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High-profile Twitch streamer Asmongold has criticized Destiny 2’s battle pass monetization system, characterizing it as a “pay to win” model.
This follows the widespread dissemination of fellow streamer Aztecross’ video, which painted Destiny 2 as a “microtransaction hell.”
The video’s message resonated with Asmongold, despite the fact that he doesn’t personally play Destiny 2.
Asmongold Accuses Bungie of Crossing the Line
During a live-streaming session where he reviewed Aztecross’ video, Asmongold expressed shock at Destiny 2’s monetization practices.
He was particularly dismayed that players could purchase access to some of the game’s best weapons, calling out Bungie for crossing a line in game monetization.
These sentiments echo the growing player discontentment regarding the new battle pass rollout.
Asmongold’s critique of Destiny 2’s monetization strategy, while coming from an outsider’s perspective, found resonance within the game’s community.
Fans praised his emphasis on the value of grinding in-game items, a process he’s familiar with from World of Warcraft.
His points about Destiny 2’s battle pass providing players with “god rolls” on crafted items, particularly items that have since been phased out of the game, struck a chord with many players.
Drawing Parallels and Acknowledging the Root of the Issue
While offering his critique, Asmongold also compared Destiny 2’s monetization practices to those of Diablo Immortal, another game that has received backlash for its monetization system.
In a somewhat resigned tone, Asmongold pointed out the pattern: game developers continue to implement these strategies because players continue to spend money on them.
Despite his criticisms, Asmongold showed some enthusiasm for Bungie’s future endeavors. He expressed excitement for the developer’s upcoming game,
Marathon, but under one crucial condition: it shouldn’t replicate Destiny 2’s monetization practices.
He sarcastically remarked that he hopes Bungie “milks these Destiny players for all they’re worth,” so that Marathon turns out to be an exceptional game.
Impact of the ‘Pay to Win’ Criticism
Asmongold’s critique adds to the growing pressure on game developers like Bungie to revisit their monetization strategies.
While microtransactions have become commonplace in the gaming industry, the ‘pay to win’ model is often seen as undermining the spirit of gaming.
As the debate continues, gamers and industry observers will be watching closely to see how Bungie responds to these concerns, and whether they’ll influence the design of future titles like Marathon.
