A brand new Apex Legends and Last Fantasy VII Rebirth crossover occasion launched January ninth — a primary for EA’s free-to-download battle royale — and it’s been an enormous supply of criticism from gamers because of the excessive value of its microtransactions.
Respawn not too long ago launch a brand new collaboration with Sq. Enix as a part of the run-up to the discharge of Last Fantasy VII Rebirth. The occasion brings with it a brand new class of cosmetics, and it has the potential to value gamers tons of of {dollars}.
Beforehand, every Occasion Pack value 700 Apex Cash, or round seven {dollars}. On this occasion, the value for one occasion pack is 1,000 Apex Cash, or about $10. With that change alone, that is the most costly occasion up to now for Apex Legends, with Milestone Rewards just like the occasion’s Dying Field pores and skin costing as a lot as $290.
~1% probability to drag the sword out of $10 packs and a $360 DEATH BOX. ?
— primehgss *insert one thing quirky* (@hgssprime) January 6, 2024
Nice crossover, however not price $295 for all of the stuff .
— Benzrkx (@Benzrkx) January 9, 2024
What’s extra, the pricing isn’t as easy because it was in earlier occasions. When gamers load up the Seasonal Occasion tab, they’re greeted with a free occasion field and a brand new Milestone Reward monitor that reveals the “free” reward for that tier. The 2 most controversial objects are the brand-new Dying Field pores and skin and the Heirloom Buster Sword R5 cosmetics, the costly objects assured on the finish of the Milestone Rewards.
There are two choices for buying packs: particular person and bundled. When gamers have a look at the choices earlier than hitting the primary milestone, the packs value a reduced 100 Apex Cash individually, or 1,600 for the 4. Nonetheless, this pricing adjustments the extra packs you buy.
I found this after trying to see what number of Apex Cash the total 36 objects would value with that preliminary discounted value. I noticed that after my first 4 pack bundle buy, the pricing jumped from 100 Apex Cash to 500, pushing it to 2,400 Apex Cash. The pricing slowly crept upward, and I wasn’t even midway by way of the Milestones when the pack costs have been again to 1,000 Apex Cash.
I discovered myself with 21 objects left to unlock earlier than getting the ultimate controversial Dying Field pores and skin for “free.” I’d have needed to spend an extra 21,000 Apex Cash ($210) on high of the earlier 8,000 ($80) I already spent in an effort to get hold of it. In complete, with all offers utilized, the 36 objects — 35 not counting the free pack on login — would have value me 29,000 Apex Cash, or $290 USD.
So it’s lower than $360, however not by a big margin. On high of that, the Apex Cash can’t be purchased at a 1:1 ratio. With a view to get 29,000 Cash to buy all of the objects, you need to go to the Apex Cash bundles and purchase from the out there quantities. The fluctuating costs relying on what number of packs you’ve purchased isn’t addressed or said within the occasion messaging.
Whereas it’s theoretically attainable to acquire this stuff free of charge, it’s not straightforward. Gamers have been shocked on the chance possibilities of the Buster Sword being unlocked by way of buying Occasion Packs, which is lower than one p.c. For gamers not desirous to spend more cash, the possibilities are close to unattainable to win earlier than unlocking all occasion objects.
Respawn has been criticized by gamers earlier than for not together with extra free rewards that may be earned from simply taking part in the sport and limited-time modes. Within the present free rewards store for this crossover occasion, you’ll be able to earn as much as three free occasion packs, which saves you round 3,000 Apex Cash should you’re attempting to get all of the cosmetics. Nonetheless, it hardly makes a dent towards the 36 complete that you need to purchase.
In earlier assortment occasions, gamers have been in a position to not less than go to the occasion store and purchase the precise Legend Skins, however Apex Legends’ new crossover occasion solely permits gamers to buy the character skins for two,150 Apex Cash ($21.50), with no extra Occasion or Apex Packs.
In brief, that is the most costly occasion Apex Legends has ever placed on, and followers are usually not blissful about it.
IGN has reached out to Respawn and EA for remark.
Stella is a Video Producer, Host, and Editor at IGN. Her gameplay focus is on aggressive FPS video games and he or she’s beforehand reviewed Apex Legends, Hyper Scape, Halo Infinite Multiplayer, Fashionable Warfare 3, Warzone, and Battlefield 2042. She repeatedly hosts and shoutcasts aggressive Apex Legends and Halo Infinite tournaments when she is not streaming on her Twitch channel after work outs. You possibly can comply with her on Twitter @ParallaxStella.
