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Halo 5's multiplayer microtransactions cause a stir

343i:

I'm seeing a lot of questions on Twitter and in forums about the new Requisition System (REQ System) in Halo 5: Guardians. The REQ System rewards players across both our multiplayer experiences. Players will earn REQ Points after each match in Arena or Warzone multiplayer, which can then be redeemed for REQ Packs. So what goodies are in REQ Packs? Each pack contains a variety of requisitions (REQs) in the form of unlockable weapons and armors, skins, assassination animations, and more. In addition, players will receive REQ Packs as rewards when they level up their Spartan Rank (SR) and complete Commendations across multiplayer.

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halowaypoint.com
OpieWinston3999d ago

20 MP maps at launch
15 DLC for free.

Largest lineup of maps to launch with a Halo game and they're all free. Microtransactions work well since Arenas only cosmetics and Warzone is designed as a casual fun battleground for players.

If you're surprised by Microtransactions. This is a smart system, all earnable via in game.

Christopher3999d ago

As long as they're only cosmetic, I don't care. Microtransaction away.

Gazondaily3999d ago (Edited 3999d ago )

But its not just cosmetic.

Warzone will allow for people to use weapons they've unlocked from microtransactions in MP.

That sucks. Its going the way of Battlefield and all other shooters.

OpieWinston3999d ago (Edited 3999d ago )

Cosmetic for Arena the competitive mode.
They unlock Power Weapons/Vehicles that are still energy walled off by how well your team does.

This is a dick move? They're developing 15 maps FOR FREE over the course of 8 months. Do you know how you make money? If they give all maps away for free and then give a cosmetic only micro-transactions system with all things unlockable in game... There's no problem with that. Nirvana couldn't be more delusional.

REQ Cards function like Titanfalls burn cards.
But you can't just drop into a match and hop in a Mantis, they're walled off by how much energy you get which functions like a leveling system.
You're able to unlock certain lower power weapons and vehicles as you level up but strong ones like Mythic weapons aren't unlockable until end tier energy level.

Does anyone read?

Christopher3999d ago

*** But its not just cosmetic. ***

Then as per my comment, it's not okay. I wasn't setting a stance to say they're all cosmetic, I was stating my opinion on microtransactions in general.

Mr Pumblechook3999d ago

"We’ll also give players the option to purchase REQ Packs as a matter of convenience, with a portion of the proceeds going toward prize pools for the Halo Championship Series."

Microsoft has a lot of money in the bank and this is their biggest franchise. Surely it's better that they fund the prize pool?

BiggerBoss3999d ago

I dont like microtransactions. At all. Even if they were just cosmetic, they still piss me off. If its part of the game, I shouldnt have to pay extra for it after dropping $60. If these publishers didnt spend up to 100 mill on ridiculous marketing and advertising, maybe they wouldnt have to recoup their losses through microtransactions.

PistolsAtDawn3999d ago

Yeah I never have a problem with microtransactions if they don't change gameplay and they can be earned without the transaction

Farmassy3999d ago

It sucks that they have the microtransactions. Its too bad since the REQ stuff sounds really cool. I like the idea of leveling up and unlocking more awesome stuff to use in warzone. I think its a great way to keep me interesting in leveling up. However, I don't like they people can just buy them and have all this awesome stuff just because they spent more money than me

wakeNbake3999d ago

Funny half of the concern trolls on this article dont even own an xbox, typical n4g.

Erik73573999d ago (Edited 3999d ago )

Still....that is really pissing me off....I would rather pay for DLC than have to pay to unlock 10 dollar armor....this is very disrespectful to the franchise.
I don't care if it's just cosmetic...I liked unlocking armor in Halo and working for it, not paying for it.

DragonDDark3999d ago

If they are free, why not just make them in the game from the beginning?

nX3999d ago

Even though there are far worse microtransactions in other games it's simply a bad signal to the industry if the biggest launch of the year has this kind of stuff as well. It's pretty sad, why can The Witcher 3 afford to have awesome&free DLC while this is full of cosmetic cash-grabs?

BattleAxe3999d ago (Edited 3999d ago )

What's the big deal? If you earn the points in-game, then it's more like an unlockable rather than a micro-transaction. The definition of a Micro-transaction, is when you purchase an item using real money.

"All REQ content in the game can be earned through the regular course of play in multiplayer"

_-EDMIX-_3999d ago

no dlc is good bro, even free dlc! /s

spoonard3998d ago

Micro transactions never work well in a $60 AAA game. NEVER. There is no reason for it. Ther is no benefit to the end user. Just an attempt to exploit the stupid mobile phone model of draining the end users pockets with useless crap.

remixx1163998d ago

@wakeNbake

Oh cut it out dude and look at the problem with microtrans, the ones in halo 5 don't phase me much but I still see the issue, your more about seeing fanboys.

