Subscription services, game passes, and monthly deals have been in video-games for awhile. But, I have seen a rising trend in them over the years, especially since the rise of loot boxes and gacha mechanics. Microtransactions in video-games are still going strong…and even though most of us absolutely despise them, we still find ourselves opening our wallets to them from time-to-time.
Just the other day I saw myself trying out a monthly deal on an app that I play, and it got me to thinking about the other times I had similarly subscribed to services in a video-game in order to get ahead or just get something cool and extra. So, I decided to write a blog about the various things I have subscribed to over the years (in relation to video-games) and what I think of the services themselves and whether or not it was worth the money spent.
- Xbox Live & Nintendo Online Services –
I never understood why you needed to pay money in order to play online when it comes to console games, but, here we are. Xbox LIVE is nothing new, and even though I thought the service absolutely baffling, I have come to just embrace that this is what gaming is now. Even Playstation has a similar service. But, what does it really provide? Well, I get Xbox LIVE Gold which not only allows me to play online games with my friends, it gets me exclusive deals on select games, and it offers me 3 free games a month (which are picked by Microsoft). Xbox has other services such as Game Pass, but, I never got into that as any game that I would want, I will buy outright instead of borrowing.
Nintendo Online Services is something that is new to Nintendo as of the release of the Nintendo Switch, and, it functions a lot like Xbox LIVE. It allows players to play online games with their friends, and it offers special items in select video-games to online service members. It is needed to trade Pokemon globally, use Pokemon HOME, race with players from across the World in Mario Kart, and needed for online multiplayer in Mario Party/Splatoon/etc – and these are just a few examples. But, does it come with any extra perks? It does! Not only do you get online services and some free items in your favorite games, you also get access to a massive library of NES and SNES games which you can play for free (and soon there will be a package which includes the N64 library).
While Xbox LIVE doesn’t cost too much, it is a monthly subscription, whereas Nintendo only charges people one time a year. At least when I don’t need Xbox LIVE, I am not paying for it, but even then, the yearly model seems like the better deal (to me) and is something that is easier on the wallet. Not to mention that Nintendo just seems to offer a lot more perks for having to use said-subscription service.
- MMO Monthly subscriptions:
Most MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online) cost money in order to play them. There are exceptions to this, like the free-to-play MMOs such as AION, Perfect World, Mabinogi, Warframe, Neverwinter, etc. Then there are also models of MMOs where you pay for the base game and then you never have to pay money again unless you want to buy the expansions (ex; Classic Guild Wars & ESO). There are also models where the base game is free, but the expansions cost money like Guild Wars 2, but, the most popular MMOs generally have some sort of subscription service. I am talking games along the lines of Final Fantasy XIV & World of Warcraft.
I played WoW for years, and while I wasn’t continually subscribed, I would go through months where I was paying that $15/month in order to play the game. And it was okay, I guess. I never understood the logic of having to pay monthly to play a game (much like I never understood having to pay monthly in order to play online with friends when I was already paying for my internet), but the gaming experience alone kept me addicted and wanting to keep playing. While I no longer play WoW, I have been subbed to Final Fantasy XIV for well over a year now, and I still feel the same. I understand the money made gets poured back into the MMO, and it helps pave the way for collaborations, new events, future expansions, and more in a world that is constantly expanding. These MMOs also have optional items and services which can be purchased to enhance the gamer’s experience (in the case of FFXIV this comes in the form of mounts, costumes, story skips, etc). With how much I have invested in FFXIV and how much I play weekly, I can’t say that I feel that my money was wasted, but $15/month can start to wear a hole in your wallet if you make an average income (and you’re stuck in the “American Dream”). I do like that unlike WoW, FFXIV does have payment options that are less money, but it does limit how many characters you can create, and likewise, you can pay more per month for the ability to get more retainers in-game which increases storage space.
