developer Ghost Games says that it has been looking at in-game data and feedback from players in order to alter the game's progression system. The progression system, which includes stat-boosting Speed Cards and loot boxes, is now undergoing "phase one" of an overhaul. Here are the phase one changes:
- Increased the amount of REP awarded by taking part in events.
- Increased the amount of Bank awarded by taking part in events.
- Bait crates now reward increased REP.
- Bait crates now reward increased Bank.
- Competing against a Roaming Racer will reward you with increased REP.
- Competing against a Roaming Racer will reward you with increased Bank.
- Air Suspension will now appear more frequently within Shipments.
- Slightly increased REP and Bank for finishing an event outside of first place.
In a follow-up comment about the changes, Need for Speed Payback representative F8RGE states that the progression system is not being tweaked as a direct result of the Star Wars Battlefront 2 backlash. "All this was already happening," says the developer, responding to a fan who suggested that EA doesn't want the fallout of the Battlefront 2 controversy to affect its other games with microtransactions.
However, while Ghost Games says that this was not done as a direct result of the Star Wars Battlefront 2 brouhaha, that doesn't mean that Need for Speed Payback didn't experience its own backlash. When the open-world racing gaming was first released earlier this month, many reviews criticized the game for its business model. Fans and critics complained, saying that it was incredibly difficult to progress in the game without grinding or spending money.
Fans are glad to see that Ghost Games is at least receptive to what they are saying and that the developer is encouraging them to "keep the feedback coming." The developer also explains that, "Our aim with these changes is to make the progression, especially around the ownership of cars, a much more enjoyable experience," which may be reassuring to players struggling with progressing in the game. The next round of changes will impact tune-up shops and more information about those changes will be coming soon.
Need for Speed Payback is available now on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.