I hate it when people are more concerned with fanboy wars while company drag through them.

+ Show (15) more repliesLast reply 3998d ago
Gazondaily3999d ago

Is it just cosmetic stuff though?

Arena only allows cosmetic stuff but Warzone allows it all:

" Within Warzone, you’ll have the ability to deploy a multitude of weapons and vehicles from your inventory of REQs throughout a match."

OC_MurphysLaw3999d ago

and that is why I have no issue with it. competitions for pro games will always be arena based so its really a non-issue.

Christopher3999d ago

So, is this kind of like allowing you to unlock weapons early?

Elit3Nick3999d ago

@Christopher No, it will allow you to equip certain weapons when you reach a certain level within the match. For example if you got a card for a fuel rod cannon, you won't be able to equip it once you reach level 7 or 8 within the match.

Charybdis3999d ago (Edited 3999d ago )

Seems like an non issue for arena mode, were only cosmetic items can be used.
Though it does raises some issues with warzone. These packs offer unluckable weapons, however before being able to use these unlocks players will just like all warzone players need to fill their in-match REQ Level and Energy systems.
Keeping in mind that these packs can be earned by playing I can see why people might be wary of this.
With a 'portion of the proceeds going toward prize pools for the Halo Championship Series'they do create some good will.

isa_scout3999d ago

Yeah, I'm not to concerned since the REQ system is still based on team performance within Warzone. As long as it doesn't affect Arena mode then I think it'll be fine. I'm more pissed at the fact that the Guardians Statue edition comes with a steelbook case, but has a digital download of the game. Like whats the point of a steelbook case with no game in it? Besides for that this game looks to be the best since Halo 2. I absolutely LOVED the beta, and seeing a proper recreation of midship in the map TRUTH just brought back so many fond memories.

Magicite3999d ago

Metascore of 80-85 confirmed.

RiseofScorpio3999d ago (Edited 3999d ago )

Uncharted 2: 96
Uncharted 3: 91

Your point?

Both Halo 5 and U4 will destroy their predecessors judging by what we've seen so stop being a fanboy thanks.

isa_scout3999d ago

Why do inconsequential REQ packs lower the quality of a stellar game? I played the crap out of the beta, and all they need is to deliver that on a larger scale and this game will be a homerun for most critics and fans alike. And this is coming from someone who was super skeptical of H5s new direction until I actually got my hands on it. Now I'm sold.

Halo2ODST23999d ago

It's 343, what do you expect! They don't give a damn about the integrity of halo.

isa_scout3999d ago

To be fair Bungie started driving Halo into the ground with ODST and MP in Reach. If anything I think 343 brought it back from the brink with Halo 4, and the Halo 5 beta was the best Halo MP since Halo 2. I would've been more worried about franchise fatigue had they just copy and pasted Halo 3. I know most people loved Halo 3, but apart from forge and theater mode I felt that it was a huge step back from Halo 2.

3-4-53999d ago

Most Halo games launch with 7-9 maps which is awful.

Halo 2 was the last halo game with a ton of good to great maps.

I'm not crazy about 343 as map designers either.

Hoping this game is pretty decent.

Name Last Name3999d ago

I remember when even cosmetics where free and unlockable.

Immorals3999d ago

They still are. They are just catering to people who don't have time to unlock everything and can afford a helping hand.

XanderZane3999d ago (Edited 3999d ago )

Hhhmmm.. what Microtransactions. You can literally earn all the REQ by just playing the game. Don't really need to buy anything. Even if gamers do spend money and buy REQ, 343 will do this, "These requisitions are governed and balanced by Warzone’s in-match REQ Level and Energy systems, which are driven by player and team performance within the mode." So the game will be balanced out even if other players have more REQ then you do. If you don't want to deal with all of that, you can just play the ARENA Multiplayer. I honestly don't see the problem. Maybe some people are confused or didn't read everything. Anytime a developers mentions microtransactions in a game, there's a 'stir'. lol!!

***************************** ****************
@Name Last Name
They are free and unlockable. No one is saying you have to spend real money on these REQ Packs. It's not mandatory.

