Borderlands 3, like many other big games, will let you pay money to buy extra content beyond the initial purchase price. Speaking today during the Borderlands 3 reveal event, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford stressed that Borderlands 3 will steer away from the “microtransaction-y, free-to-play kind of stuff,” according to PCGamer.
That being said, the game will let you pay extra money to buy cosmetics, like skins and heads, that do not affect gameplay, Pitchford added. This could be considered a form of microtransaction, but Pitchford said again that Borderlands 3 aims to steer clear of “that free-to-play junk” when it comes to microtransactions. “We’re not doing any of that free-to-play junk. There’s not going to be any microtransactions, there’s not going to be any of that nonsense,” he said.
Borderlands 3 creative director Paul Sage said skins, heads, and other cosmetic items can be purchased with real money but they won’t lead to a pay-to-win situation and that Borderlands 3 overall is not designed as a games-as-a-service title.
Sage told Game Informer, “We’re selling cosmetic items, but we’re not going to nickel and dime players. DLC will come down the line, but the game won’t have anything excessive.”
A spokesperson for Borderlands 3 publisher 2K Games told USGamer about the game’s microtransactions, “Players will have the option to purchase certain cosmetic items like character, vehicle, and weapon skins, but none of these purchases would be considered pay-to-win or impacting on the gameplay, like weapons or actual gear.”
Additionally, Borderlands 3 will receive multiple expansion packs over time that will also be paid, just like Borderlands 2. At least four story campaign add-ons with new missions and other extras are included with the Borderlands 3 season pass. We also learned today that Borderlands 3 has no loot boxes.
Borderlands 3 launches on September 13 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
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