Is AC Shadows pay to win? All about microtransactions
Will microtransactions and the battle pass make Assasin's Creed Shadows a pay to win game? That's what you'll find out in our article.
Battle Passes and microtransactions are a way for developers to make money, and they are eagerly used in games with a free-to-play model. While they are not mostly controversial there (unless something is P2W); implementing them to make extra money in single-player productions, for which you already very often have to pay a lot, is not a warmly welcomed addition. In the case of Assasin's Creed Shadows, unfortunately, it takes place. But can it be said that the game is pay to win? Let’s talk about this and monetization in general.
All about monetization in Assasin’s Creed Shadows
Nowadays more and more single-player games add microtransactions and Battle Passes, Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a good example of that. It seems that we (as players) are slowly getting used to it. In Assasin's Creed Shadows something like this also occurs.
Shops in AC Shadows
As you explore the game world, you will sometimes come across so-called keys (which can be also acquired from the Battle Pass). They are a special currency with which you can unlock new things from a shop called Shadows Exchange. These include skins and unique weapons or armor.
Moreover, there is also Store, where you can spend Helix Credits (acquired with real money) to purchase map markers to see hidden chests but also Yasuke, Naoe and world activities on the map (but you can simply use our interactive map for free). There are also more skins for protagonists and hideouts.
Battle Pass in AC Shadows
Battle Pass in AC ShadowsAssassin's Creed: Shadows, developer: Ubisoft Quebec
Of course, we can’t forget about Battle Pass itself. Thanks to it, you can get gold, which automatically upgrades any equipment to the current level you have. What's more, it offers also legendary weapons or armor for both, Naoe and Yasuke, and (no surprise here) more keys. Fortunately, access to it is free. To progress it and get more levels, you have to do special activities called Anomalies from Animus hub.
Summary
So, can Assasin's Creed Shadows be considered a P2W game? Aboslutely not. First of all, the game is single-player. We don't have anyone to play against except the AI. All that is available for free is enough to complete this production. Second, the items included in the Battle Pass (once again, it does not utilize real money) are purely cosmetic, so you don't even have to do that. Of course, they have powerful perks, however, you can still get weapons with the same set of bonuses by regular gameplay, they will just look “ordinary”. Keep in mind that the Battle Pass and the microtransaction store will certainly help you get the desired power faster or make the gameplay easier, although they are not absolutely necessary to deal with opponents.
More:Assassins Creed Shadows Guide
