Stormgate Microtransactions Stir Controversy

Stormgate’s early access launch on Steam has been met with a mixed reaction from fans and backers alike. Read on to learn more about the issues raised by its Kickstarter backers and the game’s state after its Early Access launch.

Stormgate Launches with Mixed ResponsesBackers Upset Over Stormgate’s Microtransactions

Stormgate, the highly-awaited real-time strategy game aiming to be the spiritual successor to Starcraft II, has seen a troubled launch on Steam. The game, which successfully raised over $2.3 million on Kickstarter despite a hefty $35 million initial funding, is facing criticism from its backers who feel deceived. Those who pledged $60 for the "Ultimate" bundle expected to receive the full early access content, a promise that appears to have fallen short.

Many saw the game as a passion-driven endeavor by Frost Giant Studios and wanted to contribute to its success. Although the game is advertised as free-to-play with microtransactions, the aggressive monetization model has embittered the experience for many backers.

A single campaign chapter—or three missions—costs $10. A single co-op character costs the same, twice the price of Starcraft II's. Many pledged $60 and more on Kickstarter to gain access to three chapters and three characters. With a substantial amount of money already spent, backers thought that they would at least fully experience the game during its early access. Unfortunately, many backers simply felt betrayed, as a new character, Warz, was added to the game on day one but was not included in the Kickstarter rewards.

"You can take the developer out of Blizzard, but you can’t take Blizzard out of the developer," a Steam reviewer by the username of Aztraeuz wrote. "Many of us supported this game because we wanted to see it succeed. A lot of us are hundreds of dollars deep into this game already. Why are there pre-day 1 microtransactions that we don’t own?"

In response to player backlash, Frost Giant Studios took to Steam to address concerns and thank players for their support.

Despite trying to "make the content in our Kickstarter bundles clear during the campaign," the studio acknowledged that many expected the "Ultimate" bundles to carry all the gameplay content "available for our Early Access release." As a gesture of goodwill, they announced that all Kickstarter and Indiegogo backers who pledged at the "Ultimate Founder’s Pack tier and above" will receive the next paid Hero for free.

However, the studio clarified that this offer excludes the already released Hero, Warz, as many"have already purchased Warz", which makes them "unable to make him free retroactively."

Despite this concession, many continue to express frustration over the game’s aggressive monetization tactics and underlying gameplay problems.

Frost Giant Studios Addresses Player Feedback After Early Access Launch

Stormgate bears the weight of expectation. Crafted by veterans of Starcraft II, the game vowed to reclaim the enchantment of the genre’s zenith. Yet, players have found a mixed bag. While the core RTS gameplay gleams with promise, the game has faced criticism for its assertive monetization, murky visuals, absence of crucial campaign elements, lackluster unit interplay, and AI that falls short of posing a challenge.

These issues have led to a "Mixed" evaluation on Steam, with many players dubbing it "Starcraft II at home." Notwithstanding these flaws, our review underscored the game’s potential and the prospect for betterment in domains such as narrative and visuals.

For a more thorough examination of our views on Stormgate’s Early Access, peruse our comprehensive review below!