Chocobo GP Accused of "Predatory" Microtransactions in Viral Post
A popular Reddit post has emerged that accuses Square Enix game Chocobo GP of featuring aggressive microtransactions and attempts to persuade consumers against purchasing it. The Final Fantasy-themed kart racer is a follow-up to Chocobo Racing on the PlayStation 1 and has inspired lots of hype from Final Fantasy fans and fans of the original. Critical reception of the game has been lackluster thus far, however, with Screen Rant giving Chocobo GP just one-and-a-half stars, citing problematic gameplay and design flaws.
The concept of microtransactions is one of gaming's most controversial staples. Meaty DLC packs were a normal inclusion in most AAA releases ten to fifteen years ago, typically offering a great deal of new story and gameplay content for an additional price. However, the industry slowly began shifting away from these comprehensive releases and towards cheaper, bite-sized add-ons, with many popular games featuring in-game currency that can be bought with real-world money. One of the most common criticisms of microtransactions is that, by building the game around these in-game purchases, developers can often wind up making the end product less enjoyable and even frustrating in attempts to steer players towards purchasing extra "shortcut" content. These inclusions are often joined by live-service elements and season passes (something that Chocobo GP has).
Related: Chocobo GP: All Magicite & What They Do
Reddit user Chocobokemon seems to have recognized some of these familiar qualities in Chocobo GP and has made a post discouraging players from purchasing the game, especially for their children. In the post, Chocobokemon explains that the game has "highly predatory" monetization, comparing it to other Square Enix
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