Champions Online to have item sales?

By Oli Welsh Published 8 May, 2009

"No finalised plans" - Cryptic.

Cryptic may be considering including microtransactions in its forthcoming suerphero MMO Champions Online, going by the beta test.

Eurogamer gained access to the Champions Online beta last weekend. We noticed that the game's menu features an option called "Champions Store". When selected, this brings up an error message mentioning the word "microtransactions".

We contacted Cryptic for comment. "As you may have noticed in the recent play test for Champions Online, we are currently testing functionality for in-game transactions," the developer replied in a statement.

"Virtual asset sales are a necessary component of the greater Cryptic platform since we plan on working on a number of different titles using our technology platform. At present we do not have any finalised plans for how and if these will be implemented in future releases."

Cryptic plans to release Champions Online as a standard subscription MMO when it makes its North American and European debut on PC on July 14th. And chief creative officer Jack Emmert has previously made his dislike of microtransactions a matter of public record, telling a GDC panel last year that "they make me want to die".

But it now seems that the developer is open to supplementing subscriptions with revenue from item sales - as Sony Online Entertainment has done with EverQuest - or perhaps employing them in less subscription-friendly markets like Asia.

Incidentally, we very much enjoyed our brief run around the first few levels of the game, and will bring you a comprehensive beta report on Champions Online in the coming weeks.

Picture of Oli.

About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (12) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • ZuluHero #1 3 years ago

    Say what?

  • DFawkes #2 3 years ago

    No thanks. Despite having played plenty in the beta and enjoying it, I wouldn't buy it out of protest. I'm fine with free MMOs having micro-transactions, or cheaper MMOs having some, but not games that'll be fully subbed. Unless of course CO isn't sub-based at all, then I'd be fine with that.

  • Kirah #3 3 years ago

    If they implement them in CO then hopefully it'll just be for added flavour items, not anything integral to the actual game experience. Don't really like that in a subscription based game.

    That said I've still got this on pre-order and have high hopes it'll replicate that first year of CoH.

  • Orange #4 3 years ago

    I was looking forward to this game, but no way will I sub if they're going to add micro transactions on top. That's pure greed on their part or a lack of faith in their own game's chance of succeeding normally, either of which is a big turnoff.

  • iokthemonkey #5 3 years ago

    I wouldn't buy it out of protest.

    Even if it's the ninja fire blade?

  • Scribb1e #6 3 years ago

    Its a bad idea, and will turn off more people than it will make money for them.
    Hope they see sense

  • ZuluHero #7 3 years ago

    lol iok :)

  • Rubarack #8 3 years ago

    Somewhat worried about this being the Visa Crucible. City of Heroes is already pushing Micro Transactions within a paid MMO to a worrying degree by selling temporary travel powers, and even minor combat abilities. There's not enough there to make me boycott it, but it definitely counts as a big negative point for the game.

  • fatfoogoo #9 3 years ago

    Given the huge amounts that F2P's with microtransactions are raking in, it might be silly for them not to at least consider it. Let's remember, this is a beta, nothing's set in stone. With that said...it might be interesting to see how this unfolds, given Emmert's predisposition.

  • Orange #10 3 years ago

    Yes but F2P is F2P. Champions Online is charging full price to buy the game and then a monthly sub as well, to add microtransactions as well is excessive.

  • Lemming81 #11 3 years ago

    This wouldn't put me off at all. If it was purely micro-transactions, then yes I wouldn't touch it. Why? Because logic dictactes that those micro-transactions buy your character things that give him/her an advantage over those that don't.

    If there is a standard subscription model everything will always be fair in that regard. The microtransactions in addition will be just extra costumes and shit. Nothing to cry about, IMO.

    If I'm wrong, the the game will more than likely fail as that is an awful business model and I can't believe anyone to be that stupid.

  • Lord_BeeJee #12 3 years ago

    I am looking forward to this game but if the microtransactions are for anything more than cosmetic things I'm not gonna be part of it,