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One other day, one other massive online game crossover. This time it’s Bungie’s on-line looter shooter, Future 2, including Witcher 3-inspired armor to its digital retailer. Are you excited? I’m not. In actuality, I’m simply actually uninterested in each model mixing collectively, no matter whether or not it is sensible or is required, as if concocting the world’s worst stew.
On Tuesday, Bungie revealed some new Witcher-inspired skins at a time when the sport is at the moment struggling, and the builders are nonetheless recovering from painful layoffs. It’s dangerous timing to drop such content material, however who cares about that? What actually issues is making more cash, which is all the level behind crossover skins like this.
Look, I’m no naive idiot. I perceive that all the video games, films, books, and TV reveals we get pleasure from are created largely so firms can make cash. I get it. However even most corporate-backed artwork and leisure is made by not less than a couple of people who find themselves making an attempt (and never all the time succeeding) to inform tales or share one thing of value with others.
However crossover skins—like that point Resident Evil characters popped up in Monster Hunter, or when “Scarface” turned playable in PayDay 2—aren’t created for some other cause however to merge two common issues and make some cash. It’s uncooked capitalism and pandering offered with no filter or excuse. It’s merely a writer or developer saying, “We took that factor you appreciated from no matter and crammed its carcass into this different factor you appear to love. Give us…uh, I don’t know…let’s say $20!” These crossover skins remind me of an outdated Tumblr that cataloged all of the horrible “mash-ups” that existed on-line that had been merely two manufacturers mashed into one merchandise within the hopes of constructing a joke or promoting a shirt.
And as somebody who’s a really boring individual relating to lore and online game universes, it’s additionally annoying to see increasingly video games ruining their independently crafted worlds simply so G.I. Joe troopers or a personality from 5 Nights at Freddy’s might be flipped into money for a restricted time. I’m uninterested in this pattern not solely rising, however turning into normalized.
Am I a stick within the mud as a result of I would like my fictional franchises to be separate from one another exterior of very particular and uncommon events? Possibly, however I don’t care! I’m fantastic dying on this hill.
I do know there might be some individuals who clarify that I don’t have to purchase the skins. That I can ignore them. However in video games like Future or Rainbow Six Siege, these skins are shoved in my face with no choice to show them off. I assume the explanation this feature doesn’t exist is out of worry. Publishers are in all probability involved about all the cash that may be misplaced if individuals realized “Wait, people may not see my Rick and Morty outfit?! No sale!” (Shout out to Halo: The Grasp Chief Collection for including a “Conceal New Skins” choice to protect the basic expertise!)
In the end, I really feel like an outdated man yelling on the ever-shifting clouds. Publishers are making document quantities of cash off promoting costly beauty objects. So why on the earth would they cease including crossover skins to each online game persons are nonetheless enjoying in 2023?
I assume I’ll simply must give you some headcanon cause why Halo characters are hanging out with Rainbow Six Siege operators. Possibly, uh, the Grasp Chief outfit is a Halloween costume that the operator’s commander allowed him to put on throughout missions. Positive. No matter.
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