Battlefield V won't launch with microtransactions

Now the battle royale delay makes more sense.

Published
Updated
2 minutes & 43 seconds read time

Battlefield V's cosmetic microtransactions won't be available at launch and will instead roll out post-release.

As is the case with most big EA games, Battlefield V was built from the ground up with an online monetization system in mind. EA makes billions from monetizing its strong the engagement strategy across its games, which typically sees optional microtransactions that pay for free content updates. While EA has changed tact with Battlefield V by offering cosmetic-only microtransactions instead of randomized lootboxes or pay-to-win schemes, the game's Company system offers lots of opportunities for customization and should ensure a long tail for engagement.

Battlefield V will eventually have two kinds of currency: one you pay for and one you earn by playing. Sweat currency, aka Company Coin, is earned by completing objectives, daily missions, challenges, etc. Battlefield Currency will be sold for real money and represents the premium option that allows gamers to outright buy customizations and cosmetic gear. Players won't actually be able to spend cash on microtransactions at launch, DICE confirms, which is surprising given EA typically likes to monetize right out of the gate.

"Battlefield Currency will not be available at launch. We want players to get hands-on experience with their Company, the progression system, and earning Company Coin before introducing premium currency," DICE's engagement and core gameplay producer Ryan McArthur said in a recent update.

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DICE has also revealed the exact post-release timeline for Battlefield V, showing just how long the game will continue evolving. The Company system's cosmetics will also evolve alongside the content updates--EA wants to offer more spending opportunities to off-set the huge content drops--and things could get particularly interesting in this front.

Also remember that Battlefield V's 64-player Firestorm battle royale mode has been delayed to March 2019, which incidentally coincides with the tail-end of EA's Fiscal Year 2019 timeline (which ends on Mar. 31, 2019). Both of these things add up. It's good to have engagement and microtransactions available before the battle royale mode launches, and these earnings will buffer EA's current fiscal earnings while carrying them into the next FY2020 timeline.

It'll be interesting to see if this engagement system works or not especially with Black Ops 4 being the big online seller for the holiday season.

Battlefield V launches November 20, 2018 on PS4, Xbox One and PC.

Here's the full quote from DICE on Battlefield V's currency system:

How Currency Works

As you play and progress through Battlefield V, you will earn Company Coin. Company Coin gives you the ability to choose items outside the base progression paths to further expand and customize your Company.

You can use Company Coin to unlock choices within weapon and vehicle Specializations. You can also use Company Coin to get cosmetic items, such as jackets, face paint, and weapon skins. At launch, cosmetic items will be available for soldiers and weapons. Vehicle cosmetics will be available in the first chapter of Tides of War.

You earn Company Coin from Career progression, Daily Missions, and some Special Assignments.

Battlefield V will also have an optional currency known as Battlefield Currency, which is purchased with real-world money. Battlefield Currency can be used to acquire specific cosmetic items for your Company.

Battlefield Currency will not be available at launch. We want players to get hands-on experience with their Company, the progression system, and earning Company Coin before introducing premium currency.

Balanced rock-paper-scissors gameplay has always been the foundation of the Battlefield series, and our belief is that real-world money should not enable pay-to-win or pay-for-power.

NEWS SOURCE:ea.com

Derek joined the TweakTown team in 2015 and has since reviewed and played 1000s of hours of new games. Derek is absorbed with the intersection of technology and gaming, and is always looking forward to new advancements. With over six years in games journalism under his belt, Derek aims to further engage the gaming sector while taking a peek under the tech that powers it. He hopes to one day explore the stars in No Man's Sky with the magic of VR.

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