Are Battle Passes Good for Multiplayer Gaming?
Battle Passes are a staple in multiplayer gaming. It’s not hard to see why. Launching a multiplayer title in this age and age without a Battle Pass or content plan can lead to an endless stream of bots declaring the game “dead.” But just because Battle Passes exist does not mean they are inherently good.
We’ve decided to examine whether Battle Passes have contributed to multiplayer gaming. Battle Passes may not be for everyone, but this approach has many general benefits and drawbacks that make it easier for you to decide.
Online multiplayer gaming has seen a lot of development over the years. This includes prolonging a game’s life span after its initial release. DLC packs were a way for developers to achieve this. These DLC packs added new maps, weapons, and characters to the game. This ensured that there was more to play in the years and months.
This approach led to a segmented playerbase of “the haves and the have-nots”, as certain players couldn’t join certain lobbies and matchmaking playlists if their prerequisite map packs weren’t available. Some games even used the matchmaking lobby to name and shame players, displaying a glowing warning saying that “X” doesn’t have the necessary DLC. There were shrieks of “Oh, look at them letting their team down” and other responses.
Multiplayer games require content to be viable long-term. Battle Passes are a great way to give the developers cash to create this content and to give players new cosmetics and reasons for playing. DLC map packs can be a dismembering tool for the community. Instead, everyone can have the same essential content and decide how much to use the game’s cosmetics system.
The fear of missing out is a common and unfortunate aspect of today’s multiplayer gaming. The rise of Battle Passes, limited-time events, and Battle Passes can be attributed to this. You have a limited time to redeem your Battle Pass before it expires forever. This can cause guilt and lead to other gameplay.
Fortnite may be the most extreme example of Battle Pass FOMO in action. The game keeps its collaboration skins only for Battle Pass members. You could argue that the game promotes an elitist sense because some players have the money and time to purchase the Battle Pass and the various tiers.
By their very nature, Battle Passes are a hook you use to get content. You’re buying the right to unlock certain content within a time limit. The content you paid for will be lost if you don’t get it in time. This is a ridiculous thought.
