Baldur's Gate 3 & Helldivers 2 Are Saving Modern Gaming As We Know It

In an era rife with microtransactions and games released in buggy conditions, titles like and are saving modern gaming as we know it. For years, publishers have come to rely on aggressive tactics to drain every penny possible from consumers post-launch. The commercial and critical success of ,, and other recent examples like prove that if a game is well-made and fun to play, buyers will support it. The cost of AAA game production is skyrocketing, and while that, too, is a problem plaguing the industry, predatory microtransactions are not the answer – quality is.

is the latest release to incur the wrath of public opinion, with developer and publisher Capcom receiving backlash for the game's monetization. The highly anticipated RPG was released with multiple bugs and a litany of microtransactions that were largely hidden from the public before release. Any publisher misguidedly looking to nickel-and-dime consumers with microtransactions in a full-priced, AAA release need only look to the success of and. A quality game is more than a sign of fine artistry; it represents respect for those who support it. while flawed, can still meet that standard.

Microtransactions have been a common topic for several years, but the phenomenon began around the mid-2000s. 2003’s is one of the earliest examples where users could purchase in-game goods using Linden Dollars, the platform’s in-game currency. A lack of regulations made the virtual world a haven for unchecked gambling and money laundering. A federal investigation was finally levied against developer Linden Labs, which instituted a ban on in-game gambling in 2007. By the time the ban was enforced, many were already in financial distress. Twenty years later, predatory microtransactions are less blatant, but they are just as dangerous.

Recently, has found itself in hot water over its implementation of microtransactions. Unlike the first, which allowed the option to start a new game, does not. Capcom has recently announced