EverQuest 2 almost fell victim to the pay-to-win system. Player backlash shut down the developers and caused significant changes to the game’s update process.
Loot boxes that can be purchased in online games for real money are no surprise these days, but those that offer in-game perks are still met with legitimate resistance among players. In the case of EverQuest II, fan appeals prevented the game from switching to a pay-to-win model.
Controversial privileges for spenders
The second part of the popular MMO EverQuest was created almost 20 years ago, but it still has a dedicated community. When the developers introduced a new type of loot box in late March, players were quick to object.
The boxes, called “Libant’s Eternal Night Heritage Boxes”, were to be allow the purchase of additional items for raids, which would remain locked for those who do not intend to pay.
This is a clear example of a mechanism introducing an unfair advantage to those who choose to spend real money in the game. Frustrated by this fact, players decided to share their opinions on the game’s official forum.
Their unanimous call gained enough publicity to reach the developers, who showed great understanding.
promise of improvement
Following massive fan requests for EverQuest 2, Daybreak, the studio responsible for the title has decided to immediately remove new loot boxes from the game.
“After listening to your feedback and having many discussions, we have decided to remove the Libant Evernight Heirloom Crate from the in-game Marketplace store. The box and most of its current contents will no longer be for sale.
We listened to them and understand that there were particular elements of the Libant Heritage Crate that go against our common values. We will no longer carry any of these types of items.”
Along with admitting blame, the MMO’s developers made changes to the game’s existing leveling system. After disappointing fans, they acknowledged that to avoid this kind of situation in the future, they should work more closely with their own community.
To implement this, a separate section will be created where players can share their thoughts on the upcoming changes, even before they hit the game.
I would also like to announce that in the spirit of community feedback, we will be opening new class balancing forums for Everquest 2, hopefully they will arrive in the very near future.
We want you, the community, the people who play these classes, to help us decide which balance changes and bug fixes to prioritize with major updates. These forums will improve our communication with you and allow you to help us assess any changes that are occurring.
These forums will have a section for each class, and you can suggest changes, communicate with us, and vote on fixes and balance changes that you feel are necessary for your class. The goal here is to communicate to you the time and effort that these proposed changes will require and to openly discuss the feasibility.
We will make changes open for discussion as long as they are within reason.”
The creators’ plan is a noble one, and if it comes to fruition, it will certainly restore fans’ confidence after the box misstep. It also shows that the gaming community isn’t as demanding as it seems, they just need to feel respected and heard.
Do you think working together on updates will have a good effect on the game, or will the differing opinions of the community prevent proper development? Would you like to see such development paths in other games?