Forspoken Has Been Rated By The ESRB, Will Feature Microtransactions

ESRB has officially rated Forspoken "M for mature audiences", alongside including in-game purchases as a feature.

[blackblades]

Eh, im safe I don't buy MT content

[VenomUK]

I'm going to write an email to SquareEnix on behalf of the entire N4G community to ask them if there are any innovative ways they can implement NFTs into the game before launch.

[Christopher]

*hovers over permanent ban button*

[VenomUK]

😳

[ScootaKuH]

Please do. I didn't want this game anyway 🤣

[Fonsecap]

Better yet, ask them to make the game a NFT, so we can buy and resell for thousands of profit

[gamer7804]

Ya not the MT that is worrying about this game it’s the lack of information story and what’s going on. It still feels like a tech demo to me.

[Christopher]

I mean, for a new IP, seems pretty clear to me. Sarcastic teen gets teleported to a fantasy land with a magical bracelet, learns a ton of magic, gets talked down to by a lot of adults, saves the day, roll credits.

[Teflon02]

Story was explained like a year ago. The heck do you want? For them to spoil the whole story. It's a teen from the real world telephoned to another world and trying to find her way back. There's really nothing more they need to tell you. You're either going to try or not

[gamer7804]

@christopher what I mean is more depth to what we’ve seen, it seems very lightweight.

[FlavorLav01]

If they’re cosmetic only then I don’t give a rats a$$. If it’s anything other then that, we might have a problem. Enix is and still should be under the microscope after their Avengers game…er.. “happened” haha

[Jaces]

You should care because putting cosmetics behind a pay wall takes away from the fun of earning and unlocking them instead. Think if GoW had all the badass gear cosmetics locked behind a paywall, not cool. It only encourages them to keep adding MT's little by little.

[TheEroica]

You got downvotted for placing value on your gaming life.... How dare you.... Currently 15 down votes from 15 puppets who hate that you have more control in your life than they do.

[neutralgamer1992]

Activision made more than 5 billion dollars from Micro transactions so why are we surprised other publishers are following that trend

[victorMaje]

Isn’t this a single player game? MTx = Goodbye.

[DarXyde]

I'm inclined to agree, but if it is anything like DMCV.... I'm not happy about it, but I can live with it.

[northpaws]

Tales of Arise has it too, but the game is amazing, haven't paid for any of the microtransactions.

I still prefer games that don't have those, but I am ok if the game is solid.

[pietro1212]

I don’t them at times. I used the Tales currency because I couldn’t stand doing those awful side quest (which was the only way to make money in the game)

[TheEroica]

Man this game looks so bland on paper... Watching it play is even worse. Strikingly unoriginal.

[Teflon02]

Pretty sure they just mean little things like say a costume. MYX is like a buzz word. They need to just keep those for games as a service and just call this dlc. It's really not a big deal, every single player game has dlc these days, you just ignore them

[SonyStyled]

I think we are in a transitional period where dlc is considered a micro transaction if it doesn’t include a multiplayer map pack/single player expansion.

A few years ago we started the same thing with the word “exclusive,” and now the change of how gamers perceive the words dlc and MTX.

I didn’t read the article so I can’t comment on what the micro transactions are for this game, but skins and all else under a paywall are something that should be included in a game paid by the original purchase, yet the income of some who pay for those extras has set the precedent for developers to pursue that extra income. Remember online passes? Well here we are again with developers offering an extra charge to us gamers to have access to the package we’ve already paid for (excluding map packs). That development time can be used to make a sequel we would pay for, but now spent on extra skins in games. I agree with you, it should be for GAAS games only if it’s not actually dlc (mp maps, sp expansions).

What’s the next progression of this though, buy a game but have to pay extra to watch the epilogue after the gameplay has ended? I think that’s where a lot of the concern comes from with aged gamers. All else the outrage is from those who don’t understand the difference between MTX and dlc. Maybe this articles author has confused dlc with MTX?

[-Foxtrot]

Annnnnd pre order cancelled

Can wait until it’s discounted

[Michiel1989]

you shouldnt pre-order to begin with, its what makes companies get away with shitty unfinished games because they released a good trailer or 2.

[RPGer]

Good trailers?? The only good trailer was the first one when things were very simple and no story content.

