Introduction: A Surprising Start to the Year for Gaming
January is typically a quiet month for gaming enthusiasts, but this year has proven to be an exception. After an explosive 2023, expectations for 2024 were not particularly high. However, gamers have been pleasantly surprised by the arrival of some fantastic titles.
Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth Steals the Spotlight
The first major release of the year was Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, which impressed fans with its high-quality metroidvania platforming. The game received an impressive 87 rating on the popular review aggregate site Metacritic. However, it didn't hold the top spot for long.
Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth has now taken the spotlight, garnering an incredible 91 rating on Metacritic. While this score may change as more reviews come in, it is undoubtedly a strong showing for the series.
Outrage Over Missing Feature
Despite the game's excellence, there is a significant amount of outrage surrounding its launch. Like many AAA games these days, Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth offers various editions for purchase. While deluxe editions typically include additional consumable and cosmetic items, Infinite Wealth goes a step further by locking a key feature behind a paywall.
The Standard Edition of the game is priced at £59.99/$69.99, the Deluxe Edition at £74.99/$84.99, and the Ultimate Edition at £94.99/$109.99. However, the ability to access the highly anticipated New Game+ feature is only available to owners of the Deluxe and Ultimate Editions.
The Importance of New Game+
New Game+ is a feature found in many popular games that encourages players to replay the main story. It allows players to carry over their items, gear, and weapons from their previous playthrough, providing a fresh and exciting challenge. By restricting this feature to higher-priced editions, gamers feel that they are being unfairly treated.
A Disturbing Trend
There is a growing concern among gamers that this trend of removing features from standard editions will continue if consumers accept paywalling as the norm. Players fear that publishers will gradually eliminate more features from standard editions in the future.
Conclusion: A Call for Fairness
Gamers have every right to be outraged over the decision to lock a key feature behind a paywall. As consumers, it is essential to voice our concerns and demand fair treatment. By standing up against such practices, we can help ensure that the gaming industry continues to offer quality experiences without compromising on essential features.
