Gaming
PayDay 2 Gets Microtransactions, Despite Devs Promising It Wouldn’t
Payday 2 now has microtransactions, despite the game’s developers promising on multiple occasions that wouldn’t happen. Overkill Software released an update for the PC version of the game, called The Black Market Update, that adds microtransactions for gameplay-impacting items that come through random drops. So it’s payday for Payday 2 players (sorry, I couldn’t resist). Overkill has previously stated on multiple occasions that microtransactions would never be added to Payday 2.
“Vlad’s brand new Weapons Deal lets you bring out the very best in your favorite guns with a huge update to the Black Market,” the update’s website reads. “This Weapons Deal opens up a brand new way of allowing you to personalize your weapons with skins, mods and more!
The website explains how random items will appear in-game via safes. Those safes are hard to open, and require a special drill in order to be breached. Once a safe is opened, the player gets a randomly selected weapon skin that adds new abilities to their gun. Those skins can be traded in the Steam Community, creating a new in-game economy.
What the website isn’t so keen to show off upfront is that those special drills cost $2.50 a piece. That might be because purchasing a drill in-game is an outright microtransaction, something Overkill Software promised they wouldn’t introduce to Payday 2. For example, Payday 2 producer Almir Listo wrote back in early 2013 “we’ve made it clear that Payday 2 will have no micro-transactions whatsoever (shame on you if you thought otherwise!)”
Then, a month later, Payday 2 lead designer David Goldfarb bluntly told Gamespot “No. No. God, I hope not. Never. No.” That sounded pretty final at the time, but it seems things have changed at Overkill. Goldfarb has since left, though he said he didn’t leave because of any disagreement with the company.
Whatever the reason for the decision, players aren’t taking it well. There’s a huge thread on Reddit, titled “F*** you overkill,” and the game’s Steam page now has a pile of negative reviews.
New World Interactive, the developer of the Insurgency series of tactical first-person shooters, has laid off an unknown number of employees as part of Embracer Group’s comprehensive restructuring plan.
Saber Interactive, which acquired New World in 2020, told Eurogamer that the studio had not closed. However, it confirmed an unknown number of layoffs.
Embracer says it is “actively working to fill existing open roles” with impacted employees and will provide severance packages. “Saber also assures that development will continue on Insurgency: Sandstorm, as well as on unannounced future projects,” it said.
Over 900 employees were laid off in an “agonizing” but “necessary” process. As always, we hope all victims recover.
Sony wants non-console owners to access its content beyond its PlayStation-walled garden. This strategy has been slowly implemented: the company has commissioned TV and movie adaptations of its biggest franchises, ported select software to the PC, and launched a mobile gaming division.
In an interview with Nikkei, head Hideaki Nishino explained how this strategy can boost console sales: We want to use movies and dramas to get non-gamers to try PlayStation games. Sales of The Last of Us increased during the live-action drama.
When HBO’s adaptation aired, our The Last of Us content skyrocketed, so we can understand its impact. As a PlayStation fan site, we support this strategy because we want to reach as many people as possible, so if Sony can appeal to non-console owners, that’s a win-win.
More PlayStation users is better, in our opinion.
PowerWash Simulator is one of this month’s PS Plus Essentials, but before you start scrubbing, check out the PS Store. The game has been well supported on PS5 and PS4 with free DLC packs based on Square Enix titles since its release at the start of the year.
Free Final Fantasy VII and Tomb Raider expansions let you clean Croft Manor and Seventh Heaven. The free DLC packs add 10 levels, and the paid ones add more.
Two more Back to the Future and SpongeBob SquarePants expansions cost £6.49 or $7.99 each. You can then scrub the Bikini Bottom and the DeLorean.
The Midgar Special Pack for PowerWash Simulator was another reason to use the cleaning kit. “It doesn’t add much, but getting close to FF7’s props and environments is fun. It offers a fresh take on the beloved title that will please both sides of this collaboration.”
Have you tried the latest PS Plus Essential game?
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