The game main character literary based on the voice actor, everybody whinging in the trailers, fps looks so bad (Square Enix profession even for full games especially their europe sector), main character keeps make annoying sounds with every jumps and arial movements.

The good things about it is the powers, it looks like another Infamous or Prototype. I mean good settings, amazing super powers and ability, but packed with pooring storiy and meaningless progression.

I have a feeling it will be all about a depressed goth girl, who eventually will prove her own power and capability in a fantasy world.

Another perfect $29.99 Square Enix game.

[Teflon02]

Trailers were good to me personally. Not sure what anyone's crying about. It sold me from the first showing and hasn't worried me since

[Michiel1989]

@rpg im not talking about forsaken specifically with that trailer comment. Just in general, companies release a cool trailer and people are already in line to throw money at them. Often enough when that game comes out its not finished, buggy or what have you.

I dont mean that you should never get hyped for a game because of a trailer, but pre-ordering is counterintuitive from a customers perspective.

[DaleCooper]

Probably a good idea. The more I see about the game the less I like it, and I actually started out pretty excited for it. I could be surprised, but I doubt it.

[zsquaresoff]

Enthusiasm went from hyped to totally dead.

[Flawlessmic]

Yeppp feel the exact same way, was really looking forward to this and now and that excitement just evaporated.

Will certainky be waiting for reviews now to see how bad the mtx are.

[pietro1212]

Because a game has DLC? You know you don’t have to buy it.

[SinisterMister]

I don't understand the hate people are giving the game already. It's not as if the title is going to be Pay to Win. Have you even seen how well the open-world freerunning gameplay looks? I, for one, will be definitely purchasing Forspoken.

[-Foxtrot]

Well lets break it down

The dialogue is a little off in places, which is strange because Amy Hennig is usually been good with dialogue

MT's are bad...especially for a single player game which just brings up so many red flags, why do they need them in a single player game. Don't care if it's not pay to win or if "I don't have to buy them" enough is enough, there's no middle ground if we want rid of them or don't want them to get worse.

From what we've seen SO FAR (based on what we've been given as potential consumers), while the freerunning looks cool, if you look beyond that, the open world looks pretty baron and empty.

[-Foxtrot]

Lol

If you think DLC and MT are the same I pity you

[MrNinosan]

The last 3 Assassins Creed games are to me, the best 3, and they have sold millions.
I never spent a cent on mt for any of those games, and still spent 100+ hours in each, with enjoyment.

No one is forced to pay mt, but as long as there are thousands of people spending money to get a better looking cloak, hat, boots or whatever, it will continue and I see no issues with that.

In Final Fantasy VII Remake I spent money on mt and I'm happy to support the developer of it's implemented well.

Again, no one force you.

However, when it goes over to p2w, there's where I see issues with it. Or when you almost have to buy it to progress in a singleplayer game (which I haven't experienced so far in any game).

[chronoforce]

If I am not mistaken most of the actual story and narrative was written by Todd Stashwick and Allison Rymer. I remember Whitta mentioning on a YouTube podcast Hennig and himself were mostly involved in world building. Similar to GRR Martin's involvement with Elden Ring.

I expect the game to be an evolution somewhat of FFXV. There were barely any npc's or wildlife roaming about on the map. Entire roads were practically empty of any other type of vehicle other than your own. The story is probably going to justify this by saying it's too dangerous for anything to venture or sustain itself outside.

Anyone that did not like FFXV is probably not going to like Forspoken either.

[dumahim]

@MrNinosan
"In Final Fantasy VII Remake I spent money on mt "

What MT in FFVII Remake?

[-Foxtrot]

YouGotSniped

Ha

Criticise a PS game = Xbox fanboy

Criticise an Xbox game = PS fanboy

Well…fml right

🤷🏻‍♂️

[Teflon02]

Foxtrot you think of MTX as something worse but literally it means Micro transactions which is what weapon, costume, item dlc is and Square, Bandai, Ubi etc have had that in their single player games since like ps3. It's really not a big deal, didn't ruin tales of Arise, didn't ruin a bunch of games. It's just hearing MTX immediately makes people hate without being logical

[monkey602]

I'm interested in the game and this news won't entirely kill it for me yet but I also think it's way too early to be planning on buying as of now when we know so little about it.

I also stand strong against ever preordering a game

[Stanjara]

Trash dude.

[isarai]

.....im just so tired of this.....