So, do I think these monthly subscriptions are good or bad? Well, free MMOs tend to rely on their shops to keep the game running, and these models soon become very pay-to-win. Even models like Guild Wars 2 rely heavily on micro-transactions. I feel like paid MMOs do tend to run better and offer more to the player, with bigger, thriving communities that don’t go as stale in-between massive content dumps. So, while I might not ever be a true fan of the monthly model personally, I see where it benefits a game when it is in place.
- Pokemon Bank/HOME:
I remember when the Pokemon Bank was first announced, and there was this massive range of emotions I ran through. At first, I was excited that there was a place where I could store all of my Pokemon from the various games I owned (that way I could also easily transfer them to newer games), then the anger I felt when I realized that this was a service that would cost money to use, and then just general disappointment that Nintendo seemed to be following down the same route other companies were with making really useful features for games something that was locked behind a paywall. But, like the Nintendo Online Service, Pokebank was only a yearly cost, and it wasn’t much more than a monthly payment for WoW. This gave me access to storage for all my Pokemon from across my old DS games to the 3DS games, deposited Pokemon generated points that could be spent for items in the 3DS games, and there were even events where free Pokemon were gifted to those using the service. So, it wasnt a bad deal. Then, came Pokemon HOME. Pokemon HOME is “free” as long as you are paying for the Nintendo Online Service, so I can’t say it is a monthly subscription. I only bring it up because people have been under the impression that this is the case. Pokemon HOME does work very similarly to the Pokebank, only, Pokemon HOME is very specifically for Pokemon GO and the Nintendo Switch-era Pokemon games. Pokemon from the Pokebank can be transferred to Pokemon HOME which is another reason why I bring it up.
But, was Pokebank worth the money? Honestly, yes! I used to buy every version of every Pokemon game that came out, and, without having a lot of friends to trade with, filling my Pokedex could be a challenge, if not impossible if I could not borrow another DS or 3DS to complete the trade. That, and, the trading process in general can be long and tedious. However, Pokebank changed that. All I had to do was pop in one game, transfer my Pokemon into the bank, then close out, switch games, then transfer those Pokemon I just put into the bank into the game I just put in. I could move multiple Pokemon at one time without the need for another system or even another person, and it made hunting/trading for version-specific Pokemon that much easier! Now that such a service is basically included in the Nintendo Online Services, I think it’s all the more worth the yearly cost!
- Mario Kart Tour Gold Pass:
So, this was something newer I decided to try out after I had completed my Review on Mario Kart Tour. The app includes what is known as the “Gold Pass” which offers a variety of perks for $5.99/month. These perks include extra items for the tour rewards, some gems for signing up, extra challenges that can be completed for even more gems, and it allows players to race at 200cc speeds. But, was it really worth it? Some of the extra items you get when having the gold pass (such as the golden vehicles and drivers) are kinda cool, and even the golden badges can be a fun flex. Even the upgrade items are extremely useful and something that most people cannot obtain without the gold pass (unless they endlessly grind for tour tokens). But even then, is it worth paying monthly for an app?
In my opinion…not really. The extra stars you get from the gold-pass challenges does speed up you getting tour rewards, and yes, you get extra rewards for being a gold pass member. But, for an app that re-uses the same tracks and the same drivers just in different costumes, paying monthly for a service like this is just…eh. Even the golden items are just reskinned karts and gliders, so they are hardly unique enough to warrant a purchase in my opinion. For most, I think the draw would be being able to race at 200cc, but for me, 200cc is just…chaotic. I never did like it even in the main games, and so maybe this is why trying out this service was not for me. I will say that the Gold Pass, while costing money does have a two-week trial. So, if you wanna see what it’s all about, but don’t want to pay the money for it, doing the two week free trial would be the best way.
- Fallout 1st:
I have actually written a blog about Fallout 1st before. back when the service was first announced, and I wasn’t a fan…at first (punny, I know). A lot of my issues surrounding the service was the fact that things like the scrapbox I felt should have been in the main game, and that for the rest of the items, there should be varying subscription tiers so that the people wanting the private server but not wanting anything else should be able to purchase that without having to spend the entire $13/month. My other issue with the service was more-or-less because I knew myself and the person I was with at the time could not both afford the service even though we both avidly played the game…so it was just a bummer all around.
