New Game Plus? More like Paywall Plus! Rage ignites as Yakuza: Infinite Wealth locks a beloved feature behind expensive editions. Dive into why fans are furious and what this means for the future of New Game Plus.
New Game Plus Locked Behind Deluxe and Ultimate Editions
Hold onto your wallets, Yakuza fans, because Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth’s New Game Plus mode comes with a hefty price tag, literally. If you were hoping to experience the story again with your hard-earned gear and skills, brace yourself – this feature is exclusive to the Digital Deluxe and Ultimate editions, costing significantly more than the standard $70 price tag.
This decision has sparked outrage among fans and critics alike. New Game Plus is a staple feature in RPGs, allowing players to replay the campaign with their endgame progress for an additional challenge and extended playtime. To lock it behind premium editions feels like a blatant paywall, forcing players to either fork over extra cash or miss out on this beloved experience.
Unusual Inclusion of New Game Plus in Paid DLC
While paid DLC for cosmetics and side content is commonplace, locking a core gameplay feature like New Game Plus behind a paywall is highly unusual. Most games either include it in the base package or offer it as a free post-launch update. Look at God of War: Ragnarok and Alan Wake 2 – both added New Game Plus as free updates, respecting their players’ investment in the base game.
Infinite Wealth’s decision feels like a slap in the face to fans who were already excited for the return of the beloved Yakuza series. It leaves a bitter taste in the mouth, especially considering the generally positive early reviews praising the game itself. While the core experience may be enjoyable, Sega’s monetization strategy threatens to overshadow it with negativity and controversy.
Release Date and Initial Reviews
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth launches on January 26, 2024, across PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. While early reviews have been positive, highlighting the nostalgic charm of the series, Sega’s controversial monetization choice threatens to cast a dark cloud over the game’s release. Whether the positive aspects of the game can outweigh the sting of this paywall remains to be seen.
It’s important to note that this decision could backfire on Sega. Locking out a core feature like New Game Plus might push many fans towards waiting for a potential sale or discount, or even skipping the game altogether. With so many fantastic RPGs offering New Game Plus as a standard feature, Infinite Wealth’s stance feels outdated and greedy.
Ultimately, the success of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth will depend on whether the overall experience can outweigh the controversy surrounding its monetization strategy. Only time will tell if Sega’s gamble pays off, but one thing is certain – this decision has left a mark on the Yakuza community, and the echoes of discontent are likely to resonate long after the game’s launch.
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