As the battle between gamers and exploitative practices by publishers continues, we’re seeing a clear indication that voting with your wallet indeed has ramifications for the company in question. After Star Wars Battlefront II’s loot box controversy hit the mainstream, sales of the title took quite a hit, with UK physical sales during the first week reportedly down 61% versus sales of the first game. A financial analyst noted that they were disappointed by the sell-through of Battlefront II through the Black Friday weekend.
Previously touted as a profitable business model, EA’s microtransactions now have investors worried. Month to date through Tuesday, EA stock is down 8.5%, which has evaporated $3.1 billion in shareholder value. Comparatively, Activision Blizzard and Take-Two stocks are up 0.7% and 5% respectively, so it’s clear that the controversy surrounding Star Wars Battlefront II is to blame for the loss in value. Analyst Doug Creutz wrote a note to his clients saying to while initial sales of Battlefront II may be a concern for investors, it is only the tip of the iceberg as the industry’s stance on microtransactions shifts in a different direction.
Battlefront II is the pointy tip of the iceberg. ? The biggest recent controversy has centered around EA’s Star Wars Battlefront II, where early evidence suggests player anger over a mishandled loot box economy may in fact be impacting initial sales. We think the time has come for th...