Why Players Are Angry With Apex Legends Microtransactions, Explained

Apex Legends is a free-to-play game with microtransactions for cosmetics, but they seem ridiculously priced.

[Action GO FIGURE]

Are these players the 12 year olds who can't borrow mummy or daddy's credit card?

They're JUST skins.

[81BX]

They are dicks about the skins though. You can unlock the limited skins with in game currency only after you purchase (with real $) the skin required to unlock it. Now there are base skins. Idc I'm not paying for crap

[Action GO FIGURE]

Skins that offer no ingame advantage whatsoever. Complain about the MT pricing sure but don't forget this game was released for free.

[81BX]

Yes

[frostypants]

Then DON'T pay for them. Don't get them. What's the big deal? It's a FREE GAME and this stuff is cosmetic. They have to make their money somehow. People will whine about anything...the entitlement culture in gaming is so freaking laughable.

[vallencer]

I can't stand this argument of "It's free so it's fine". Yeah it's free we all know that but just because it's free doesn't mean it has to be shit. Their microtransactions are garbage. 18 bucks for a cosmetic weapon skin is outrageous. Now I wouldn't care about the price if it wasn't for the fact that you only receive 45 free loot boxes which probably won't get you enough crafting mats to craft a legendary item. Then when you've received all the loot boxes there isn't any way for you to get more crafting mats without actually paying money for the boxes. It's a greedy scheme that forces players to spend money if they want something cool. It is legit a bad system.

[81BX]

Lol why are people upset? I clearly stated I wasn't getting them. The fact still remains they are locked behind other skins. Argue facts not emotions gents!

[frostypants]

@vallencer: "18 bucks for a cosmetic weapon skin is outrageous. "

I agree...so DON'T BUY IT. What's so hard about this? Yes, they put a few super-rare skins out there for people who are willing to shell out for them. Those people are nuts, but hey...let them. This doesn't impact gameplay at all. Why is this so difficult to process? Do you feel some subconscious need to own every stupid skin in the game?

@vallencer: "It's a greedy scheme that forces players to spend money if they want something cool."

You just described every financial transaction ever. If you think the item is cool enough, you'll open your wallet. If you don't, you won't. Yeah, they want your money for some silly non-game-changing crap because they gave you 99% of the actual effort they put into the game for free. So freaking what? Again, your post screams "entitlement".

You people are going to ruin this for everyone, and we'll be back to paying $40-60 for games like Black Ops 4/Blackout where the developer begins to abandon it after a few months. All because you couldn't get over the fact that you couldn't have some stupid teal monkey glitter-tastic bedazzled disco camo skin (that nobody except you even really notices) for free.

[GottaBjimmyb]

Free or full-price, any game with PTW microtransactions are just unacceptable to me.

However, on that same note, if the MTs are just for skins or cosmetics, I am 100% on board for either type of game (But especially a free one) as I don't participate in them, unless I really want to, but get all the benefits of the profits. Unlike Mobile games, most console and PC devs actually reinvest into expanding upon their games and making them better experiences.

Hard understand what the argument would be in complaining about any paid cosmetic in a free game, as you can just not buy them...

And I don't like this game at all.

[starchild]

Very sensible perspective. I agree on all points. This childish kneejerk reaction some people have in demonizing all microtransactions makes no sense. Some take it so far that I've even seen some of them act like any kind of DLC is bad.

I, like you, am against pay to win type microtransactions, but beyond that I don't really have any issue with cosmetic microtransactions or DLC that adds further story/gameplay content.

[Sirk7x]

Agreed. Don't like it, don't buy it. If paying money gives you a statistical, or any in-game advantage, then you're in shit country.

[Palitera]

Microtransactions wrecks the progression design in any game, whether you buy them or not.

End of discussion.

[GottaBjimmyb]

Palitera, I play overwatch, rocket league and many other games where I unlock items almost every game, and have some of the best items without ever paying. In fact, many, even most of the items can be achieved without any money.

So end of discussion is hardly an argument, sounds more like you just have nothing to support your argument, but are unwilling to change it.

[Rude-ro]

I remember we use to play games for rewards...
Now, the only reward is “you gave it your best” but pay for the rest.

[GottaBjimmyb]

You still can unlock stuff (sometime everything) in almost every game with MTs... so not following your point.