"Players will earn REQ Points after each match in Arena or Warzone multiplayer, which can then be redeemed for REQ Packs. Each pack contains a variety of requisitions (REQs) in the form of unlockable weapons and armors, skins, assassination animations, and more."

indyman77773999d ago

I'm not buying a game with Micro transactions. Looks like this will be the first Halo game I didn't beat on Legendary (except Halo wars it does not count). I'm concentrating on Gears of war!

3-4-53999d ago

* For the media, everything " causes a stir".

To them, the sun rising, is BREAKING NEWS

Azzanation3999d ago

Why do gamers feel the need to hate on something that basically has no effect on there own game? Big whoop, you can buy online items for real money, what games today don't do that? As long as its not game breaking. I am sure in Halo 5 there are MP game modes that don't allow the use of online items. Play the game mode that doesn't allow it. Problem solved.

bradleejones3998d ago

@Opie. How do they make money without micro transactions? By charging $60 for a game and selling millions of copies. Just like every other publisher who do not do micro transactions. (Do the math, 60x8 million is 480,000,000. Granted their marketing cost will eat up half of that, but that is still hundreds of millions of dollars profit no matter how you look at it. (Basing 8m off of halo4s 9m in sales, figuring this will sell a bit less. Even if you want to figure 4 or 5m in sales it would still be in the hundreds of millions in profit FYI)

+ Show (9) more repliesLast reply 3998d ago
the_dark_one3999d ago

We should be accostumed by now about this practice, dont mean only microsoft i mean all of them that do this, but i guess this practise is here to stay. But in this case i can see it being dropped before launch just to be ib good faith with the fans

BiggerBoss3999d ago (Edited 3999d ago )

I disagree entirely. Just because companies keep doing this, doesnt mean we should keep taking it. Thats how these DLC practices got so bad in the first place

Toiletsteak3999d ago

I don't care about Microtransactions when they don't help players out on multiplayer like giving them better weapons or stuff like that, it's when that happens that i think it is stupid. Microtransactions do need to die though, if only people would stop buying them.

Erik73573999d ago

Micorotransactions should only be in a game that free to play....

Rookie_Monster3999d ago (Edited 3999d ago )

From the article

"All REQ content in the game can earned through the regular course of play in multiplayer. We’ll also give players the option to purchase REQ Packs as a matter of convenience, with a portion of the proceeds going toward prize pools for the Halo Championship Series. "

You don't need to purchase anything and can earn it. It is just an option.

Many games these days have these option to let players pay to unlock things otherwise could be earn by playing like this game here.

http://www.eurogamer.net/ar...
DriveClub micro-transactions will let you quickly unlock cars

It has been a non issue before for other games and it is a non issue here as it is optional and not forced.

badz1493999d ago

That is an old article way before DC was even released. DC so far has only 1 car that can be bought uaing shortcut which is the La Ferrari but those who have full manufacturer accolade for Ferrari gets the car for free. Other cars are still either unlocked through leveling up, given as free DLC or a part of tour packs DLC.

Halo2ODST23999d ago

You may have just changed my stance on the matter, by highlighting "a portion of the proceeds is going towards prize pools for the Halo champion series", i call out 343 for their bull often but this is quite a gesture.

kingdip903999d ago

'A portion' could vary from anywhere in between a small percentage to a big one. It's much to ambiguous to apploud.

I hate micro transactions in any form, especially those that can turn a game into pay to win.

HammadTheBeast3999d ago

Why don't they just use a portion of the profits that they'll make to fund the Halo champion series?

MRMagoo1233999d ago

I may not be an expert but dont the prize pools get paid by the massive sponsors ?

LAWSON723999d ago (Edited 3999d ago )

God forbid the actual best cosmetics be unlockable by accomplishing something in the game. I am tired of this crap... At least BC will let me play Reach if they expect me to buy stuff to have cool armor I will go play it instead

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180°

Halo art director leaves studio after 17 years with ominous message alluding to discontent

Glenn Israel writes: "As of today and after seventeen long years, I am officially no longer contributing to the Halo universe. There is little more I can say for the moment, though I intend to share this particular story in its entirety when it is absolutely safe to do so next year. In the meantime, I have a message for anyone and everyone who needs to hear it.

I know that the state of our industry seems dire, but never forget that you are *free to choose*. No illusion of security nor promise of wealth or fame or power is worth trading away your health, your dignity, your ethics or values - and no one can force you to. Stay strong, take evidence when necessary, and find where you belong."

Read Full Story >>
linkedin.com
Bathyj232d ago

My god.
There's a story for next year.

VenomUK231d ago

I’m really disappointed to learn there are still people/morale problems. I thought the whole point of rebranding 343i to Halo Studios was to signal that real changes had been made - not to cynically rebrand to paper over the problems.

