During the February 9th Nintendo Direct, we received some surprising news: The upcoming release of Mario Strikers: Battle League, the newest entry in the football-themed series. We even got a release date: June 10th, 2022.
But there might be another surprise incoming, as the ESRB rating for the game specifically details "in-game purchases" alongside the more expected inclusions of "cartoon violence, comic mischief".
However, over on the PEGI side of things, the rating does not include in-game purchases, only the warning for "Violence". Likewise, the USK rating doesn't mention it, either. There is a rather long spiel about the Nintendo Switch Online service, though — which could be the answer to the question in the title.
We do know from the trailer that the roster of characters is quite limited, with only ten players available to choose from, so it's not entirely unlikely that more players, pitches, gear, or cosmetics could be added as paid DLC.
However, the ESRB rating could just refer to the purchase of a Nintendo Switch Online membership. We did the research, though, and many other games that use Nintendo Switch Online but don't have paid DLC — such as WarioWare: Get It Together, Super Mario Odyssey, and Clubhouse Games — do not include "in-game purchases" in their rating, while NSO games that do have paid DLC — such as Super Smash Bros Ultimate, Just Dance 2022, and Among Us — include "in-game purchases".
But what do you think we can expect as in-game purchases in Mario Strikers? New kit, new characters, new gear? Do you think Mario Strikers will be the next Smash Bros, with additional players being rolled out across many years? Let us know in the comments.
Comments 39
Hopefully It's just dlc stuff rather than Nintendo going down the EA route
Still buying. I have been waiting on this game since the WiiU. Hopefully it means DLC to keep the game going. Nintendo has been trying to inject longevity that way as their business strategy.
Can we not stir up doom and gloom until Nintendo actually announces something controversial?
Wouldn't be surprising. No one thought Nintendo would rent out DLC, and yet here we are.
So that's why Daisy isn't in the roster!
They are holding back the best character to sell her later as DLC! Can't say I like such tactic, but well played Nintendo.
Uh oh...
...Just "Uh oh..." Nintendo Life, nothing more.
Really glad this game is coming but… as of now I am not a fan of customization options as most of times this leads to 1 item/ combo of items as to go.
EA: Welcome brother. We've been expecting you.
This game doesn’t feel like a $60 game to me. Maybe they will reveal more content later.
I see FIFA has had an effect on all soccer based video games.
This is probably just DLC but still, inspire confidence it does not.
If this game uses currency I’m never touching it
This literally means nothing. That tag was done as vague as possible due to how much money the gatcha model makes. It was as a "middle point" to avoid regulation.
This tag covers DLC, microtransactions and gatcha all in one place. And there are cases where that tag was used but ended up not even having DLC (example: Kirby Fighters 2 had that tag).
I'm not saying that won't happen, btw. Just saying that tag says nothing.
Animal Crossing had the same news article that blew up.
It's literally just a in-game menu to let you buy either DLC or to guide non-NSO subscribers to the eShop so they can subscribe, in order to play the game's online mode...
Reminds me when crash 4 had that tag and a lot of people canceled their pre-orders. Even though IAP can’t work for a platformer! I bet that the ESRB are trying to sabotage sales. 😑
@Egit-kun Now that I think about it... Due to how vague this tag is. Is a game that JUST needs NSO to access it's online work (and has no DLC of any kind) categorized with this tag?
Nintendo, more than any other company, has been exceedingly fair with their DLC schemes, and I expect that to continue.
It already has an in-game currency so DLC top-ups wouldn’t surprise me. Just hope it doesn’t impact the game too much.
@Ryu_Niiyama I don’t think the article necessarily reads as ‘doom and gloom’ just yet. I consider it to just be a ‘heads up’ because it’s different from previous Mario football games 👍🏻
They have to say that if they plan to have some kind of season pass or dlc now, which 100% they will. When a game is released with the new ESRB rules they have to make that part of any advertising.
Pay to score probably. You'll be in an online match and the Prince of Montenaro will drop 0.13 ETH and be up 10 goals.
Probably DLC costumes.
That armor customization is a prime example for "Costume Pack #1 4.99"
What filling will be offered in the Pukka Pies?
Edit: I don’t like Mushrooms
On a serious note, I hope there’s no Cat Mario. That won’t go down too well
Some people here really make assumptions based off of nothing. Smh
Does anyone seriously believe Nintendo would suddenly after over 10 years jump on the microtransaction train with Mario Striker of all games? That would be bad for their brand. They'll never have microtransactions in console games. It's just DLC or nothing.
Arceus had this tag too! But nothing bad, so I’m guessing the same here. It’d be sad if you get Mario characters from loot boxes.
New Horizons and Three Houses have this on their ratings yet they don't actually contain them. I don't see why this game would still include them since the other Mario sports games didn't have them.
Ir That’s true i’m not Buying it xD
The game literally has "League" in the title, Mario Strikers: Battle League, did people not expect paid DLC or a season pass of some kind? The game has 20 person online clubs but only 10 playable characters, so that ratio will change.
SSBU season pass has ended, MK8 is basically a GaaS now w/ 2 full years of track updates, and why did we need Splatoon 3 but not MK9? At least Splatoon had a new game on Switch already.
It's all about the long term money.
@rjejr We're getting a new Splatoon because Splatoon 2 isn't selling much anymore. MK8DX is still selling more than any other Switch game. Of course they're not gonna release a new one.
I hope this isn't going to be a micro transaction style thing, reason I like Nintendo is solely their traditional console routes and it would be a step towards being just like the other companies
I doubt they will have characters as paid DLC, but you never know...
@Ryu_Niiyama Yeah, exactly. Purchases aren't immediately a bad thing
I don't think that'll be the case, but if it does have microtransactions, I hope they are like Super Kirby Clash, in that once the maximum tier is reached, the game discourages you from making more microtransactions.
My only hope for this game is that the game lets you play as the other teammates from Charged. I need my Dry Bones, Hammer Bro. and Boo/Shy Guy combination.
@jowe_gw Yes, any game that can link you to a purchasable item (in this likely case NSO subscription) will be categorised as such. Anything that lets the user spend actual money pretty much.
Never even copped on to the fact that the game is still E10+ lol. I am so happy it stayed that way from Charged. Hopefully they push it to the absolute limit they can muster.
Where did you get the information from, that there are only 10 characters in the game?
It’s gotta be NSO support, most likely. I have a decent amount of faith that Nintendo will not put micro transactions in their games. I am kind of sorry for Daisy fans that she’s not in the game.
@JakedaArbok I am very angry now… wasnt she one of the classics? My first account here was daisygirl, but she isnt a major fave of mine anymore…
@octokid
Yeah, and she appeared in an actual mainline Mario game, which cannot be said of Waluigi, as much as I like him. My theory is that Nintendo saw the backlash of the “Whatever!” line being cut from Mario Golf: Super Rush and decided, “All right, well how about no Daisy, then?”
So a live service? This looks like something that will be for a long time with free updates and tournaments. It's honestly a good idea for this game even if you only want to enjoy the modes included.
By the by, Pokémon Legends Arceus also has 'in-game purchases' included in the ESRB rating...
It’s probably just switch online, because if they do add more content later (which they most likely will), it will probably be free just like Aces and Super Rush.
Tap here to load 39 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...