Please support Game Informer. Print magazine subscriptions are less than $2 per issue
Boss Key On The Defensive About Radical Heights' Pay-To-Win Concerns
Announced earlier today and launching into early access tomorrow, Radical Heights from LawBreakers developer Boss Key has already raised some concerns with its free-to-play elements. Speaking with IGN, a Boss Key representative addressed some prospective players' early concerns that the free-to-play battle royale game will feature play-to-win elements.
Radical Heights presents you with "game show moments" where you have opportunities to earn cash. The more cash you have, the more items you can grab from vending machines. You can also earn cash by disposing of other players in the game. This mechanic has given some people pause when thinking about how the free-to-play elements work in the game, as well as concerns about the 10 percent money multiplayer and $10,000 cash bonus that the $14.99 Founder's Pack originally offered.
Boss Key replied to the concerns by telling IGN that it has removed the $10,000 cash bonus from the Founder's Pack, and that the 10 percent money multiplier is only added at the end of the match. However, players can still grab money from their "Offshore Account" (money earned prior to the current game), meaning that the 10 percent boost will still allow them to earn more money for subsequent games. Everyone starts with $0 when they enter the game, and taking money from your Offshore Account requires time and effort, leaving you vulnerable to attacks from other players, Boss Key says in defense of this mechanic.
Boss Key also says that you cannot buy in-game currency with real money, and that the currency you buy with real-world cash is instead only used for cosmetic items. The developer also confirmed to IGN that the $10,000 bonus was removed from the Founder's Pack.
Radical Heights launches on Steam early access tomorrow.
[Source: IGN]
Our Take
After LawBreakers failed to draw any kind of audience, the fledgling studio needs a hit. Unfortunately, the company's second project has already made a mixed first impression due to pay-to-win concerns. It will be interesting to see how that impression changes when the title launches on early access and people get their hands on it.
I’d like to ask you to support Game Informer’s continued coverage of games with a subscription. For less than two dollars per issue, we mail you a full year of 10 print magazines, each with cover stories and preview features filled with exclusive details about the most exciting upcoming games. We profile and interview game creators. We look back on the rich history of gaming, and we celebrate what’s next.
Here on the website, we offer much of our content for free, including game reviews, daily news, videos, event coverage, and more – all with minimal ads.
We do so with a small editorial team, alongside contributing paid writers from around the world – over 65 individuals from 9 countries around the world, just in the last couple of years.
It’s not possible without support.
In a time when game makers and games coverage have faced hard struggles and layoffs, the future of this 30+ year magazine and community is at risk. Our new standalone magazine subscription is the number one way you can keep us alive – and we believe you’ll get a pretty fantastic gaming magazine in your mailbox every few weeks for your trouble.
Thank you.
