REQ cards might sound like an evil plan to bring the microtransaction devil to Halo but there’s more to it

During the E3 whirlwind this week 343i introduced a brand new game mode to the Halo universe called Warzone, an insane 24 players all out-war game mode. Part of that reveal was the introduction of the Requisition (REQ) system where players unlock card packs to get weapons and vehicles for Warzone, plus weapon and armor skins for arena playlists. Players will be unlocking those REQ cards by playing in multiplayer or by buying packs from the Xbox Store.

It’s that last part that has sent the Halo faithful into a bit of tailspin, crying out that 343i is bringing in microtransactions to ruin the series. Its true that buying REQ cards is a microtransaction but its not time to light the torches and shine the pitchforks. 343i might be introducing microtransactions for the first time in Halo history but they’re doing it carefully and with balance in mind.

The first thing gamers need to keep in mind is that 343i will be offering over a dozen free multiplayer maps by 2016 for Halo 5. Wiping away the hated season pass and map packs that split the multiplayer community, usually leaving buyers with a map they never get to play.

Its a huge shift in how FPS DLC is done, but DLC is still how AAA developers make a lot of their money today. So by offering free maps to all 343i had to find a way to balance out the cost. Allowing players who don’t have time to earn REQ cards through multiplayer to buy them. What they get in those packs is still totally random, they can’t simply buy a Scorpion Tank.

Even if they could buy a shiny vehicle of mass destruction they couldn’t hop right into at the start of a game. All of the REQ card items are put into tiers that require higher and higher levels of energy. Energy teams earn by capturing bases, taking down, bosses, etc so no matter how many nice toys you have you and your team still have to work up to get them.

On top of all of that players who do have a lot of time for multiplayer can nab the same shiny REQ cards as players who buy packs. Every items is unlockable in game, which means 343i is not trying to introduce a pay-to-win system. They’re simply doing what any good developer does, innovating, by trying new systems.

So before we all go crying out that the microtransaction devil is upon us we need to remember that REQ cards are more than meets the eye. They’re a way for a game company to make money without dividing their community through season passes or map packs.

Source: Team Beyond