[UltraNova]

@above

Dude back then we didnt have to put in GOD knows how many grind hrs to unlock anything or everything if that was your choice. Today though if you want some unlockables in a game with MTs your screwed, especially if its a F2P game. So in that light, Rude-ro is right.

[DerekTweed]

@UltraNova

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare had gold skins for some guns that required a lot of hours to get. For example the gold AK-47 required 150 headshot with every assault rifle, 1050 headshots, that took ages.

[UltraNova]

Derek,

That was an Activision game though. In other words, I'm not surprised.

[fr0sty]

One of the best uses of MT's in a FTP game I've seen so far. I've never felt obligated to spend a dime to get the "full experience".

[Jin_Sakai]

What angers me is how they charge for store items. The bare minimum store item cost 1,100 Apex Coins. So you’re required to spend minimum $20 for a gun skin. Then you’ll be 50 Apex coins shy of getting a second skin so you’ll have to spend an additional $10 to get a second skin.

I understand the game is F2P but these prices need adjustments!

Epic weapon skin.............1,100 Apex Coins
Legendary weapon skin...1,800 Apex Coins
Banner frame....................1,100 Apex Coins

Apex Coins cost:
1,000 $10
2,150 $20
4,350 $40
6,700 $60
11,500 $100

https://ibb.co/W2vg6B7

[UltraNova]

Oldest MT tactic in the book. Anyhow, its F2P and progression is not tied to monetization - it depends on us the consumers 100% wether or not we buy those skins etc.

[vallencer]

Yeah they really do need adjustment. I get they need to make money and obviously streamers are just throwing money at them so it probably won't change but it's insane. I wouldn't have as much of a problem if there was some way to receive crafting mats after you get the last free loot box. But the system is designed currently to force you to spend money on loot boxes if you want more items. It's broken and needs fixing.

[--Onilink--]

The game might be free to play and the MTs optional and cosmetic, but if you dont think charging $18 for a weapon skin or $11 for a banner isnt just straight up abussive...then you must live in some kind of delusional world.

And lets not even mention that most prices are set just above what the currency packs are worth, in order to make people pay more.

Abusive practices need to called out, even if you are not directly affected by them, otherwise companies will continue to raise the ceiling on what they do with MTs until it does end up affecting you

[Cobra951]

The game is "free"-to-play. Unlike full-priced games, I have no problems with MTs in F2P products. That's the only way they make money. Don't like them, don't play them. I don't play them at all. I don't support that business model; but clearly, many of you do. So take the bitter with the sweet.

[TheSaint]

It's attitudes like yours that have led us to this point.

[Fluttershy77]

The day I can no longer play a game without MT's (which sadly soon enough will come) will be the day I completely stop trying new releases and become full and exclusively retro

[TK-55]

"The day I can no longer play a game without MT's (which sadly soon enough will come)"

No it won't so stop being hyperbolic.

[starchild]

Suit yourself. But there will always be games without microtransactions. And I don't see what the issue is with microtransactions beyond the pay to win variety, which I honestly haven't run across very much. In most games that have cosmetic microtransactions I am barely aware they are even there as an option and then I ignore them and I haven't felt like they hurt my experience in those games. I've never paid for a cosmetic microtransaction item, but I've bought a number of DLC expansions and nearly always felt like I got my money's worth.

[PoSTedUP]

Ill buy dlc if I feel the main game was sold to me complete. I will buy cosmetics too if their are enough guns in the game originally and/or they are cool to me.

[PoSTedUP]

I've been retro for most of this gen. While I loved every second of it, it really is mind blowing jumping back to current gen. I've been gone long enough where rdr2 is like my life now lol. Shit got real while I was gone I guess hah. Its important, imo, to go back and dedicate time to older games you've missed through almost every generation. I feel like a time traveler back to tell you guys I 'done f***ed up the past entirely. My bad.

[-volt-]

Free To Play anything is such a scam.

[harmny]

Do you know what a scam is?

[jaycptza]

Obviously no, he is 8 years old

[kneon]

Free to play is fine, as are microtransactions. The only problem is when you need to spend money to play. If it's just cosmetics then it's fine, not a scam at all.

[starchild]

Agreed. People are playing for free and can choose to buy what they want or not buy anything at all or simply go play something else.

When you said "spend money to play" I think you meant to write "spend money to win" and I would definitely agree with that. It goes against the spirit of fair competition.

Other than that devs can choose how to package their content and how much to charge for it. We are free to choose to buy it or not.

