Highlights
- “Game of Thrones: Kingsroad” enters Early Access on Steam with paid Founder’s Packs.
- Players express concerns over monetization strategies, including in-game purchases and pay-to-win elements.
- The game plans a free-to-play model upon full release, with expansions to mobile platforms.
Viewers at the 2024 Game Awards were delighted by the reveal of the highly anticipated “Game of Thrones: Kingsroad,” a much-awaited open-world RPG set in the vast world of Westeros.
The game offered a completely immersive experience, drawing inspiration from George R.R. Martin’s complex and elaborate world-building. The game’s transition into Steam’s Early Access phase has sparked concerns.
Game of Thrones: Kingsroad” Enters Early Access Amid Monetization Concerns
Kingsroad can be accessed now with a paid Early Access option, with prices ranging from $24.99 to $89.99, which vary based on the Founder’s Packs.
These packs can be bought, and they contain a wide range of in-game items and currencies. The game’s initial enthusiasm has been overshadowed by doubts about its revenue-generating approach.
Gamers have faced problems, including the requirement to buy character revives and the inability to transfer items obtained by one character to another.
Additional payments are necessary to avoid hindering progress, which could result in unfair advantages for those who pay.
Initial positive feedback may be influenced by the emergence of paywalls approximately ten hours into the gameplay experience.
The team behind “Kingsroad” has revealed that it will switch to a free-to-play format from the outset, with the intention of also making it available on mobile platforms.
No information has been verified about a console release. Significant changes to the game’s financial systems are unlikely to take place before the game’s official launch, considering the main priority is currently on generating income.
The visually impressive depiction of Westeros in “Game of Thrones: Kingsroad” has been overshadowed by criticism targeting its current monetization strategy within the gaming sector.
Developers expect updates that will find a balance between enhancing the user experience and increasing revenue as the game progresses through the Early Access phase.
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