[Crows90]

Same. But k. The bright side. There are so many other games deserving of some attention coming out.

[BigBosss]

These MT's and NFT's need to go ASAP. I swear these higher ups are money hungry.

[RPGer]

Let's be real here, most DLCs are reskining and low efforts, or mere skins and people just keep buying it. Its all about demand, whenever people stopped buying it,it will disappear. But we all know consumers ain't that smart. So hugher ups just doing the rational thing and taking the easy money from skins and MTs.

[Rimeskeem]

As long as the MTs don't do anything to the actual game. I know there is a lot of hate for them, which is understandable. I assume it's gonna be something like DMCs where you could get extra orbs or soundtrack stuff.

[H9]

This game have done the unimaginable to make me not interested in it, dialogue story combat performance and now microtransactions

[Terry_B]

Its going to bomb anyway.

[Lexreborn2]

Are we talking micro transactions like paid level ups and equipment? Like how every tales of game has had since they hit the modern era? If so I don’t care I’ll still get it, I didn’t buy a single MT or the dlc SAO they had. Still absolutely loved ToA and I’m sure as long as this game is solid all around I’ll love this too

[Mr_Luke]

Same here. People read "Microtransactions" and already think they need to pay more. I understand if there are parts of the story or locked zone and you need to pay, then no. If it's like "Tales of..." it's fine.
If the game will be bad, that's a completely other story.

[ken2813]

The protagonist has to get her nails done. Somebody got to pay for that. You know how much a mani-pedi cost these days?

[GamingSinceForever]

😂 😂 This made my morning. #Facts

[ken2813]

I don’t see why I got down votes when if you look at the gameplay finger nails(pedicures) are an accessory. You know they are going make half of those designs MT. Forza H5 did it.

[Teflon02]

Win

[CrimsonWing69]

Whoa, let’s wait a second before we go nuts here. Devil May Cry V has micro-transactions and is still an incredible game. I never once bought them, but they were implemented to reduce grinding. I’m hoping this game implements them the same way, which makes them completely unnecessary to buy.

[Teflon02]

Games since ps360 Era had micro transactions, we just called it dlc. It's really no big deal, tales has had them since ps3, a bunch of other games too. As long as it's not some gacha bs or something required like some paid to win thing which likely isn't the case being a single player game. Who cares, ignore it if you don't want it lol

[CrimsonWing69]

I get the confusion but micro-transactions are not the same as DLC. DLC is usually for something that's a 1 time purchase, just downloadable content. Micro-transactions can be repurchased infinitely and are typically consumables you keep making transactions for them. In DMC V's case the DLC would be characters or costumes, but the micro-trasactions would be the red orbs you can keep buying.

[ken2813]

The future is micro-transaction and GAAS.

[ken2813]

It’s a future we can control. Don’t buy into it.

[GhostofHorizon]

I feel like people might be jumping a gun here. It seems everyone is allergic to the term microtransactions.

There are plenty of single-player games with transactions. Complaining about it without actually seeing what it pertains just seems like a fake outrage to me.

Ubisoft, Bandai Namco, Capcom, Square Enix, etc. There is too many to name. These companies have been doing microtransactions in their games for over a decade now. This is nothing new.

[anast]

Those SP games usually suffer because of Mts.

[GhostofHorizon]

Which game suffered from microtransactions? Do you have an example of a single-player game that's suddenly good because you bought microtransactions?

I don't recall any recent games where microtransactions ruined the game. You can ignore them in every single-player game and you'd be just fine.

People are allergic to the term and just love to repeat what the mob mentality keep saying wheather it's true or not.

[anast]

@ Ghost

Games are built around MTs. In this case games are made to intentionally push you to buy the MTs or they would waste their time putting them in there. This can comes in many forms one of which is called high levels of grind and level gating. AC Origins is just one example.

[anast]

@ Ghost your thoughts are wrong.

I apologize for the disjointed response, I got busy.

AC Origins: I had to stop in the middle of the story, mind you the story was just getting good, and search all over the map for side quests just to get the XP to move a head. By this time I have already done a substantial amount of side quests. I stopped doing side quests because I got tired of the repetition at that point, I completed more than 20 of the same side quest wrapped in a different skin. Anyway, while I was checking the map to grind for side quests (there is something wrong with this), it just so happened when I checked the map and my gear, I noticed an advertisement for XP boosters. This objectively made the game worse, because i realized it wasn't a game that I was playing, I was playing a monetization scheme.

