How Gears 5’s Confusing Microtransactions Work

Unlike Gears of War 4, Gears 5 technically doesn’t have loot boxes. But don’t have a party just yet. It has a convoluted system for unlocking cosmetic rewards that can be used to outfit the characters in Gears 5’s many multiplayer modes. It’s not intuitive, partially involves microtransactions and will definitely test people’s patience. For those of you playing the game who want to understand how it works, here’s a breakdown.

[Dragonborn12345]

So no buy

[agnosticgamer]

No, buy due to only cosmetic items being available? Is that a joke? The game is really good. The campaign is terrific. Plenty of cosmetics to unlock through natural progression through multiplayer. My guess you were never going to buy it anyway.

[senorfartcushion]

People shouldn't buy, no.

If these freaks are so moved by "the power of the market" then a market pushback is the only thing that will improve the gaming experience.

[warriorcase]

So the game has no lootboxes or hidden suprise transactions and only cosmetics to buy?

If so then what's the problem? Are people just bitching for bitching sake?

[Dragonborn12345]

I won't support games with microtransactions only cosmetic you say, so there are cosmetics you have to buy with money not with hard work. And you are right i wasn't going to buy it. Not a fan of gears of war played the first one. To be clear if god of war 2 or breath of the wild 2 would have microtransactions i would not buy it we cant support this. I like how you say plenty of cosmetics to unlock throught natural progression. Knowing that the other cosmetics are locked behind real money to unlock.

[agnosticgamer]

@dragonborn12345

"And you were right, I was never going to buy it." LOL says it all right there. Which, renders your comment pointless.

[CaptainCook]

Says the guy that plays Rainbow Six Siege...

[LordJamar]

Your choice I respect that I am however enjoying the hell out of the game it’s great

[jznrpg]

So theirs cosmetics you can only earn without any money and cosmetics that only cost money and can’t earn them at all.

[jznrpg]

Why a downvote? That’s what it says in the article , clearly .

[DaDrunkenJester]

Yeah there is one set of promotional Gear from A Bathing Ape that costs money with no way of using in game currency.

The rest is all earnable either through in game currency or unlocked as you play and do your Tour of Duty.

[rainslacker]

How is that actually confusing? I know there are quite a few games like that already. Hell, DOA5 went on 6 odd years making bank on that principal. Before loot boxes became the new screw'em du jour, that was kind of how most games with cosmetic MT did it.

[Orionsangel]

Gears 5 has some of the most offensive things you can put in a game!

First of all, dumb A.I. Your partners don't come and save you often enough. Del: I'm coming! Here I come! On my way! DEAD! F U Del!

Weapon ammo runs out too quickly and does little damage on large enemies.

But the absolute worst offense of all that makes me RAGE is watching a tedious in game cut scene and then getting into a long difficult battle only to get killed and then what happens? Take a wild guess. LET'S GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING and do it all along. F UUUUUUUUUUUU DEVELOPERS!!!!!!!!!! I got a headache at this point.

[DaDrunkenJester]

Lol git gud

[Orionsangel]

I've beaten every Gears game. Did you even play Gears 5? Are you gonna tell me it never happened to you in the entire campaign? You're all for going back to beginning when you lose? What's wrong with you?

[DaDrunkenJester]

I'm on chapter 4 of Act 2 playing on difficulty right under Insane... but I'm also playing co-op with my wife so we are good with picking each other up. Also, Gears has always started back at checkpoints and they weren't always right before a battle. It's not that big of a deal. Also, perhaps you should utilize Jack more and set traps and protect you etc. He makes things way easier.

[Orionsangel]

Well the likes and dislikes for my comment are pretty even so I'm not alone. Yes of course if I use a human partner it would be easier. Duh lol. Jack doesn't always listen. The game needs to be patched obviously. Anyway, I passed that part already.

[DaDrunkenJester]

Likes to dislikes dont mean much around here. You're talking negative about Gears 5 which some who haven't even played will upvote to troll. Not saying that's why you posted that comment.

There has been times where both my wife and I were downed and Jack picked us up in time... but there were also times where he was too late and we got our heads bashed in haha

They aren't perfect or super smart, I'll agree with you, but have a perfect AI would make the game a whole lot easier.

Edit: also are you using jack to pick up other weapons and ammo around the battlefield for you? I ask, because I forget to use him sometimes lol

[Orionsangel]

Is this Drunken Master Paul?

