Is Blue Protocol’s controversial monetization system really ‘fun and fair’? We ask Amazon Games

There is no topic more controversial than monetization when it comes to the world of live streaming and MMOs. At the lifeblood of the business model, every developer must walk a careful line between profit and greed. The perception of excessive price can damage a game’s reputation, and any hint of pay-to-win can turn hostile in no time.

For Blue Protocol, monetization concerns have been the first major controversy to mark the game in its run-up to release. Early testers of the Japanese beta were concerned about the high prices attached to the game’s cosmetic gacha, as well as the presence of powerful combat summons locked behind the paid battle pass and in-game currency. That second concern proved significant, as they can be summoned and used during combat, which could give those willing to spend some money now and in the future an advantage.

Since the western release of the game is being managed in collaboration between Amazon Games and Bandai Namco, I wanted to raise these concerns with someone who could address them directly. That’s why I sat down with Mike Zadorojny, franchise lead for Blue Protocol at Amazon Games, during a preview session last month and did exactly that.

To start with, I asked if Zadorojny could provide details on microtransaction pricing for the Western release and if it was similar to the pricing for the Japanese beta. He wasn’t willing to share the pricing model, but did point out the company’s mantra for what it’s trying to achieve with monetization of its games.

“So the first thing for us is ‘fun and fair,'” he explains. “That’s the kind of model we’re running with: if you buy stuff and I don’t, we should still be relatively comparable in terms of what our power is. You shouldn’t be able to beat a boss because you bought something and I didn’t.”

“The way we’re approaching this is with a couple of things. One, we’re going to do Founders Packs in the West. Very similar to what we did with New World and Lost Ark. Cosmetics for fans who want to get in really early. The second way is with a season pass like we have in Japan. So, you know, periodic free rewards with an optional paid version that gives more frequent rewards.”

Zadorojny also noted a “pity system” added to the cosmetic monetization model, a common practice in live service games with gacha-style microtransactions. However, Zadorojny was unable to provide the ‘pity system’ rates during the interview, stating that the information will be released “as soon as we get closer to closed beta.”

It’s worth noting here that in the time since this interview was conducted, the developers at Bandai Namco have issued a statement addressing various concerns including gacha drop rates. Basically, S-rank and B-rank drops get increased drop rate, and S-rank super rare items are increased from 1.2% drop rate to 3%. The price, as far as we know, is the same, but the odds are better.

However, there is an additional concern for players of the Japanese beta: battle pass rewards. Youtubers like Kanon He noted that the Battle Pass Battle Imajinns (those combat summons we referred to above) that you get by maxing out the pass or through BPP in-game currency have the potential to be very strong. As such, I wanted to ask if Amazon Games was willing to tweak these systems for the Western release.

“Game balance is always something we want to keep an eye on. Again, going back to that mantra of fun and fairness,” says Zadorojny. “We want to make sure that what you get from the paid versions are generally things that are cosmetic options, not necessarily power options. So [Blue Protocol] just released, obviously they’re still doing some updates and doing some work on their end, but that’s the goal we’re trying to achieve for westerners.”

To this, I pointed out that there were rewards in the battle pass and the BPP system that provide power options in the game. Zadorojny responded (after a pause of about seven seconds): “Generally speaking, the goal we’re trying to achieve is that there shouldn’t be a higher power difference than what you can get in-game.”

Blue Protocol looks like a decent attempt to fill a gap in the MMORPG landscape at the moment, as we’ll be diving into our preview soon. But for now, have your monetization fears eased after Zadorojny’s responses? Let us know!