Stormgate Microtransactions Criticized by Backers and Fans

Stormgate's Steam early access debut has sparked a divided response among fans and backers. This article explores the concerns raised by Kickstarter backers and analyzes the game's current state following its Early Access launch.

Stormgate's Uneven Launch

Backer Discontent Over Monetization

The highly anticipated real-time strategy game, Stormgate – aiming to be a Starcraft II successor – has experienced a rocky start on Steam. Despite a successful Kickstarter campaign raising over $2.3 million (against a planned $35 million), the game faces criticism from backers feeling deceived. Those who pledged $60 for the "Ultimate" package expected complete early access content, a promise seemingly unfulfilled.

Many viewed Frost Giant Studios' project as a passion project, contributing to its success. While advertised as free-to-play with microtransactions, the aggressive monetization strategy has left many backers disappointed.

Individual campaign chapters (three missions) cost $10, and co-op characters are priced the same – double the cost of Starcraft II's equivalent. Backers who invested $60 or more anticipated full early access gameplay, only to find themselves seemingly betrayed by the omission of the day-one character, Warz, from their Kickstarter rewards.

"You can take the developer out of Blizzard, but you can’t take Blizzard out of the developer," commented Steam user Aztraeuz, highlighting the irony of the situation. "Many of us supported this game because we wanted to see it succeed. A lot of us are hundreds of dollars deep into this game already. Why are there pre-day 1 microtransactions that we don’t own?"

In response to the negative feedback, Frost Giant Studios issued a Steam statement acknowledging the concerns and expressing gratitude for player support.

While attempting to clarify Kickstarter bundle content, the studio admitted many anticipated the "Ultimate" bundles to include all Early Access gameplay. As a conciliatory gesture, they announced that Kickstarter and Indiegogo backers at the "Ultimate Founder’s Pack tier and above" would receive the next paid Hero for free.

However, this excludes Warz, citing that many had already purchased him, making retroactive free access impossible.

Despite this concession, frustration persists regarding the game's aggressive monetization and underlying gameplay issues.

Frost Giant Addresses Post-Launch Feedback

Stormgate carries significant expectations. Developed by Starcraft II veterans, it promised to revive the genre's golden age. However, player experiences have been mixed. While the core RTS gameplay shows potential, criticism targets its monetization, visuals, missing campaign features, unit interactions, and unchallenging AI.

These issues contribute to the game's "Mixed" Steam rating, with some labeling it "Starcraft II at home." Despite these flaws, reviews acknowledge the game's potential for improvement in areas like narrative and visuals.

For a comprehensive review of Stormgate's Early Access, please see our full review.