There is no reason to defend an entity that makes a living by disproportionately taking advantage of you. It's a ridiculous way to think. This isn't an opinion, it is an objectifiable truth.

[GhostofHorizon]

I think multi-player games are built around it. I don't think many single-player games are. Assassin's Creed Origini's microtransactions don't make the game worse though. Which is my point.

They are there but entirely optional. I don't think I have bought any microtransactions for Assassin Creed games and I've played and 100% most of them.

Edit: Noticed your second post after my response.

The criticism here should perhaps be pointed towards the whole game in this case.

[Teflon02]

I play alot of Square games and tbh not a single one has suffered because of it. Same with Capcom, Namco just made a great tales game with a whole bunch of them and it's not an issue. That I did buy one for since I wanted specific costumes but that's it. Really isn't a big deal I ignore them in games unless it's something like a costume o really like

[monkey602]

Nothing new and it should ALWAYS be kicked back on. They have a negative effect on the game and as soon as we start accepting it as the norm the further they push that boundary.

[GhostofHorizon]

I agree, you kick it back each time you don't buy anything. Vote with your wallet. They will stop doing them When it's not worth putting in the development time into them.

I just think that the reaction to microtransactions tends to be overblown most of the time. They are so easy to ignore in most games.

[monkey602]

I dont think it works that easy though. Keeping the pressure on keeps the subject in focus. Which may in turn influence a developer or producer before they launch it and provoke a change.

Think NFTs in Stalker.

If we just ignore it and others just quietly buy into it then nothing will improve

[GhostofHorizon]

I get what you're saying. We're getting into complicated issues now that I have no answer for.

Just to be clear up front, I absolutely hate NFTs and everything they stand for.
However, to play a devil's advocate here, should I be the one to tell the developers not to put them into games? I like to think of it as a democracy here where majority should have a say and in the NFT case, I feel like majority is against them. Which makes it a bit easier.

When we turn that same aspect to microtransactions, I feel like some people are addicted to it. Looking at the popular games out there, it's mostly all microtransactions. That tells me that a majority of gamers are actually fine with microtransactions.

I rarely buy them myself but I feel like I'm the outlier here. Democracy is important, even though we may not always agree with it. It also poses a chicken and an egg situation in some cases where Genshin Impact for example exists only because of that business model, it'll that business model didn't exist perhaps that game wouldn't exist in the first place.

I think for the most part if the microtransactions are harmful, there does tend to be a backlash from the community and rightfully so. I see no issue in harmless microtransactions that are easily ignored, sometimes people like to indulge in guilty pleasures.

We're on the same page though, I would rather if all these predatory tactics would just go away but we are constantly being tested by the developers and it's always good to stay vigilant about it.

[monkey602]

Yeah like I said above. So far... the news of microtransaction inclusion won't kill my interest until I know more.
I get what you're saying about the greater scheme of things but at the end of the day the only voice I have is my own and I don't like these cash for cosmetic and progression incentives so I'll give my opinion on them where I can.

Ha and yeah the NFT future needs to absolutely get lost but outside of a very wealthy public figures and some high end business men it seems the mass public is laughing at the idea

[dumahim]

@ghost
"That tells me that a majority of gamers are actually fine with microtransactions."

I don’t think that’s the case at all. I remember a few years ago some MT focused game developer said that the vast majority don’t spend any money, but they make a LOT of money out of a very small percentage of players (I think like less than 5% of the players) that do spend.

The other thing (and going back to why I think Sony pushing 10 service games in the next few years is a bad idea) is the market seem to be only able to sustain so many of these games at the same time. These games seem to either be incredibly successful or they tank and burn, hard. I’m sure Sony is aware of that, but they’re probably taking a gamble that out of those 10 games, that maybe a few of them will take off. For the ones that fail, it feels like a waste of developer’s time that could have been spending on something more people would enjoy.

[BlaqMagiq1]

Middle-earth Shadow of War, a SP game, was literally ruined by microtransactions, which is why the backlash was heavy and they were forced to remove it.

Once things like NFTs get added in SP games, things will go from bad to worse.

[GhostofHorizon]

That's correct, it got changed though because of the backlash. That's great and exactly what I expect to be done when a game steps out of bounds. They need to have their wrist slapped.

