Psyonix have given loot boxes the boot in the latest update to Rocket League, with a new Blueprint and Item Shop system. There's a whole lot more to it too.
Instead of loot boxes, they now have a Blueprint system where you know what the item is and so there's no gambling involved. These Blueprints can drop after an online match. Here's an example of a revealed blueprint:
As you can see, actually building the item from a Blueprint costs Credits, the new premium currency which has replaced the key system they had before. Credits aren't exactly cheap either:
- 500 Credits - £3.84
- 1100 Credits - £7.69
- 3,000 Credits - £19.23
- 6,500 Credits - £38.48
So to build the car body shown above, I would have to spend nearly £8 for that one single thing. The Rocket Pass will also include Credits at certain levels too, replacing Keys. So if you're someone who does buy the Rocket Pass each time, you can build up Credits that way. Rocket Pass 5 is due to start today too, as is Competitive Season 13.
There's also now an Item Shop:
Everyone now also has the content that was previously locked in the Supersonic Fury, Revenge of the Battle-Cars, and Chaos Run DLC, for free. Always nice to get a few bonus items.
I have mixed feelings about what Psyonix are doing, which I've noted before in other articles. Blueprints are a much nicer system than loot boxes since you can choose to unlock the exact item any time, plus you don't have to gamble away. The pricing feels a little too high though. The Item Shop, however, is another matter. This is a fully paid game still, and the timers will end up causing a little FOMO (fear of missing out). If Rocket League goes free to play next year, which I expect it to, then all this would make more sense.
On top of that, the Spike Rush limited time mode is now activated until December 9 at 6PM UTC. It's an absolutely mad mode, where every single player has spikes on their car to grab the ball. If you have the ball, you cannot boost and so it becomes pretty crazy. You can see a video of the Spike Rush mode I took previously when it was up before:
Direct Link
For regular players, any Keys and Decryptors you had left get converted over to Credits and Bonus Gifts (free to open stuff). Any loot boxes you had left, will be turned into unrevealed Blueprints.
You can also now Archive items from your inventory, a nice touch considering how easily you can amass a ton of random items.
Rocket League is available from the Humble Store and Steam.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Kimyrielle Dec 4, 2019
I still have a very low opinion about developers trying to milk their customers in that way.
Expalphalog Dec 4, 2019
I'm pretty sick of having hundreds of items in my inventory and nearly all of them not allowed to be traded in. Not to mention the odd decal or two that are listed as "very rare" but for some reason can't be combined with any of the other "very rare" things to be traded in.
Wait, you can trade-in unused items? For credits, or...? How does that work?
Expalphalog Dec 5, 2019
5 Uncommon = 1 Rare, etc. But most items are marked "cannot trade in" for some annoying reason. It's frustrating to have to look at 300+ items I don't want and can't get rid of every time I open my inventory.
I guess it's as always - a price isn't too high if people still buy the stuff. If people are willing to spend more money on visual gimmicks than on the actual game, be my guest. Unlike loot-boxes, at least it's transparent and you know what you're getting for your money.
It can be if you can't justify it. It diminishes the game if you have to buy your way to success. (It can be an OPTION to do so without negative impacts...and probably should be if you're offering it...but to make it more the requirement?)
I still have a very low opinion about developers trying to milk their customers in that way.
Indeed. The title I'm now starting a bit of the preproduction work on will a purchase only thing. It's easier to come up with a sequel or DLC-like stuff for money. More game for more money...not unlocking pieces of the game so you can play. I will give them this much, though- I've a lower opinion of the ones that make it gambling-like.
I still have a very low opinion about developers trying to milk their customers in that way.
Come, come now. It's not like they're connected to the people who made Fortnite...OH WAIT!
I almost fell off my chair laughing when I checked the update and saw the pricing last night. Sad thing is, people will definitely waste their money on these overpriced cosmetics. Although I'm sure they'd spend even more if the credits weren't so ridiculously overpriced. Personally I don't really care. I've never spent a penny on the game since I bought it, and I've had more than 500 hours of fun playing it (badly) anyway.
I almost fell off my chair laughing when I checked the update and saw the pricing last night. Sad thing is, people will definitely waste their money on these overpriced cosmetics. Although I'm sure they'd spend even more if the credits weren't so ridiculously overpriced. Personally I don't really care. I've never spent a penny on the game since I bought it, and I've had more than 500 hours of fun playing it (badly) anyway.
They also removed decriptors (aka free keys). I really don't understand why people prefer to buy a cosmetics item for the price of a full new game. It definitely doesn't work with me :/
I think they're pushing people towards paying for the rocket pass premium. It seems like the quickest and cheapest way to get some shiny new things now, other than the basic drops. Comes down to about 10 € every three or four months?I almost fell off my chair laughing when I checked the update and saw the pricing last night. Sad thing is, people will definitely waste their money on these overpriced cosmetics. Although I'm sure they'd spend even more if the credits weren't so ridiculously overpriced. Personally I don't really care. I've never spent a penny on the game since I bought it, and I've had more than 500 hours of fun playing it (badly) anyway.
They also removed decriptors (aka free keys). I really don't understand why people prefer to buy a cosmetics item for the price of a full new game. It definitely doesn't work with me :/
pushing people towards paying for the rocket pass premium. Comes down to about 10 € every three or four months?
If you play enough* it doesn't have to cost anything beyond the very first one, you get the entire cost back of the rocketpass at level 110, which you can then use to pay for the next one etc.
*Getting to that level is actually pretty easy once you have the rocket pass active as well, because you get a big xp boost just from that, extra on top of that if you play in a party. Then on top of all that there are holiday events where you can increase your levels, and also the occasional double xp weekends which really ups your levels.
Last edited by Grifter on 5 December 2019 at 4:58 pm UTC
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