[The Wood]

Some people expect everything for free. That's unreasonable on a free to play. Trying to use its zero barrier of entry to leverage pay to compete/win is wrong in my opinion. This does not look like that from my understanding but maybe the apex coin bundle price could be a little fairer so you never feel like you've overspent and always have dormant loose change

[Rachel_Alucard]

Free 2 play suffers from an issue where you end up spending more money on it overall then just buying the game with a single $60 purchase. I'd rather do that but these companies insist on taking advantage of whales so a single purchase isn't enough anymore it seems.

[The Wood]

Rachel_Alucard

'Free 2 play suffers from an issue where you end up spending more money on it overall'

That can happen and I'm sure the powers that be rely on it happening. The thing is there are full price games that adopt the same thinking. With free to play you at least get a choice to spend up to whatever.

[Christopher]

Not very good scammers when they openly show the cost of everything. Perhaps you meant overpriced?

[MatriXcian]

18 dollars for a single weapon skin is ludicrous and has certainly turned me off from any purchases in the future. The game is great mind you I'm currently lvl 54 already but I just can't justify paying the money they want. The sad thing is at lvl 100 you reach the cap so if you want any new skins or characters you're forced to spend cash.

[Action GO FIGURE]

So ingame skins dictate your enjoyment in games? They don't make you pay until you reach 100 but how else do you propose the game to be support later? They depend on these MT boxes because you know... the game was... free?

[MatriXcian]

So you support a single weapon skin costing almost 20 dollars? If so you are the problem with the gaming community as a whole. No one is saying not to charge for skins but an 18 dollar price tag is ludicrous. Trust me with the popularity of this game I'm sure they have already doubled the price it cost to make and with a 10 yr lifespan that they are aiming for they're guaranteed to have an enjoyable profit margin

[PoSTedUP]

Sounds more like a donation. Anyone who needs a skin or two to enjoy this game should go play something else imo. Its either you want to donate or you're really just a sucker (a contributing sucker) for paying 18 bucks for a skin lol.

[Eldyraen]

I’m assuming your level resets when the first season starts and every new season—like fortnite’s system. Level up faster on reset for more rewards again most likely.

[sinspirit]

If that were true then it would be a very generous f2p model imo. I think the packs from leveling is an alright amount for free loot in a free game. I'm a fan of the rainbow six pack rolls from every win and every failed roll increasing the chance next time, but it's not f2p and earning the operators takes forever

[starchild]

If the price isn't worth it to you then don't buy it. People don't buy what isn't worth it to them. Things will sort themselves out as they always do in free markets.

If few people are buying them they will lower the prices. If many people are buying them then that means many people are finding value in them in the context of their experience playing the game. The market dictates prices.

[2pacalypsenow]

Are gamers ever happy about Microtransactions?

[SegaGamer]

No, which says everything that needs to be said about Microtransactions. We hate them, even in free to play games. I mainly hate them because of their obscene prices. It's never £1 here or £2 there, it's usually something like £19.99-£99.99 for the most basic things.

People say "oh, but it's free"......yeah, but I don't see how that justifies the £99.99 for resources that won't get you very far in the game any way. If I was paying £99.99, I would want the whole damn experience given to me. For that price, I should be getting every item in the game.

[harmny]

I don't know who "we" is but gamers definitely don't hate them. Because the most commercially​ successful games are f2p. Maybe hardcore gamers like the ones that comment on forums hate them.

Same thing with COD. Everybody hates COD and still they sell 15 million copies each year. That means millions of people like it

[Cobra951]

No justification is needed. The game is free. Playing it is free. You can't make it easier by spending money. The MTs are for vanity items. Play the game, on their dime. Don't spend yours. If enough vote with their wallets the same way, the prices will come down.

[BadElf]

This game is tough and easy at the same time

[AK91]

The game is published and owned by EA what did you expect?

[phoenixwing]

it's a free to play game and what you get for free is great. As for kids and people who have no self restraint grow up. They're cosmetic and don't even give you an edge in battle. As far as micro transactions go this is the best case scenario you can ask for. Is for the skins to be cosmetic and the gameplay free.

[jaycptza]

Agreed what the hell are with these nobs. Work, save up, don't buy but for the love of God stop being entitled

[InTheZoneAC]

the reason these MTs are rampant is because cowardly parents never say "No" to their kids.

