Activision recently addressed the potentially sore subject of microtransactions in Destiny, claiming there's no reason they can't co-exist alongside regularly scheduled expansions.
"We had a full year of expansions to the game that have been very well received and sold quite well. And more recently, you've seen us introduce smaller in-game purchases that allow people to customize their experience and express themselves," said Activision President and CEO Bobby Kotick.
"And those have been very well received and have sold well also. So I think we've already shown in those things that microtransactions can exist and that our community is hungry for more great content."
Destiny has been quite the investment for gamers since it first released in September 2014. In the first year, the game saw the release of three expansions, the most recent being The Taken King. Only last month did Activision add microtransactions in the form of "Silver," which can be used to purchase cosmetics and other items that enhance the player experience without impacting gameplay. So far, players have been able to purchase more emotes, and only recently did Activision add the option to buy special Halloween-themed cosmetic masks.
Microtransactions are often a sensitive subject among the gaming community. Whether it's fear of being nickel-and-dimed or having your favorite game become pay-to-win, there's typically an unfavorable stigma with the practice. Although nothing added through microtransactions have been game-altering, players have discovered files that suggest the addition of new consumables and buffs that increase the drop rate during the King's Fall raid — something Destiny creative director Luke Smith was quick to dismiss.
As we previously wrote, Destiny can have microtransactions without the world ending, but it's a very tight rope Activision and developer Bungie have to walk.
How do you feel about the recent implementation of microtransactions in Destiny?
