Rocket League Ditches Randomised Loot Boxes In Favour Of New 'Blueprint' System

Excellent news! I have never bought a single loot crate in my life and had no intention of starting, so Psyonix might actually get a few quid out of me this way.

It would be interesting to know how successful (or unsuccessful) this change is in terms of revenue for Psyonix over the next year or so although I don't imagine we'll be privy to those figures.

Crikey - it's a developer actually moving positively to remove loot boxes, without being forced to do so.

The rest of the gaming industry (cough..EA EA EA...cough) needs to take a look at this as an example of providing clarity on microtransactions as opposed to the ludicrous "surprise mechanics" roulette we have today.

Well done, Psyonix. Now, just make sure you don't ramp up lootbox prices in the meantime to compensate. We'll be watching.

It's a step in the right direction, but still a band aid on a brain tumour.

I won't applaud them, because it should never have been in the first place, I just hope other AAA developers follow in the near future.

Getting there, but it's still micro-transactions, therefore EVIL!!

I was okay with the old system, actually. The items were purely cosmetic, and it was pretty easy to get rare items. Also, they frequently gave away keys (well, decryptors, technically) for free.

But this system is better.

@NintenDan_ Not sure what you're getting at. Psyonix basically lives off Rocket League. Would you rather they just charge a monthly subscription for people to play the game? This way you can choose whether you want to spend additional money on the game.

@Dr_Corndog I sure would. These other monetization methods are fundamentally dishonest. They are designed to get money from children and others with gambeling issues.

@Dr_Corndog Ideally I'd rather them just charge full price and include everything in the game. I'm not against DLC as a whole, but Rocket league is an international success, with it's own eSports league and big money sponsors, we're not talking about a 1 man indie developer who needs the cash (even though ironically, it's not those developers who are pushing microtranscations anyway)

@Dr_Corndog Except Rocket League isn’t a free game in the first place. I understand microtransactions in a free-to-play game like Fortnite, but Rocket League already costs money to download or buy at retail.

This is good news. I love rocket league. I bought it for £10 a few years ago. Ive played it for over 500 hours and not spent another penny. Best value game I have ever owned. Calculated

@NintenDan_ This. I am pretty sure I wrote a similar comment in the past when Psyonix first announced that they were removing lootboxes, although I can't remember if it was here or on Push Square.

It feels like companies have slowly over time succeeded in changing peoples attitudes towards practices such as DLC and microtransactions because they have increasingly made even more despicable things that make these practices seem tame by comparison.

@StevenG Dishonest how? They're up front with how the process works, and now even the random element is being removed.

@thesilverbrick True, but microtransactions are what allows them to maintain the game. Rocket League is very popular now despite being over four years old. You can still buy the game today and know there will be a vibrant online community.

The alternative is for them to release a sequel every year ot two, and FORCE people to pay for the new version. I like this route better.

@MS7000 yea exactly! I agree, I work in teaching and have daily conversations with kids about gaming (they ridicule me for not spending money on Fortnite skins, they may have a point if I actually played it). It's worrying how indoctrinated they've become to the systems the predatory publishers put in place, the idea of just buying a game and having the full experience on disc is alien to them now.

@Dr_Corndog yea that's kinda how game development works? Or used to at least, make a game, sell game for money, use money to develop a sequel. Lather, rinse and repeat. Game development was perfectly profitable before microtranscations came along, so i don't buy the argument that they can't afford to maintain the game otherwise.

@Dr_Corndog Yet somehow a game like Minecraft can continue to provide free updates ten years after release with no season passes or loot boxes. Seems like a hollow excuse.

@Dr_Corndog Because they are hiding the pricing model. Honest pricing would be upfront. Pay X get the game. Anything else is dishonest to one degree or another. This is even worse because they are selling you access to software you already have piecemeal.

@EvaEeveeFan

Wow, you have a chip on your shoulder ! Talk about a superiority complex, i don't like Fifa any more than you do but i'd never insult people who enjoy it, or an entire country for that matter, for having different tastes to me.

No one comes on here to see abusive comments about their nationality or their gaming preferences, the sooner you are banned from this site the better, you are utterly vile, and i don't care whether you have autism or not, you need to learn how to tolerate other people and act in a civil manner !

Maybe I can finally get some Zombas

@StevenG Guess what! $20 still gets you the entire game. And you're not obligated to spend any more on it. So no, they're not being dishonest.

@thesilverbrick https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.fool.com/amp/investing/2017/04/11/microsoft-is-turning-minecraft-into-a-platform.aspx

No such thing as a free lunch.

@NintenDan_ For single-player games, sure. Games that require regular upkeep, like MMOs, have required subscription fees for decades. RL doesn't require the same maintenance as WoW, but it also doesn't charge every one of its players a mandatory fee.

@Dr_Corndog So then for $20 everything is unlocked? Nothing is gated, and all the stuff in the shop is free? Otherwise I have to disagree.

@EvaEeveeFan No sarcasm at all, maybe ask yourself why people are reacting to your comments the way they are, do you think using terms like 'chav' 'stupid' and 'meathead' aren't abusive ? If you can't take it, don't dish it out, this website is not the place to air your grievances with the UK, or people who choose to buy products by any company that isn't Nintendo.

@Dr_Corndog Referencing an article from over two years ago doesn’t exactly prove anything. Minecraft offering honest DLC skins isn’t the same thing as Rocket League selling constant season passes and blind loot boxes on top of the cost of a full retail game.

Season passes in Rocket League give you access to new content, they're not much different to buying DLC in other games.

Loot boxes were quite the norm when Rocket League first came out several years ago. The devs removing this game mechanic should be applauded because it means they've learned from new developments in the industry; why criticize them for taking positive steps?

For context, Nintendo just published a mobile game in 2019 with loot boxes, even when their games are reportedly being restricted in places like Brussels because local laws prohibit this mechanic. I think people's righteous indignation against Psyonix could've been better channeled elsewhere.