[neutralgamer1992]

Cosmetic doesn't bother me as long as it's not pay to win. Gamers complain about everything

It's free to play and enjoy so developers have every right to sell the skins for whatever they think. We have a right not to buy

[neocores8055]

This is just blind hate. I mean you get a damn back ever 2 lvls and there is no lvl cap there for you can earn just Bout everything just from playing you guys bitching about 20$ skins like its a problem but when fortnite does you guys don't care lol fuck off

[Elda]

Why complain when it's a f2p game. Don't buy them,ignore them but if it bothers one that much stop playing & play something else.....plain & simple.

[william_cade]

free to play - not that it's right, but there are cheaper free theme parks out there.

[FunPhl40]

Hey gamers kept boasting about how this game had 25 million players but I kept saying this was because it was free. Now lets see how much actual money they make with these ridiculous prices. Lets see if EA stock keeps rising. Lol

[Ratchet75]

Gamers are angry.
Water is wet.
What's new?
An amazing free to play game and yet people complain. Welcome to the Backlash generation. 😔😔😔

[jaycptza]

Welcome to entitled cunts

[ocelot07]

Gamers really get under my skin at times. Sure complain about MT's in full priced games that also have the cheek to charge for season passes as well.

But don't complain when a game is free to play and charge for skins. How are they supposed to make any money?

[chris235]

i don‘t get people. free-to-play is THE shadiest business model out there after lootcrates. but for the sake of another generic online multiplayer shooter experience they embrace that very shady model by playing that product. and then they complain about it. that‘s insane in the mainframe.

[Cobra951]

Yeah, there's that. The answer to the paradox is that these are different groups of people. I hate lootboxes and monetization of games is general, aside from an up-front price for a complete experience. (Good paid expansions down the road are fine too.) I don't like F2P. I do not play this game. But I can't understand all the complaints over cosmetic items, so I find myself in the odd position of defending it.

[DiRtY]

Apex offers so much for free. Great great game. If you want skins, buy them. If you can’t afford it, stfu.

You can’t ask for cheap prices in a free game. If you pay $60 AND are charged for skins, that is another story.

In this case though: Be happy that you can play this awesome game for free.

[Artemidorus]

If EA screw this with greed then it will tank like the rest.

[cell989]

You can’t demand anything when the game IS FREE. Be glad you’re able to play it FREE

[pyroxxx]

It is more like a donation to developers that gave you hours of entertainment,.. I doubt anyone is stupid enough to pay like 15 bucks for a digital weapon skin. I actually think Respawn did amazing thing with this type of monetising.

[joshljr]

If cosmetic MTs mean the price of games doesn't jump any higher than it already has, then so be it.

For a F2P game, there's no leg to stand on... Don't like, don't play. 🤷‍♂️

[Hedstrom]

Do normal people spend money in f2p games?

[BenRC01]

I paid 7.99 to unlock a character and also because the game is that good I don't mind chucking them £8.

[SinisterKieran]

It’s a f2p game, get the fuck over yourselves and grow up.

[BlackDoomAx]

Sure they're priced. Just don't buy it. I'm more a little angry that past the level 20, you only win a pack every two levels... That's pure greed.

[metalgod88]

It would be nice if we could convert legend tokens into apex coins. I have all the characters and have no use for the thousands of legend tokens I currently have.

[TechnoGoat]

I have yet to come across anybody who's said anything about the MTs... odd.

[UltraAtomic]

There are not overpriced! Eso crowns, now that's over priced 😄

[Dragonscale]

Its a ftp so fair enough and cosmetic only, its the mt's in $60 aaa's that are questionable.

[xenz]

People complain about everything these days. It's FREE TO PLAY. It's cosmetics and offers no gameplay advantage. They have to make money in one way or another.

[Smokehouse]

Oh an explanation for why group x is so angry! I have been on the edge of my seat waiting for this.

[iain04]

The game is free to play. That being said can you really justify the anger on display because they are trying to make money? If you don’t like it don’t buy the items

[MetroidFREAK21]

The only thing I'm spending real money on in Apex is the battle pass. Other than that, not buying a single thing with real money

[Nodoze]

Simple. Don't buy them. Why would you? No material impact on the game whatsoever. Sad that EA feel the need to gauge people for them. If they were smart they would charge less, and more people might buy in. EA isn't that smart though. Boardroom populated by absolute jackasses.

[Jwowee]

All I see in the comments are people happy to bend over for these greedy cunts. I see the type of people that play this game now. Happily uninstalling. I really don't want to associate with a person like you.