Deus Ex: MD - Microtransactions Blindsided

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PCInvasion airs its issues with the Microtransactions in Deus Ex: Mankind Divided.

Yes, this is another videogame article complaining about microtransactions shoving their unwelcome little currency signs where they don't belong. It's pretty much the equivalent of screaming into the void at this point, I know. The fact that this keeps happening means microtransaction bullshit sells well enough for publishers to happily tolerate any backlash. The same is likely to occur with Deus Ex: Mankind Divided.

But I feel compelled to write something. Microtransactions (or macrotransactions, since one goes as high as $10) for the main Deus Ex: Mankind Divided story irritate me in so many ways.

I'm pretty pissed off that Square Enix hid their existence in pre-release builds, meaning my review (and all others) had no chance to mention them before launch. It was obvious that Breach mode was getting them (yes, this full priced game has two microtransaction greed-chutes) because it had a suspicious-looking second currency value and in-mode 'shopping cart' link. But the extra crap in the actual game came as a nasty surprise.

"[Breach is] full of slot machine 'card pack' rubbish and primed for microtransactions. Still, if that's the way the Eidos Montreal team are able to keep that sort of nonsense out of the main game, then Breach is performing a noble service" I wrote at the time. So much for that.

I'm unlikely to have docked major points for their inclusion, but it's the sort of information readers are owed in a review. By keeping hush-hush about their little sideline, Square Enix prevented me from doing my job properly and helped perpetuate the annoying stereotype of games writers being complicit with publishers. Thanks a bunch Squeenix. As if it isn't already hard enough to dispel that little conspiracy.

But enough about my very important and precious hurt feelings.​