Twitch Streamer Spends $5K On Free-To-Play Game Genshin Impact

While most of us can be accused of breaking the bank when it comes to spending money on video games, one Twitch streamer has taken it to the next level by spending a whopping $5k on a free-to-play game.

Despite masquerading as free, games like Fortnite, Candy Crush, and Clash of Kings have made billions in revenue through in-game purchases. It's a lucrative business model as players part with their hard-earned cash to get perks or cosmetics. It's led to accusations of pay-to-win in some games, but like them or loathe them, microtransactions are here to stay.

When it comes to Genshin Impact, the adorable anime-style of miHoYo's game has seen it become a worldwide craze that shows no sign of slowing down. Here, you can use a "gacha" mechanic to earn rare characters.

For those who are unfamiliar, gacha is a virtual capsule-toy vending machine mechanic that is basically a fancy version of loot boxes. With Genshin Impact offering different characters, you can spend actual money to get an extra spin of the wheel with the gacha.

• Read More: Fallout 76 Is Free-To-Play This Week

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Now, Twitch streamer Lacari has admitted he "regrest" spending such an inordinate amount of money on the chance of getting a rare character. The problem is, the chances of getting the actual character you want - in this case, an ultra-rare one - are incredibly slim. Loot boxes are a serious point of contention, and you only have to look at the ongoing cases with EA Games to see the controversy shows no sign of slowing down. Lacari spent over $1.5k trying to get the five-star Keqing and was openly mocked by others on his stream.

Although Lacari eventually got his hands on Kequing, it brings his total spend in Genshin Impact to a jaw-dropping $5k. Discussing his empty-looking bank balance in a NSFW Twitch stream, Lacari admitted he'd probably made a mistake: "The game, it’s a learning experience. I learned. If I charge back that’s not gonna teach me anything. When you commit to something you commit, you know what I mean?". 

So, was it worth it? Lacari added, "The money I spent is my mistake. And it is gonna be with me for the rest of my life. It is gonna be with me for the rest of my life that I spent $5000 on this f*****g game. Regardless of if people quit it next week, or tomorrow". 

What is Genshin Impact?

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Genshin Impact is set in the open-world realm of Teyvat, which is split into several different nations. Each of the lands worships a different god that is associated with a different element. The story focuses on one half of a pair of twins, who journies across Teyvat to look for their sibling. Along with a companion called Paimon, the Traveller takes part in challenges and faces-off against enemies while playing as one of four interchangeable characters.

It's pretty standard RPG fodder, with a resource called resin regenerating over time and allowing you to compete in battles and tasks. The title was released on September 28 and is supported on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Android, and iOS with full cross-play. If you haven't already downloaded Genshin Impact, now might be a good time to try it out for yourselves.

 Genshin Impact is a clever repackaging of the classic free-to-play formula, but also cashes in on a wider market with its Studio Ghibli-inspired graphics. What's the moral of the story here and has Lacari learned his lesson? The popular streamer concluded, "This is my mark of f*****g shame dude, and I will bear that sh*t, and I will not spend another f*****g dollar on games like this. We’re done. We’re free-to-play forever from now on".

With the likes of Lacari shelling out the big bucks, is it any real surprise that Genshin Impact made $100 million in just 12 days and recouped its entire budget in such a short space of time. Thankfully, this seems like a case of once bitten, twice shy. Still, let Lacari's legacy be a lesson to you all.

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Images via miHoYo