Video Game Greed

Ubisoft basically held up a sign saying, “We’re not just selling you games we’re selling you extra fun!”

Yeah, really. In their latest financial report, they claim those microtransactions (the things that pop up even in single-player adventures) don’t just pad their pockets they enhance your enjoyment by letting you personalize your character or speed up the grind…all supposedly “optional,” of course.

Oh, how touching! Nothing warms the heart like being told you’re having more fun…because you shelled out extra cash for cosmetic swords and XP boosts. Ubisoft’s argument sounds a lot like telling your date you look “more fun” after a few drinks yeah, buddy, sure.

Meanwhile, gaming forums are practically aflame. Redditors are giving Ubisoft a hearty side‑eye:

“Quite literally almost every single title they’ve released for nearly a decade now have turned their games into this absolutely horrifying amalgamation made of greed, dollar bills and copying machines”.

And PC Gamer points out the delicious irony in Ubisoft’s claim that microtransactions “make the player experience more fun” while also insisting players can enjoy the game fully without paying extra. Uh, OK…

Look, I get the business model: digital revenue is booming, it’s sustainable, yada yada. But when a company has the gall to spin “pay more to make the game fun” as a feature, I can’t help but roll my eyes. Sure, buy the cool colors or a speed boost if you’re into that but let’s be honest, the old-school joy of unlocking everything just by playing is being sold off, bit by bit.

So here’s to Ubisoft and every game maker who ever casually slipped microtransactions into a video game. May your wallets stay full because evidently, your games are just not fun enough without the deluxe upgrade.