But, I was subscribed to Fallout 1st from the moment it dropped until right before September of 2020. So, did my opinion change? Well, no. I agree that for all the things you get with Fallout 1st, the price is not really as bas as people made it out to be. The cost of the atoms it gave you (the currency used for microtransactions) was already worth $15, and add that in with the travel tent which gave you a free fast travel point, and the scrapbox which made collecting materials less of a hassle…not even to mention the free cosmetics and emotes you got- I mean, add all of that in with access to private servers and it was one hell of a deal. Even now, when I pick up Fallout 76, I can’t stand to play if I do not have Fallout 1st. So, even though I do agree that the scrapbox should be in the main game and even though I still think there should have been more subscription options for those that wanted private servers but not much else, it was still a service I made full use of. And now, with the ability to make multiple CAMPs in the game and there being “Fallout Worlds” added into the game, I feel like Fallout 1st as a service is needed more than ever. So, was it worth the monthly payments? Absolutely.
- Merge Dragon’s monthly allowance –
Merge Dragons is that “guilty pleasure” app that I delve into from time-to-time…and when I do start to play it, I wont stop for weeks. It is basically just as the name says, you merge dragons together to make better dragons…in fact, you merge basically everything in the game to create more rare and useful versions as you tackle levels/challenges to restore the Dragon’s island. And like most apps, this one has its own special currency which you can get in-game by rare chance, but the easiest way to obtain this currency (gems) is by paying for them with real money. The app has different bundles you can choose from when buying gems, or, there is an option for a “monthly allowance” sort of deal. Basically you get x-amount of gems for 25 days. The only catch is that you have to log in each day to claim the gems, and if you dont, you lose those gems for the day.
I feel like people are more inclined to choose this option because it seems cheaper than most of the other bundles, and it also offers a good amount of gems. The only problem is that for those that are forgetful (like me), money ends up wasted because I would forget to log in a day or two. These gems can be spent to quicken timers in the game or open special chests which hold useful items. You can also use them to buy special Dragon eggs that you can only get through events otherwise, and you can even buy special items for your island as well. But, is the money spent really worth it? I suppose that depends on who you’re asking. My sister who is a diehard when it comes to the app might say yes, but for me? I say no. I dont play the app enough to justify buying gems, and even then, the 25-day allowance might not even be worth it compared to just buying a regular bundle. I don’t normally justify spending in apps anyways, so I guess it really just boils down to opinion. At least with other apps they try and offer the gems/pass/etc and then offer some special item on top to really draw you in, but, Merge Dragon doesn’t do this. So, I don’t really feel as though you really get enough for what you are paying out just for some lousy gems.
- Amazon Prime/Twitch Prime Loot –
So, what does Amazon have to do with gaming? Well, a lot actually. Not only is amazon developing their own games, but, they partnered with Twitch to offer special services and “loot” for those with an Amazon Prime subscription. I will just say now that I already love Amazon Prime. I love being able to get my items faster when they are already in the warehouse. So, this added bonus of free items in games just adds on for why I actually love it. Through Twitch Loot, I have gotten various cosmetics for Sea of Thieves, I was able to use my free sub to then gift some subs to get a chocobo mount in FFXIV that you can not get any other way. I have gotten new armor sets in Warframe, and they even offer free games through Amazon’s own gaming service!
I can’t say that I redeem anything from Twitch Loot too often. The games they advertise and offer items through aren’t always something I play, but, when they do offer something I can use, the items themselves are usually pretty cool. So, on top of what Amazon Prime already offers, like I said, as a gamer, this just makes the deal all the sweeter.