[TK-66]

Your argument is basically that you find the game too hard? Lower the difficulty then...

[Orionsangel]

No, my argument is don't make us start over from the beginning. I don't wanna see or hear that dialogue again. Raise the platform. Watch a slow animation of it move. Repeat the same thing over again. You're not perfect. So stop acting like you're fine with working hard to beat a section of a game and when losing you have to rewatch a cut scene and do it all again. That's not fun.

[Raiden]

@orionsangel
Then play the game on a level that suits your playing skills, did MGS have some cut sense you died then you had to wait and watch a 10-15 cut sense before continuing, what's your point, are you new to gaming, guest you won't be playing after you complete it, because if you can't handle the campaign then how are you going to handle the rest of this beautiful GAME, peace out, game on

[DaDrunkenJester]

I dont know who Drunken Master Paul is.

[Xb1ps4]

Gamers just have to take a deep breath and relax already... dev's are always going to look into ways of earning more money.

As long as dev's give me things to unlock by playing the game and you cant buy something that gives an advantage then it's all fair game.. although admittedly I will never ever buy a skin or a weapon or anything stupid like that. Dev's also need to realize that they can and will ruin the games full potential by turning ppl off with stupid shit like this..

Why didn't ms use the terminator license to earn money out of it? I dont know maybe they could have added terminator world type maps? something other than basic ass skins..

I blame fortnite for all this skin buying bs lol.

[Hedstrom]

Well its a game pass game. This is how most of those games will work!

[timotim]

The vast majority of games currently on Gamepass has no MTs in it at all.

[Hedstrom]

No, because manumy of the games are old. But tje new ones coming for gamepass will need to monetise!

[rainslacker]

Game Pass sub is the micro-transaction.

The AAA game with MT is a way to finance the loss in sales for what would normally be a $60 game.

Hence....paywall for F2P games.

[timotim]

@Rain

Anyone who willingly signs up for GP is OK with that though. They are saving money from the rip. I am currently playing the ULTIMATE edition of Gears 5 for $1!!! Think about that for a minute. That's a $80 value if I purchase the game outright (which I also have the option to do by the way). Having optional MTs in the game while also giving me FREE content every 3 months is a steal. And we aren't talking about some kitchen scraps, but the vast majority of content produced for the game...the meat and potatoes of additional if you will. I dont care about MTs when the end result means that as a gamer, the value is through the roof! Some of you guys want to knock MTs so much because its Microsoft evolved here, yet want to cover their ears when we try to tell you that ALL DLC WILL BE FREE! I much rather have that then paying for each DLC that will split the userbase of the game. Like let's leave the console wars out of it for a second and understand exactly whats going on.

[timotim]

Many of them are not old and are from this generation...but that goes for MOST games on MOST platforms these days. Most current games will have either paid DLC, or paid MTs as OPTION content.

[Hedstrom]

No maybe not old in age. But made before the concept of game pass. Just give it a year or two!

[timotim]

Been playing the game since Thursday...haven't bought a single piece of additional content, but I know I have tons of free content coming my way every 3 months. I am good with that...

[SoonDeadByOldAge]

I will never ever spend real money on something cosmetic but I will also never ever buy a game with pay to win MTs.
I think it is totally OK even with cosmetic MTs as Gears 5 does it - all new playable content is free for all who have the game.

[danny818]

It’s crazy. Everyone complains about MTs but I never buy them and enjoy the game. Currently playing gears. Enjoying it and no MTs bought. Everyone is built differently I guess

[FanboySpotter]

Yeah I never understood it why complain if you weren't gonna invest in microtransactions anyways. Those that do buy - just buy things and that's it. Those that don't? Just don't do it lol

[danny818]

Lmao right? Guess it gives someone a sense of something to complain about

[InUrFoxHole]

This campaign is buggy AF!

[Raiden]

@ DRAGONBORN

IDIOT, comment, the cosmetic skins have nothing to do with the game play or story, you are not buying a more powerful gun or armour and you are surely not upgrading Jack, so what's your point, the cosmetics are available but if the ones that are available is insufficient and you want more then its your choice, all incoming DLC's are going to be free unlike some other games, the bottom line is you are waving the flag for the other console and there is nothing wrong with that, but you just can't help yourself but say something negative, peace out and game on.

[GameStallion]

Will not buy this game because of microstransactions. & yes, I would have purchased it otherwise.