COD Mobile Players Livid About Gambling-Style Microtransactions
Call of Duty Mobile has implemented a range of gambling-styled microtransactions that rely on luck to earn the best rewards, and players are livid.
The luck-based system means that players have to purchase "COD points" to open crates that don't guarantee rewards that justify the price. Although you can win rewards that would mean you can save money, the system has been branded to be like a casino game. COD Mobile fans have also compared this to the current instalment on console, Modern Warfare, which has a retail-like item guarantee, making this system increasingly unfair.
Call of Duty games, such as Advanced Warfare, has featured luck-based loot crates in the past, however, Activision made the switch to a more consumer-friendly model for Modern Warfare, and seemingly Black Ops Cold War.
Reddit user "u/resperas" broke down the disparity between COD Mobile and Modern Warfare's bundles too, showing that mobile users are definitely receiving short straw. By purchasing a bundle in Modern Warfare that costs $20, you will be rewarded with three "Legendary-tier" items and seven "Epic-tier" items. In COD Mobile, a bundle costing $10-15 grants you just two Epic-tier items and a "Battlepass tier". This means that you will have to buy four bundles on mobile to have just as many Epic items as console players, whilst still being three Legendary items down.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is like a retail store, items are sold at a set price. Call of Duty: Mobile is like a casino, you GAMBLE for said items. #bundlesonly from r/CallOfDutyMobile
The loot crate system also goes against a proposed law by US Senator Josh Hawley, who brands these as gambling. The law could affect games such as FIFA, where players gamble on "FIFA packs" to earn better players. A similar law has already been passed in Belgium, which made loot boxes on games illegal, violation gambling legislation.
EA's Apex Legends also has a similar system, with Apex packs containing three items which work on a probability meter, determining which rewards you're gifted.
Players have now called for loot boxes to be removed from COD Mobile, to replicate the system used in Modern Warfare, although Activision has yet to comment.
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