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Required Internet Connection and Microtransactions Mar Metal Gear Survive

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Konami just doesn’t seem to want to learn from its past mistakes, which is a shame. As a fan of the company’s past games, I want Konami to succeed and win over customers, but that doesn’t seem likely if it continues to implement features in Metal Gear Survive known to piss off customers.

Konami recently talked with Gamespot regarding a few key features of Metal Gear Survive, specifically multiplayer. Since the game is built around the ability to switch between single and multiplayer modes, Konami decided players need to be online to play the game regardless of mode.

Konami explained, “Metal Gear Survive’s online connectivity requirements were built to support a seamless integration between single player and co-op. This will also enable us to provide ongoing content post-launch.”

History does not look back fondly on games that require players to always be online. These games always suffer horrendous server issues at launch. Arguably the most infamous of these launch debacles was Diablo 3, as players were plagued with “The servers are busy at this time. Please try again later. (Error 37)” messages; many cite the game’s disastrous launch in arguments against requiring online connections to play single-player modes. While these games were eventually patched so gamers could play them  offline, they all left horrible first impressions, and Metal Gear Survive is already off to a rocky start when it comes to impressions. The title alone is reason enough for many gamers to boycott the game; the last thing Konami needs is to give gamers a legitimate reason.

Speaking of reasons gamers boycott games, according to Gamespot, Konami will also place microtransactions in Metal Gear Survive, which will mostly (or exclusively; details are vague) boost the rate at which players obtain resources. While these microtransactions are nowhere near as offensive as loot boxes or Metal Gear Solid V‘s Forward Operating Base insurance, they raise a serious question: just how grindy is the final version of Metal Gear Survive? Is Konami just being greedy, or did it intentionally manipulate the rate at which players earn resources to incentivize purchasing resource boost microtransactions? That is, after all, a common practice among free-to-play mobile game publishers. Ever since EA made Star Wars Battlefront 2 pay-to-win with loot boxes, gamers have started eyeing any game with microtransactions with suspicion. Konami knows players hated microtransactions in Metal Gear Solid V, yet the company is implementing them in Metal Gear Survive nonetheless, which is a horrible business decision from any perspective.

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Metal Gear Survive has been fighting an uphill battle ever since it was announced, and these recent revelations are not doing Konami any favors. Most companies would realize that you shouldn’t put microtransactions and a mandatory Internet connection in a game many players want to hate, but Konami has a history of making poor decisions and not caring.

All you have to do to get my attention is talk about video games, technology, anime, and/or Dungeons & Dragons - also people in spandex fighting rubber suited monsters.

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Helldivers are angry at Arrowhead because the community manager was fired without due process

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Throughout history, it has become evident that, in the face of tyranny, those who cherish liberty and democracy will stop at nothing to defend them. They will fight relentlessly, using every last round of ammunition and shedding the final drop of blood. In a stunning turn of events, it appears that developer Arrowhead is facing a potential revolution, as previously loyal Helldivers 2 players who once supported the developer are now expressing their outrage. They passionately advocate for justice and the inclusion of the undemocratically dismissed community manager, who has affectionately been nicknamed “General” Spitz, into the official in-game lore.

In typical fashion, an overnight Change.org petition (courtesy of RPS) has garnered nearly 4,500 signatures at the time of writing. This is an attempt to make Arrowhead reevaluate their decision to let go of Spitz, a community manager who has been an integral part of the community since the game’s release. In the midst of the PC/PSN account linking debacle, Spitz, like a game critic sensing the winds of fate, rallied the community on Discord (as seen on Twitter) to express their discontent through reviews, refunds, and other means. It enhances our influence in the discussions with Sony. They completely disregard our discord.

After the chaos subsided the following day (yesterday), Spitz addressed the community, describing this action as “almost.” It hasn’t exactly resulted in their termination. Shortly after, a final transmission was confirmed where Spitz disclosed that they had been released, expressing their resilience by saying, “Every war has its casualties.”

On May 7, 2024, around 11:45 PST, the Helldivers Discord community made an interesting discovery. It seems that the community manager, Spitz, had been unexpectedly removed from his position, and any evidence of his previous involvement in the discord was completely wiped out. This incident seems to have ignited a revolution, with Helldivers demanding the immediate reinstatement of Spitz and his immortalization in the game for his self-sacrifice.

“We strongly advocate for the official canonization of General Spitz in Helldivers lore. Embracing the spirit of liberation. Supporting democracy. For the betterment of the game and its devoted community.

It’s interesting to see how this situation unfolds. Arrowhead CEO Johan Pilestedt himself commends the determination of players in the Sony showdown, but there seems to be a hint of contradiction here. “General” Spitz provided us with some thought-provoking words to ponder: “I was well aware of the potential consequences when I made my statement about refunding and altering reviews; nevertheless, I remain steadfast in my position. I fulfilled my role as a representative of the community, just as I was expected to.

Spitz is no longer the Community Manager.
byu/Tabub inHelldivers

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Ciri from The Witcher expresses her hope that fans will give Liam Hemsworth a fair chance in his portrayal of Geralt

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Netflix’s The Witcher has been at the forefront of the recent trend of video game IP transitioning to TV, alongside HBO’s The Last of Us and Amazon’s Fallout adaptations. In 2022, it was announced that Henry Cavill would be stepping away from his role after Season 3, making way for Australian actor Liam Hemsworth to become The White Wolf in Season 4.

In an interview with Collider (courtesy of Eurogamer), Freya Allen, the actress who plays Ciri in the series, has reached out to fans who may find the change to be a challenge. Allen expressed his view of the situation, acknowledging that it may not be ideal and that fans can be quite critical. He mentioned that he doesn’t want to speak on behalf of Hemsworth, but based on his understanding, it seems like Hemsworth is aiming to inject some heartfelt elements into the project. I’m eagerly anticipating his performance after all that training. And he’s truly a delightful individual. I hope people give him a fair chance, you know?

It’s unclear why Henry Cavill decided to depart from the show, despite his previous commitment to stay for the entire seven seasons if needed. Netflix has announced that The Witcher has been renewed for a fifth season, which will be the final installment of the series.

 

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CEO of Helldivers 2 commends the remarkable determination displayed by the community during the intense Sony showdown

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The experience for Helldivers 2 players has been quite turbulent lately, and we’re referring to a community that is accustomed to leaping from great heights into the most intense and terrifying battlegrounds imaginable. In the midst of a highly debated PSN account requirement for PC players and facing intense backlash, Sony has made a surprising reversal, yielding to the overwhelming force of public opinion. The CEO of Arrowhead, Johan Pilestedt, has displayed an intriguing attitude throughout this challenging period. He has shown remarkable composure, actively engaging with community managers and experiencing the difficulties they face firsthand.

Pilestedt expressed his admiration for the community’s determination and praised their ability to work together on Twitter, following Sony’s reversal. He sarcastically expressed gratitude towards Sony for their “prompt and efficient choice to make PSN linking optional.”

In the future, Pilestedt expressed his vision of working closely with PlayStation and the players to establish a groundbreaking benchmark for the concept of a live game. The aim is to foster a strong partnership between developers and the community, ultimately resulting in an unparalleled gaming experience.

What are your thoughts on the commotion surrounding Helldivers 2? What are your thoughts on Sony’s involvement, Pilestedt’s attitude, and the community’s reaction? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.

 

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