‘We’re still learning’
In an interview with Kotaku about about the 2014 software lineup for Xbox One, Microsoft Studios head Phil Spencer commented about the state of microtransactions on the console. Games like Ryse and Forza 5, which cost full price, have pesky elements of free-to-play gaming.
According to Spencer, Microsoft has systems in place to track consumer behavior. “I want to be able to learn from what we put in,” he told the outlet. “So let’s make sure we are crafting the game and the analytics so we can see what the consumers — the gamers — like and don’t — if you assume buying habits are a reflection of what people like. So that we can craft the experience better for the gamer.” Of course, it’s often the minority of players that end up making these purchases. Something tells me microtransactions aren’t going away.
Asked about where to draw the line, he said “It’s easy to say something like, ‘I’ll never allow somebody to buy the win of the game, I won’t let them buy victory,’ but that’s kind of a trite answer. I’d say, ‘Yeah, I guess I have that line, that [we wouldn’t have] “Pay five bucks and get 1000 achievements” or something stupid like that.’ I’m always pushing against that. But, in reality, that’s not what the gamers are looking for. They’re usually looking for customization and their gameplay style opening up.”
What’s Next For the Xbox One [Kotaku]
