Stormgate Microtransactions Criticized by Backers and Fans

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

Stormgate's Rocky Launch

Backer Disappointment Over Monetization

The highly anticipated RTS game, aiming to be a Starcraft II successor, has experienced a challenging launch. Despite raising over $2.3 million on Kickstarter (against a $35 million initial goal), backers feel misled by the monetization. Those who pledged $60 for the "Ultimate" bundle expected complete early access content, a promise seemingly unmet.

Many viewed the project as a passion project, supporting Frost Giant Studios. While advertised as free-to-play with microtransactions, the aggressive monetization has negatively impacted many backers. A single campaign chapter (three missions) costs $10, and individual co-op characters cost the same – double the price of Starcraft II's. Backers who invested significantly expected full early access gameplay, feeling betrayed by the omission of day-one character Warz from their Kickstarter rewards.

Steam reviewer Aztraeuz commented, "You can take the developer out of Blizzard, but you can’t take Blizzard out of the developer...Why are there pre-day 1 microtransactions that we don’t own?"

Frost Giant Studios responded on Steam, acknowledging that many backers misinterpreted the "Ultimate" bundle's scope. As compensation, "Ultimate Founder’s Pack" and higher tier backers will receive the next paid Hero for free (excluding Warz, which many had already purchased).

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

Frost Giant Addresses Post-Launch Feedback

Stormgate carries significant expectations, developed by Starcraft II veterans. While core gameplay shows potential, criticism focuses on aggressive monetization, visual quality, missing campaign features, unit interactions, and unchallenging AI.

This has resulted in a "Mixed" Steam rating, with some calling it "Starcraft II at home." However, reviews acknowledge the game's potential for improvement, particularly in narrative and visuals. For a more detailed review, see the link below!