Bungie has reversed two major changes in Destiny 2's upcoming expansion Renegades, including removing the Power level reset and allowing Unstable Cores to carry over, in response to player feedback, along with introducing a Power catch-up mechanic.
Destiny 2's Ash & Iron update has introduced over $250 worth of new paid armor sets through the Eververse store, while the Iron Banner features a 7-year-old reskin, sparking widespread player criticism over perceived greed and lack of new earnable content.
Activision has introduced in-game advertisements for weapon bundles and Battle Passes in Call of Duty Black Ops 6 and Warzone, sparking significant player backlash due to the intrusive nature of the ads in a premium-priced game, raising concerns over aggressive monetization strategies following Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
Path of Exile 2 players are upset after a recent patch by Grinding Gear Games severely nerfed 'Cast on X' skills, particularly affecting the 'Cast on Freeze' build, rendering many characters unplayable. The changes have left players with costly skill tree adjustments, prompting calls for a free respec option. While the game is in early access, players argue that it should still respect their time and investment, highlighting the need for systems to mitigate such drastic changes.
Pokémon GO's latest update introduces a new avatar creator, but the changes have sparked widespread criticism from players. The update includes a removal of gender options, limited body-type choices, and poorly designed hair options, leading to dissatisfaction among the community. Many players are expressing disappointment with the new character designs, with complaints about the lack of variety and realism. The backlash highlights the negative reception to Niantic's frequent game updates, with players expressing frustration and dissatisfaction with the changes.
Disney Speedstorm players are upset as developer Gameloft announces that the premium track of its battle pass can only be purchased with real money, breaking a previous promise that tokens earned through gameplay could be used. This change has sparked frustration among long-time players, some of whom had purchased Founder's Packs with the expectation of being able to buy season passes with tokens. The move has led to widespread backlash, negative reviews, and accusations of greed and disrespect towards players, further exacerbating existing concerns about the game's monetization.
The first post-launch DLC for Cities: Skylines 2, Beach Properties, has sparked backlash from players for its lack of substantial content and high price tag. Despite the anticipation for modding tools, their arrival comes with limitations, leaving players feeling disappointed. The game, which initially faced criticism for performance issues, still has the feel of an early access title nearly half a year after launch.
Dragon's Dogma 2 has received negative reviews due to the revelation of its microtransactions, causing a split in the playerbase. Players are critical of the game's use of microtransactions for items like fast travel points and character redesigns, especially considering the game's full price. The director's previous emphasis on exploration and discouragement of fast travel contrasts with the inclusion of paid fast travel in the game. Despite the backlash, the game has seen strong player numbers on Steam, leaving the impact of the controversy uncertain.
The introduction of Plunderstorm, a new pirate-themed battle royale mode in World of Warcraft, has sparked intense backlash from some players, despite being an optional addition. The negativity surrounding this new mode has raised concerns about the game's ability to innovate and compete with other MMORPGs. The author argues that the community's reaction may discourage Blizzard from trying new things in the future, potentially leading to the stagnation and decline of World of Warcraft. However, the author believes that Plunderstorm could inject much-needed excitement into the game and attract new players, emphasizing the importance of embracing change for the future of Azeroth.
Diablo 4 players are expressing frustration over the game's in-game store, particularly the $30 price tag for Portal recolors, with some calling it "insulting." The skins are also locked to specific classes, further adding to player dissatisfaction, and the overall microtransaction system has been a contentious issue since the game's launch.
Battlestate Games' release of Escape From Tarkov patch 14.1 has sparked outrage among players due to significant recoil changes for shotguns, pistols, and the SKS, rendering these weapons nearly unusable. Fans have taken to social media to express their frustration, with many calling for the changes to be reverted. The impact of these adjustments could potentially shift the game's meta back to favoring ARs and snipers, diminishing the viability of lower-tier weapons and reducing the gameplay possibilities for less experienced players. The hope is that these extreme recoil changes are unintentional and will be promptly addressed by the development team.
Overwatch 2 players are criticizing the upcoming changes to the Competitive Points system as it makes obtaining Golden weapons more difficult. The overhaul will convert existing Competitive points to Legacy points, requiring players to wait until the end of the year to redeem them for Golden weapons, leading to frustration and confusion among the community. Despite the backlash, the developers have not indicated any plans to simplify the process.
Diablo 4's Lunar Awakening event has sparked player outrage due to confusion over cosmetic rewards, with some items being advertised as free but turning out to be paid-for. This comes after the game's Season 3 received poor reviews, and the event's short duration and lackluster rewards have further disappointed players.
World of Warcraft players are criticizing the new 'Support Your Local Artisans' Achievement, which requires spending 70,000 gold in-game for just 10 Achievement points. Some players argue that this essentially amounts to buying an achievement rather than earning it through regular play, while others speculate that the high cost may be a measure to manage inflation. The Love is in the Air event, which introduced this Achievement, runs until February 19.
Destiny 2 has reached a milestone where the content in the "content vault" has been out of the game longer than it was in the game initially, leading to player backlash. Bungie removed a significant amount of paid content, including campaigns, raids, maps, and exotic missions, citing technical reasons and the need to manage the game's updates. However, players are critical of the decision and feel that the focus should have been on bringing back the removed content over time, viewing it as a loyalty-building exercise.