Discovery of Potentially Pay-to-Win Items Triggers User Criticism; Video with Clear Information to be Released
Smilegate has clarified that the ‘Lord Nine’ product list circulating in the community is not finalized.
On the evening of the 2nd, parts of the weekly package product list, including the battle pass, were leaked. In response, Smilegate posted a notice on its official website stating that the information was not finalized.
Lord Nine is Smilegate’s new MMORPG, featuring the slogan “Normalization of the Abnormal.” At a showcase on the 4th, it emphasized the fun of farming intrinsic to MMORPGs and announced the exclusion of monetization items that affect balance.
Kim Hyo-jae, PD at NX3Games, stated, “The reality is that we are losing user trust due to an influx of excessive probability-based items. As a developer, this is a reflection of my thoughts. Lord Nine aims to break away from the conventional structure of MMORPGs and regain the lost essence of gaming.”
Contrary to statements made at the showcase, it was revealed that the product list includes two types of ‘Weekly Time Fragment Packages.’ Time Fragments are essentially dungeon entry tickets. Users criticized the decision to sell these not as one-off packages but on a weekly basis.
The nature of a weekly package implies that it can be purchased at least four times a month, potentially creating a gap between users who buy the package and those who do not, thus imposing a financial burden. In response to inquiries, Smilegate clarified that the Time Fragments are not dungeon entry tickets.
Meanwhile, Smilegate stated, “As we prepare for the launch, an unconfirmed product list was revealed. The lack of context led to many users’ concerns and misunderstandings, for which we apologize.”
Currently, Smilegate is preparing a video with clear information and in-game footage related to the business model to address user concerns. They promised to release this video soon to resolve any lingering questions.
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