Microsoft Changing "Forza 5" Economy After Angry Fan Feedback

Angry fans felt game forced microtransactions

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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The Xbox One exclusive Forza Motorsports 5 looks mind blowing, the graphics are disturbingly realistic and maybe the economy is too. After some heated fan feedback about the amount of grinding necessary to buy cars in the game, which fans saw as a way to force them into spending their real world money on in-game microtransactions, Microsoft says it will adjust the economy and has launched a limited time half-off deal.

In a NeoGAF thread started shortly after Forza’s release user SeanSpeed put together a few points that were wider angry complaints. For one, no cars were unlocked as the player leveled. Free Play mode no longer allowed users to dive any car in the game, limiting it to just the ones they owned. These and a few other economic changes gave fans the impression that Microsoft was really pushing for their real-world cash, more of it.

In response Forza community manager Brain Ekberg revealed some changes to the game’s economy, including a 50-percent discount on all cars. The specific details are as follows:

Based on the numbers we've seen from our first week of FM5, as well as feedback we heard directly from you, we're in the process of making some changes to the Forza Motorsport 5 economy. But, while we're putting the final touches on that, we want to make sure everyone continues having a great time with Forza 5. So, the following programs are going into effect this week:

1) Starting this Friday we're offering a 50 percent discount (credits & tokens) on every car in the game. This discount is available to all players. Every car, from the 1970 Nissan Datsun 510 to the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO will be 50 percent off, so, if you've got your eye on something special on the car list, now's the time to play and add them to your garage! This discount will be available between 12:01 a.m. Pacific on Friday, Nov. 29 and 11:59 p.m.Pacific on Sunday, Dec. 1.

2) If you are a Forza Motorsport 5 VIP member, you'll receive the 2013 Lotus E21 grand prix car as a thank you. (Note: You must own Forza Motorsport 5 VIP membership to take advantage of this offer.) In addition to being one of the most radical and expensive cars in FM5, the E21 is also one of the quickest. For more on the E21, check out its entry on the Forza Motorsport 5 Cars page. This gift may take up to 24 hours or longer to be fulfilled in the game and, in order to receive your gift, you will need to back out to the main title screen with the orange McLaren P1 and then press "A" to log back in.

3) Those players who have already purchased the 2013 Lotus E21 as of today (Wednesday, November 27) will also receive the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO asa further thank you. This gift may take up to 24 hours or longer to be fulfilled in the game and, in order to receive your gift, you will need to back out to the main title screen with the orange McLaren P1 and then press "A" to log back in.

4) For those players who have purchased the LaFerrari Car Pack or the Forza Motorsport 5 Car Pass we'll gift the 2013 LaFerrari directly into your Forza Motorsport 5 garage. No need to purchase the car separately with in-game credits or tokens. (Note: In order to receive and use these gift cars, you'll need to own either the LaFerrari Car Pack or the Forza Motorsport 5 Car Pass). This gift may take up to 24 hours or longer to be fulfilled in the game and, in order to receive your gift, you will need to back out to the main title screen with the orange McLaren P1 and then press "A" to log back in.

5) Finally, we're dramatically increasing the credit payout available to all Forza players in December via Forza Rewards, our ongoing loyalty program that rewards players with credits and cars for playing Forza games. You'll be able to redeem these rewards in December but here's a tip: The higher your Tier level reaches before December rolls around, the better the rewards you'll be able to redeem, so get your play time in now and level up!

Now, a word about tokens in the Forza Motorsport 5 Limited Edition. In our original description for Forza Motorsport 5's Limited Edition, we told you that Limited Edition owners would get 1,250 in-game tokens, which we mistakenly said would be enough tokens to afford any car in the Forza 5. It isn't. As a result, a number of you have pointed this out to us – that there are a number of cars in the game that cost more than 1,250 tokens to purchase.

We're sorry. In order to make up for this discrepancy, we will soon be offering Forza Motorsport 5 Limited Edition owners the chance to download and own the car of their choice in the game. Players will be able to choose from any of the on-disc cars in Forza 5 and will be able redeem this offer on ForzaMotorsport.net via a dedicated page that will be available no later than December 16.

Looking ahead, we'll continue to make further adjustments to the Forza Motorsport 5 economy when they're needed and I'll be sure to keep you informed as these changes are made. For now, take advantage of all the cool stuff coming your way and, as always, thanks for your patience and for being a member of the Forza Motorsport community.

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[Via Kotaku]

 

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