Just a mention of microtransactions shouldn't be a contention point at this moment in time since they are everywhere. We lost that battle long time ago.

If this game ends up having terrible microtransactions, I'll be right there with all you guys voicing my criticism but just a mention of microtransactions is not enough anymore.

[anast]

This quickly turned into a $20 bargain bin throw away experience.

[Ol_Boy]

Everyone defending MTs didn't come from the era where games used to be complete products full of unlockable goodies. Now we get games where the devs waste valuable development time on developing MTs systems and monetized in-game goodies.

[dumahim]

Remember when $2.50 horse armor was heavily ridiculed by damn near everyone? Look where we are now. Something like that would be considered a bargain.

[Teflon02]

I came from Nintendo and Super Nintendo born early 90s, don't assume dumb stuff. Some people like to think logically and understand that Microtransactions doesn't make a game automatically bad. 90% of the good single player games have had it in some form the past 10 to 15 years. It's not that big of a deal. How about wait to see how it's used before crying. That's everyone's point lol

[EvertonFC]

As long as I can unlock the content with a normal playthrough I'm ok with it.

[moriarty1889]

No thank you…….HARD PASS. Enough of this shite already!

[lellkay]

Put MTX in, i'll buy pre owned

[Muigi]

L.

[Stanjara]

I guess nail polish costs money.

[Seafort]

Forspoken is the first Square-Enix games to have the £65/$70/€80 price point and they still want more money with MTs.

Their greed knows no bounds.

A wait and see game for me. I'll wait for 50% off at least.

[slowgamer]

Base game 80 euros and has microtransactions... Cool.

[Mr_Luke]

No problem for me, i won't buy anything extra (unless it's a DLC with story + new things, like an expansion). All the aesthetic things, extra currency or whatever it's called if present, extra materials for crafting if there's that feature, etc can stay where they are. I just want a full, complete and total single player experience, nothing locked behind a paywall or so.

[Germaximus]

That is incredibly disappointing. Not surprising, though.

[Binarycode]

Don't buy anything in game.

end of.

[annoyedgamer]

bahahahaha. More shlock.

[bangoskank]

Glad I didn't pre-order.

[cluclap]

Man y'all weren't gonna buy the game anyway shut tf up

[GamingSinceForever]

Nah they were going to buy it. They just like beeyotching on N4G all day for the sake of beeyotching.

[cluclap]

Bruh I knew I couldn't be the only that noticed it

[Viryu]

I was super hyped when I saw the reveal trailer. It started downhill from there, first the potential wokeness, and now microtransactions.

[jBlakeeper]

I don’t have a problem with microtransactions unless they are intrusive or the game has a get good or buy microtransactions philosophy. If it’s like DMC 5 where they weren’t forced and felt like a completely optional thing within the game then it’s fine by me.

[gold_drake]

MTs for a Singleplayer game?
classic Square.

[DOMination-]

What's with all the outrage? It's probably character outfits or weapons or whatever. You can just not buy them. Most games have this kinda thing

[Elda]

I'll buy the game but no MTs.

[northpaws]

I don't like microtransactions, but Tales of Arise has it and it was one of the best games last year. As long as the game feels complete without paying extra, I am ok with it.

But again, based on what they have done with Avenger... I feel like they might screw this up too.

[jznrpg]

Most games have MTs these days . I don’t buy them but they shouldn’t be there in the first place .

[YoungKingDoran]

Remember when the "DLC" was simply a reward for finishing the game or other various challenges?

[Spenok]

Oh KNOW, OPTIONAL things to make life easier for some! How DARE they!?

It wasn't a problem in AC, Shadow of War, etc.

[FreeFallFrenzy]

On a single player RPG, sure. After you paid $59.99 for the game, "$30 - You Win the Game Achievement Unlocked!" /s

[jjb1981]

I'm ok with the MTs in the game for a single player experience. I won't buy them however I do not want them shoved in my face every time I go to the options menu.

[chicken_in_the_corn]

Gamers are opposed to optional in game purchases then demand old games be sold to them instead of new ones. What's the logic behind that?

[ScootaKuH]

No thanks SE, I'm good

[philm87]

Massively depends what the microtransactions are for. Some people must like buying extra costumes etc. As long as it's not pay to win and it doesn't take anything from the game then it's fine. I don't see why people had an issue with AC Valhalla for microtransactions.