Summary
It might be hard to believe, but sports video games were once 8-bit sprites. Yet, to the millions of kids playing them, they might as well have looked like the real thing. Eventually, those sprites turned into polygons, and now those polygons are lifelike models that increasingly have become more and more realistic.
And while those models are super impressive, there’s nothing quite like the graphics of the video games of old. There’s just something charming about those half-baked models. With that in mind, 2K’s latest entry in its annualized WWE franchise,WWE 2K24, has decided to wind back the clock with its “Demastered” series of unlockable cards. As the name implies, the cards turn what were originally lifelike character models into PS2-era polygonal monstrosities.
It’s a novel idea in a sea of increasingly realistic-looking video games. There’s just one problem, though, they’re all locked behind a paywall.
If You Want A Hit Of Nostalgia, Be Prepared To Pay, Or Grind It Out
In total, there are six superstar persona cards that can be pulled in packs. Roman Reigns, Asuka, Bianca Belair, Michin, Xavier Woods and Raquel Rodriguez have all received the retro treatment. Simply put, their character models are glorious. 2K has already introduced the concept of action figure-based wrestlers, so retro-inspired characters fit well within the game.
But as mentioned above,these cards are hidden behind packs in 2K24’s MyFaction mode. That means players will need to either grind out the necessary amount of “points” to purchase a pack, or convert their real-life dollars into virtual currency. A basic pack is 13,000 points or 11,700 VC, while a deluxe pack is 16,600 points or 15,000 VC. For reference,15,000 VC is $4.99 on the PlayStation store. It’s alsothe smallest amount of currency available for purchase.
Not only are the packs hidden behind grinding or real-life money, but there’s no guarantee you’ll even get one of the cards. That’s because the pull rates are quite frankly abysmal. For example, Asuka, which is an amethyst card, has a 4% chance of being pulled. Yes, 4%.
All of this to say, it’s a really slimey move on part of 2K. However, it’s just one move in a continued string of pay-to-play mechanics in this year’s WWE video game. Earlier in the year,an exclusive action-figure Hulk Hogan card was locked behind a real-life purchase.
In order to get the card, players had to purchase a specific real-life action-figure from Target. Then, they had to upload proof of their purchase to 2K’s website via a receipt in order to receive a code for the character. The figures cost $22.99 in real-life money. Oh, and players had only 16 days to do it, because the promo was timed.
In other words, none of this is all too surprising. It’s just unfortunate that a cool mode that has people talking and engaging with their favorite memories of sports video games of old has to cost money or time.
