Factorio, a extremely popular factory-building sim, is becoming a member of a wave of a lot, a lot bigger sport franchises reminiscent of Name of Responsibility, Star Wars Jedi, Ultimate Fantasy, and others in getting a value bump as a result of inflation. However not like the huge AAA audiences of these different video games, a lot of Factorio’s group appears…surprisingly cool with the thought. However not all.
Whereas corporations like Ubisoft, Take-Two, Xbox, and Sony have all successfully set a brand new customary for sport costs during the last 12 months, Factorio is a little bit of an oddball as a result of it is a a lot smaller sport. Its developer, Wube Software program, is a a lot, a lot smaller studio than any of the opposite corporations which have introduced value will increase, and Factorio itself is not growing from $60 to $70, it is going from $30 to $35.
It is also notable that Factorio is a a lot older sport that is seeing a rise from its former pricing, reasonably than a brand new sport setting a pattern for a franchise shifting ahead. Factorio first launched in early entry in 2016 earlier than its 2020 full launch. Since then, it is by no means had microtransactions, and the one additional content material available for purchase on Steam for it’s its $7 soundtrack. Nevertheless it’s by no means been a part of a Steam sale earlier than, both – a alternative builders defined again in 2016 (as noticed by Kotaku) as a option to respect the gamers who had already purchased the sport.
“We do not need to reward the individuals who maintain off on shopping for the sport, the sport is a value we discover affordable, and that is the deal. If you happen to assume it’s priced too excessive, then it’s your option to not buy, and we hope that with sufficient time, and further improvement, we can persuade you of its worth.”
Factorio’s value improve was introduced on Twitter on January 20, six days earlier than it goes into impact, and the group’s response so far is surprisingly constructive. Granted, many of the people replying appear to already personal the sport, however they’re additionally clamoring for extra methods to assist Factorio. Many others are sharing anecdotes about their very own prolonged playtimes compared to how a lot they spent, implying that the various, many hours put in had been definitely worth the comparatively low cost value. A look at Factorio’s “overwhelmingly constructive” Steam evaluate rating signifies lots extra individuals really feel the identical method.
That stated, a handful of individuals appear sad with the change. A take a look at Factorio’s total consumer evaluate developments exhibits very, only a few unfavorable evaluations…with two exceptions. One is again in July of final 12 months when (based mostly on the evaluations) a regional pricing problem in Russia appeared to make the sport twice as costly for these customers. And the opposite interval of unfavorable evaluations started, you guessed it, on January 20, with a surge in “Not Beneficial”s accusing Wube of being grasping and questioning the validity of inflation as an excuse for elevating costs. Not like many different evaluate bombing conditions, many of the unfavorable evaluations have fairly a couple of hours on document, so it is sure that not less than some section of the group is sad about this (even when, once more, they’ve already purchased the sport too).
Factorio is among the first main unbiased video games to react to inflation with a value improve in such a visual, public method, but it surely’s doable it will not be the final. As we assessed earlier this month, AAA studios are prone to proceed to push $70 because the pricing customary for AAA video games, however there’s additionally elevated dialogue among the many indie group about charging extra. It is doable we see extra video games comply with in Factorio’s footsteps because the 12 months goes on.
Rebekah Valentine is a information reporter for IGN. You will discover her on Twitter @duckvalentine.
