Just a few days ago, Activision unveiled Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare. And the reception for Infinite Warfare, at least according to the number of upvotes compared to downvotes on YouTube, is extremely far from warm. In fact, the video was met with a good portion of unadulterated gamer rage.
Though the reasons for the reception of the video differ from today’s gripe, it’s still important to note that people aren’t happy with the unveiling for more than one reason. But one of the reasons why people dislike the overall announcement doesn’t relate to the video at all. In fact, it has to do with, what I would call, a genius yet cruel marketing ploy.
At the time of this writing, there have been almost 12 million views, 230,725 likes and a whopping 808,895 dislikes. Ouch. Really, ouch.
The first-person shooter, which will be set in space and involve space dogfighting, will be available in four editions come the November 4th release date:
Standard Edition ($59.99): Includes only the base game.
Digital Deluxe ($99.99): Includes Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered, and Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Season Pass.
Legacy Edition ($79.99): Includes Infinite Warfare and Modern Warfare Remastered.
Legacy Pro Edition ($119.99): Includes Infinite Warfare, Modern Warfare Remastered, the Season Pass, and some extra bonus content.
So my friends, what exactly is the issue here? I’ll give you a hint: there’s no standalone edition for Modern Warfare Remastered whatsoever listed on the site.
In other words, Activision’s basically telling fans that if they want Modern Warfare Remastered, they better cough up at least $80 to own both Modern Warfare Remastered and Infinite Warfare, which they may not want in the first place. This is a move that’s just downright appalling for many and thus is worth the gripe. Unless Activision suddenly throws out a standalone version, people are more-than-likely going to remain quite irritated with the marketing act.
Why? I mean, there’s always that chance fans are going to grab Infinite Warfare nevertheless, so why does it matter? This is true, and many people are going to enjoy Infinite Warfare in the same manner that they are enjoying Black Ops III. Call of Duty is like the World of Warcraft of FPS; despite any hate towards the game, and even if lots of people are going to drop from the franchise, the series is still going to garner a large fanbase and rake in a ton of moolah for the developers and the publisher. But at the same time, there are plenty who crave for the olden days of Modern Warfare Remastered.
But some people have quit the series for some time now, hating the direction the franchise is headed in, so to create a remastered version of a beloved game by many is toying with nostalgia and locking it behind a newer game that may serve no interest. For example, I know of a friend who loved Modern Warfare, but he stopped playing the franchise after the introduction of Black Ops. Since the announcement of the Modern Warfare Remastered, he’s been not only excited over the emergence of a remaster, but quite irked over the fact that the remaster is bundled with a game he’s not even interested in.
Basically, his answer is to wait for a price drop or hope that a standalone edition will come around.
The thing is, it would make sense to have a standalone edition, even at a price like $40. Hell, Activision could probably charge the full $60 and people would eat it up, despite the fact that the remastered version will only offer 10 multiplayer maps.
So why isn’t Activision charging for a standalone version? My guess relates to partially greed and partially preying on nostalgia. Activision has been seen for some time now as a little greedy, nickel-and-diming people for a ton of microtransactions. Personally speaking, I even lost interest in Destiny as the microtransactions became a little excessive: see the level booster idea that has disgusted quite a few people, even if they never were interested in Destiny. I’m fine with cosmetic microtransactions—okay, more like tolerant because they don’t harm the game in any way—but seeing microtransactions like level boosters that shouldn’t really exist is a tad bothersome. Yes, it won’t personally affect my gameplay because I won’t bother with it, but I am not the type to support a company if I feel that it is going a little far with its business practices.
Nevertheless, due to this type of greed, this new practice is a little expected from Activision at this point in time. Compared to a $40 remastered version of a game everyone enjoyed, Activision could instead charge double the amount and provide people with two games. Once they have their $80, it doesn’t matter what the gamer does. If the gamer doesn’t want Infinite Warfare, then he or she can always sell it. Activision will still have that sweet, sweet moolah.
Hopefully, Activision will actually take heed of the complaints regarding Modern Warfare Remastered, though that probably won’t be anytime soon, considering the fact it has brushed off any rage inflicted at the sight of the YouTube release of the Infinite Warfare trailer. If not, the least that Activision can do, especially for those that won’t be purchasing Infinite Warfare, is to release a standalone version a few months after releasing Infinite Warfare for a decent price.
And if the company still doesn’t budge for even that suggestion, then there’s nothing to but wait for that price drop for the deluxe version of Infinite Warfare eventually. Or just shell out at least $80.