When the second installment of the Destiny series, Destiny 2, was released, people quickly became divided over the newly introduced ‘Eververse’ concession stand. This in-game store allowed players to purchase many items like emotes and armor with real-world money. But it is surprising, even to those who originally were critical of it, that it has been surprisingly great and has become a true success story.
Most of the criticism of the Eververse store was regarding the way players directly paid for items with money. Other microtransactions in games often involve only unlocking content that players can work towards, but the Eververse store goes beyond that and allows players to purchase desirable items directly. This was seen as a negative by some and reeked of ‘pay to win.’
But Bungie got it right. The items made available are aesthetic only. Each item has no impact on the game mechanics or stats, so it doesn’t unbalance gameplay as could have been the case. Additionally, they added a lot of items that give players many options in terms of personalizing their in game look. The microtransactions never feel forced either. With bounties, events, and missions, players can earn enough to buy what they want without spending money.
Adding to the fact that the main mechanic of the Eververse store is well managed, Bungie’s spectacular customer service can’t be ignored. They take the support of their players very seriously and go above and beyond to make sure that everyone is happy. When it comes to the Eververse, the customer support team was immensely helpful, even when players had issues in areas the store didn’t influence.
So, the Eververse has been a great addition to the Destiny 2 community and is loved by many players. It wasn’t what skeptics expected, but it has been simple and effective.
