Last week, the website GameSpot reported that there was a paywall on Metal Gear Solid V‘s PVP mode. Turns out that’s not true. Let’s cut through the misinformation and clear up exactly how Konami is trying to get your money here.
Anyone playing through the newest Metal Gear will eventually unlock a feature called Forward Operating Bases — or FOBs. In short, constructing these FOBs will allow players to deploy extra units on combat missions, earning money and resources that can be used to upgrade weapons at Snake’s headquarters, Mother Base. Players can also invade other FOBs, beef up their own bases’ security, and do other things that I haven’t had much chance to play around with because Metal Gear Solid V‘s PS4 servers have been failing all day.
Last Monday, GameSpot sent a number of Metal Gear fans into a panic by declaring, based on a screenshot from an early copy of the game, that this entire FOB system would require real-money payments to use, but that’s incorrect. You actually get your first FOB for free. When you unlock the feature, you’ll be prompted to plant a base in one of three locations, all of which will cost you nothing:
So, yes, you can build a FOB, expand it, develop security and reap all the benefits without dropping any real money, despite all the misinformation that floated around last week.
After the first base, though, things start getting hairy. See those “MB Coins”? That’s MGSV’s version of real money, and you’ll need to spend a fair amount if you want to build more FOBs. Here’s what it costs to rent out ocean space for your second base:
So how do those numbers translate to real money? Konami server problems are preventing me from accessing the store to double-check this, but Metal-Gear.net grabbed a screenshot showing that these coins are expensive as hell:
These are actually New Zealand prices, and the final U.S. dollar ones aren’t available yet, but if these are the final costs, they’re nuts. We’re not sure just how much it will benefit players to have more than one FOB, and we can’t test it out right now — friggin’ Konami server problems! — but jeez, that’s expensive.
You’ll also be able to earn MB Coins through daily rewards, which you’ll get just for logging in — kinda like a mobile game! Hmm. I see what you’re doing here, Konami. Unfortunately, right now the numbers are tiny — you’ll only get a handful of coins as your daily bonus for the next few days:
It’s unclear whether you can also get MB Coins through regular play. I haven’t gotten any over the ~50 hours I’ve spent with the game so far, but Konami’s servers have been offline. When you’re playing offline, the whole system is disabled.
It should be noted: you can play through the entire game without caring about any of this. That’s what I did, and I think it’s excellent. But of course it’s hard to get that sour, metallic, microtransactiony taste out of your mouth. Why do you have to ruin everything, Konami?
Comments
18 responses to “How Microtransactions Actually Work In Metal Gear Solid V”
Yep, can’t even log in, I want my daily reward..
Dear Konami,
Day 1 server issues are sooooooooo 2014…
Just because you get your first FOB for free, doesn’t make the system right. This is a full price AAA title with microtransactions. This should be seen as wrong no matter what level it is. Same goes for another recent release: Madden NFL 16. It has microtransactions for its Madden Ultimate Team mode, a mode the is pushed as the mode you should be playing.
These types of practices for full priced retail games needs to be fought with our wallets so they stop appearing.
This will be the last “great” MGS, so I wonder if they are doing this to milk as much as they can from the title?
So much hate for this practise of charging full price, in some regions more than others, and then putting content behind pay-walls.
“last great MGS game”? It’ll be the last REAL MGS game. Konami don’t have the talent to make real games any more.
“HIT THE LEVER!”
Completely agree. I will be buying the game though…. I’m sorry I can;t help myself!
Voting with our wallets won’t stop this. We need to be the vocal minority in this case. Most don’t seem to like it, but many still pay for it because they don’t know better, or “hey, look! a few $ gets me a bit more longevity out of this!”
What terrible garbage LOL
So essentially, storm in a teacup. Didn’t see that coming.
No, that’s not how it goes. Repeat after me: Fuck Konami.
Fuck EA, fuck Konami, fuck something, right? We wouldn’t be gamers if we weren’t full of hatred and rage, or horribly indignant about something.
Yeah look at all these nerds getting upset about micro transactions being in a game that costs 60USD.
Im glad that this is becoming acceptable and I hope the next game goes full pay to win.
Historically when people don’t complain about being milked the company does the right thing and removes the micro payments in the next version.
Cody mate you gotta stand for what you believe in.
I want MGS V. I will not buy it full priced. No need to ask if this was a feature Kojima wanted to put in the game or Konami. Oh well, at least this will be Konami’s last game and we can dust ourselves from them while they go fully into mobile and gambling games. Until the inevitable MGS ultimate compilation when they’re running low on cash
Don’t forget that MGS compilation seems a bi-yearly release these days.
Konami can go suck it. First Kojima now adding micro transactions into silly AC style, mobile inspired mini games?
The servers were also down for me, playing it on PC, early this morning.
I managed to log on to the servers and download my GZ data into TPP on PS4 last night. Didn’t have any issues.
Mobile companion apps. Stop it devs. It’s a waste of your time, and mine.