Stormgate: Microtransactions Under Fire by Supporters and Critics

Stormgate's Steam early access launch has generated mixed reactions from fans and backers. This article explores the concerns raised by Kickstarter backers and the game's current state.

Stormgate's Rocky Start

Backer Disappointment Over Monetization

The highly anticipated real-time strategy game, aiming to be a Starcraft II successor, has experienced a challenging launch. Despite raising over $2.3 million on Kickstarter (against a projected $35 million), Frost Giant Studios faces criticism from backers feeling misled. Those who pledged $60 for the "Ultimate" package expected complete early access content, a promise seemingly unfulfilled.

Many backers viewed the project as a passion project, contributing to its success. While advertised as free-to-play with microtransactions, the aggressive monetization has negatively impacted many backers' experiences.

Individual campaign chapters (three missions) cost $10, as does a single co-op character—double the price of Starcraft II's equivalent. Backers who invested $60 or more anticipated full early access gameplay, but felt 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 backers supporting the game only to encounter aggressive microtransactions.

Frost Giant Studios responded on Steam, acknowledging the misunderstanding regarding Kickstarter bundle content and offering the next paid Hero free to "Ultimate Founder’s Pack" backers and above. However, this excludes Warz, citing prior purchases.

Despite this, frustration persists over the monetization and underlying gameplay issues.

Addressing Community Feedback Post-Launch

Stormgate carries significant expectations, developed by Starcraft II veterans. While the core RTS gameplay shows potential, criticisms include aggressive monetization, visual issues, missing campaign features, weak unit interactions, and unchallenging AI.

This has resulted in a "Mixed" Steam rating, with some calling it a "Starcraft II at home" experience. Despite flaws, the game shows promise, particularly in areas like story and visuals. For a comprehensive review, see our full analysis.