Game of Thrones: Kingsroad adjusts monetization model after complaints

Sometime this year — we still don't have an exact date — Netmarble will release Game of Thrones: Kingsroad, a Game of Thrones video game set during the fourth season of of the TV show. Players will meet characters from the series, play out an original story, explore an open world modeled off the Seven Kingdoms, fight foes both human and monstrous, and more.

In some ways, Kingsroad is the most ambitious and impressive game yet to be set in the Game of Thrones universe; it looks pretty good, and the prospect of going wherever you want in Westeros is tantalizing. However, although it will be available on PC, it's mostly designed with mobile players in mind, which means it comes with some baggege.

To wit, Game of Thrones: Kingsroad will feature a premium in-game currency that you can purchase with real money you can then spend on activities, skins and other things, which feels skeezy and exploitative from the jump. The game is in early access now, and Netmarble has apparently gotten some complaints about the monetization models. As game director Hyunil Jang says in the video above, they've heard those complaints and are implementing some changes.

"We closely reviewed player feedback and gameplay patterns from early access, and we identified several areas for improvement which we're currently working on," Jang said. "One of the biggest points was a shortage of RP. The original intent of the RP system was to help manage fatigue and ensure players could still earn meaningful rewards even with limited play time. However, many of you shared that the current RP supply felt too low, which made the overall experience less satisfying."

"We completely understand this concern, and the team is actively discussing balance adjustments to increase the daily amount of RP provided."

I'm not an expert on this stuff, but so far as I can tell, RP stands for "Riot Points," a term that originated with the company Riot Games, known for making games like League of Legends and Rocket League. It seems that "RP" has gone on to generally mean any premium in-game currency in any video game. It's kind of like how some people refer to all tissues as Kleenex even though Kleenex is actually a single brand name.

In Game of Thrones: Kingsroad, the acronym has been tweaked to mean "recharge points," and it's not only part of the microtransaction system, it also serves as the in-game stamina that limits things like claiming loot from bosses or tackling new missions. Jang promises that the team is adding other things for players to do once RP runs out, including "exploration challenges and co-op content." He says the team is working on implementing these updates "as soon as possible." But the bottom line is that Game of Thrones: Kingsroad will include premium in-game currency, which might be a bridge too far for some players.

To stay up to date on everything fantasy, science fiction, and WiC, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and Twitter account, sign up for our exclusive newsletter and check out our YouTube channel.

h/t The Gamer