I really hope the Halo CE remake is great and gets people hyped for the future of the series.

DarXyde231d ago

It's inevitable with the modern landscape. Even if some issues have been assuaged, new ones crop up all the time.

I'm willing to bet AI and the lack of regulation is causing substantial upset.

shinXseijuro232d ago (Edited 232d ago )

He said something very marking . We tend to complain a lot about the industry but deep down I realize that we never have we been offered this crazy amount of games all available for you to play now . You can literally play any sorts of games in 2025 . Nobody is forcing you to buy the latest COD or the latest BF . You’re more of a 8 bit cozy gaming guy there’s a whole niche of modern games for that . You like micromanaging there’s games for that . I feel like we have been spoiled so much we just stopped being realistic and thinking for ourselves . We follow trends cry about stuff online when you are the buyer you have the power .

Notellin231d ago

I'm not buying any games until another Immersive sim is made.

PhillyDonJawn232d ago

....wth happened over there?
Does this confirm a new Halo by next year?
What did they want him to do that made him feel it was morally wrong or a insult to his integrity?

-Foxtrot231d ago

Well how about that, a name change doesn’t fix internal issues

Who would have thought

jznrpg231d ago

MS was throwing money around for a long time but now it’s time to pay the Piper.

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110°

Halo 4 & Halo 5: Guardians Sales Reached Nearly 10 Million Units Worldwide

Lifetime sales of 343 Industries' first-person shooters, Halo 4 and Halo 5: Guardians, reached nearly 10 million units worldwide each.

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twistedvoxel.com
Sciurus_vulgaris322d ago

There were reports that Halo 4 and Halo 5 had similar sales to Halo: Reach years ago. The clickbait websites and rage bait YouTubers from 2012-2016 just wanted to spread excessive negativity about the franchise for their own benefit.

VenomUK321d ago

What did Halo: Infinite sell?

Sciurus_vulgaris321d ago

I don’t know. However, I would assume around 10 million. All the Halo FPS titles have done around 10 million sales, except ODST. Halo 3, was reported to exceed 14 million copies. I still remember back in 2007-2008, Halo 3 and COD 4 would duke it out for the most played XBL game.

MrNinosan321d ago

@Sciurus

There is NO WAY Infinite sold 10 million. Wake up dude.
Once upon a time, there was gamers on the Xbox side who actually bought games. Those times are since long gone.

Infinite has most likely not even hit 5 million sales

slate91321d ago

Nearly 10 million units and killing the brand is crazy work. Nicely done.

peppeaccardo320d ago

This New: Putting chocolate chips on top of a freshly made dog turd .....

1Victor321d ago

So let me get this straight in almost 13 years both games sold a combined 10 millions units.
Now I’m not going to use the obscured mentality and compared it to the amount of consoles sold and say it’s a failure 🤷🏿

thesoftware730321d ago (Edited 321d ago )

1Victor,

Halo 4 and Halo 5: Guardians, reached nearly 10 million units worldwide "each."

Read it again, there is a word in there that clears up your misunderstanding.

1Victor320d ago

@thesoftware720
I apologize I skimmed through the article and the headline blinded me and stuck in my mind thank you for the correction 👍👍

AuraAbjure320d ago (Edited 320d ago )

Halo 4 is the best multiplayer ever! It’s even better than Titanfall 2. I admit Halo 4 got CoDified but there’s nothing wrong with taking inspiration from other games sometimes and halo 4 did it sooooo well with that speed boost plus sword combo and SAW plus damage booth combo, holy guacamole 🥑

Some crucial improvements to halo 4 could’ve been to boost the power of the AA sentinel, and whenever matchmaking pits people against each other with an armor abilities turned off completely then the map needs to routinely spawn, plentiful, predictable, power weapons. Also, all frame rate drops are unacceptable for a halo game during split-split screen or couch co-op. Just dynamically scale the resolution of the game down but whatever happens don’t let the framer dip in a Halo game for the love of all that is holy and good!

My personal gameplay of getting 30 kills in a 4 v. 4 game of team slayer up to 60.

https://youtu.be/ZYDvior_K-...

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180°

Halo 5 dev recalls the “frustrating” marketing that misrepresented the series’ most-hated entry

Halo 5: Guardians lead concept artist Darren Bacon explains that the game's marketing was completely seperate to the game's development.

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videogamer.com
FortWaba401d ago (Edited 401d ago )

No issue with the marketing. The story was complete garbage.

-Foxtrot401d ago

The marketing wasn't the issue, it just felt 343 were so bothered about getting Halo away from being known as a Bungie franchise that they tried to introduce so many changes to counter this.