- Sea of Thieves Plunder Pass –
Anyone that has followed me throughout the years knows how dedicated I was (for well over a year) to Sea of Thieves. I played this game religiously, but then, due to life issues, I sorta fell out of the loop with the game. I missed a few updates and events, and when I came back, that was when they had started up what was called “The Plunder Pass”. Season Passes aren’t anything new. Games like Call of Duty and Fortnight do these sorts of things all the time. Basically, for every achievement you unlock in a “season” (or task you complete whether it’s a specific action or just something as simple as leveling up)- you gain an item or some form of reward. While each season has a “free” version of the pass with much more limited rewards, there is a paid-version which offers you more rewards, and usually, cooler rewards. So naturally, I let a friend of mine talk me into paying for the Plunder Pass…and was it really worth it? Not really.
For the amount of money that you pay, it is true that, if you gain all the achievements in the pass, you basically make all your money back (in Ancient Coins) and hen some. But it seems a bit silly to pay money, only to earn that money back in the in-game currency which is used to buy optional items for the microtransaction store. Also, while you can earn more cosmetics and titles with the paid pass, I didn’t really see the appeal. I like the way my pirate looks, it’s not like the costumes and outfits change anything in the game as far as stats, and even the tattoos are so-so. Again, same with weapon cosmetics, I already have a look that I like, and I have bought every ship cosmetic I have ever wanted minus a few items that they wouldn’t put on a season pass anyways. So, it didn’t really add anything to my experience, it just made me feel obligated to play the game more only because I didn’t want to waste my money (spoiler alert: I wasted it anyways because I got bored). So, while some season pass models are actually really neat and can be fun and challenging, I just don’t see myself ever paying for the Plunder Pass ever again.
In conclusion, there has been a lot that I have paid for over the years, and my opinion still stands. I don’t like having to pay for monthly online services, but I can’t deny that what they offer is genuinely needed for my personal gaming experience. Also, while I do believe that things like MMOs do burn a hole in your wallet over time, I do see where some games have thrived because they are on a subscription model. I can’t knock good business practice, especially when they know the consumers will open their wallets. But at the same time, I do hate how expensive gaming has become as a hobby especially due to microtransactions.
I will always prefer the model of microtransaction where anything you buy, does not make you “better” at a game than someone else. I do not like games that are pay-to-win, and therefore I generally stay away from apps that do this, from free MMOs where the community is pay-to-win, and also I tend to stay away from games that focus heavily on a season pass, where again, the better weapons, the better equipment, etc is all locked behind some sort of paywall. I prefer instead things like Fallout 1st where yes, you can travel for free by using a tent, and yes, you get unlimited scrap storage…but that doesn’t affect your weapons, your actual skill when it comes to gaming, nor does it actually affect your equipment, and therefore is not pay-to-win. Same with the Plunder Pass. While I do not personally think that the Plunder Pass is worth the money, nothing that you get from the pass actually affects anything in-game, it’s all cosmetic based and therefore is okay (in my opinion). Obviously, there are a few things I have tried that I will never open my wallet for ever again…and there are still some things I have yet to try (like ESO’s monthly subscription). There are even items out there that I wish had a monthly pass option (like Nier Reincarnation), but alas, they do not. And I suppose, we can easily see who still seems to have the consumers at heart. I feel like, even though Nintendo’s Online gaming is rocky (their servers are not the best), they do offer a lot more perks for paying out for a ‘yearly’ service. It’s much friendlier on the wallet and you get a lot more in return for subscribing, and I feel like other gaming companies could learn from this sort of model…but again, that’s just my opinion.
But what do YOU think?
How many things have you subscribed to over the years? what is your most expensive monthly subscription when it comes to gaming? What do you think of microtransactions? Have you ever spent a good amount of money on one app in particular? What is your guilty pleasure when it comes to spending money in games?
As always, let me know your thoughts and opinions in the comment-section below. Thank you so much for your continued support of this blog. More reviews and discussions are on the way, as well as some theory posts. So, I will see you all in the next one!
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