It felt like they were trying to replace Chief as a character thus the big push on Agent Locke (he even got his own mini series). Chief was even in less missions in comparison.

Introduced squads which forced single player gamers to be paired up with 3 AI players over drop in / drop out co-op.

Cortana was butchered, ruining that relationship between Chief and Cortana we all liked. Would have been fine if the twist was the Didact was secretly controlling her or something but nothing. Did she come back in Infinite? Nope. Killed off screen in a sudden 180 to her villainous turn and replaced by a copy since they knew they screwed up.

Expected you to have read all the novels and the like to understand who Blue Team were and their relationship to Chief, had no build up to the characters and it felt like they expected you to like them without it being earned.

Everything they did felt like change for the sake of change, to mark it was a 343 game not a Bungie one and it's hilarious as they tried to f*** around with the multiplayer in Halo 4 to make it their own before reverting things in Guardians.

darthv72401d ago

I didnt mind the switching off between John and Locke... it reminded me of Halo 2 and having the Arbiter levels to trade off to.

The story was okay for me. They had to do something different as the first three games were done and there needed to be new story going in a new direction. I get the die hard fans may not have liked it, but playing it for what it is... its perfectly fine. Its a continuation of halo 4, which itself was a nice original take on the formula.

Now bring on the disagrees.

cl1983401d ago

It reminded me of Halo 2 and I honestly dislike the switching in 2 and 5. The devs should of just had cuts scenes for the Arbiter and for Locke.

Elit3Nick401d ago

Booting the ur-Didact from the games was one of the greatest narrative mistakes they made (after bringing back a logic-plagued Cortana, of course). Even if you had to read the Forerunner novels to understand his history, he was one of the most complex characters in the series, and he should have remained as an enduring part of the universe.

I'm happy that he at least got a send-off in Halo: Epitaph, but it shouldn't have gotten to that point.

XiNatsuDragnel401d ago

No issues it's just wasn't good story at least my friend it wasn't well written.

Tacoboto401d ago

Yeah it says a lot about the management of 343 at the time that they could have a marketing campaign be so disconnected in tone and story from the game it's supposed to be about.

I'd imagine it would be frustrating for the developers that the marketing beats seemed far cooler than what you were stuck making. Maybe it would've been better if 343 just continued the story from their previous game but nooo they couldn't be bothered to do that even once

entra80401d ago

its the worst halo game the story the map all was garbage

cl1983401d ago

I'd like to introduce you to Halo infinite.

coolbeans401d ago

You are off your damn rocker if you think Infinite's story is worse than 5's. Just by cleaning up 5's worse elements off-screen makes it a default improvement.

PhillyDonJawn400d ago (Edited 400d ago )

Campaign wise Halo infinite was better due to setting. (Open world, different approaches, setting and mission tasks)

story wise Halo 5 was better. Infinite was literally all over the place. It's like they scrapped the OG story and tried to piece some sht together. They unalived important ppl off screen!!! (Spoiler free) Ruining the main plot of Halo 5 and infinite like wth!!! That alone made the "story" worse than 5. They have to reboot the series now or pull some story where these characters are still alive. (I believe the end reveals 1 is.)

@Beans i disagree with that last statement doing it off screen when that was the main plot and a huge deal is the wrong move. We legit should've got a boss battle that did that. It seem so unsatisfying and anticlimactic. We were suppose to get an IRobot/terminator type of ending and instead we get some off screen sht 😒 We couldve had Halo 4 level emotion, instead it was done as filler

cl1983400d ago (Edited 400d ago )

@Coolbeans and @phillydonjawn

Infinites story was so disjointed due to the level design. It wasn't and in my opinion still not replay able. It felt worse then the ending to Starfield.

I'm saying this as a person who's still going through playing the MCC to finish out playlists, and has Ten's of Thousands of hours in Halo since CE.

Tacoboto400d ago

The literal ending to Starfield or the closing missions? Because some of those missions were actually pretty great in my opinion. Especially Entangled.

Halo 5 had a worse story I felt than Infinite but I agree on its lack of replayability. The single PNW biome is tiring and everything not green and foresty outside is metallic and reflective inside.

Multiplayer is solid but lags behind 5 too I feel. At least it still does get some new content even as they're openly abandoning Infinite's tech for UE.

Notellin321d ago

Halo Infinite and Halo 5 both had equally bad stories that completely ignored the previous entry. There's nothing to redeem from either game. The best thing for Halo is to do reboot, let that fail, and then end the series forever.

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