Stormgate's Early Access Launch: Backers and Fans Voice Concerns Over Microtransactions

Stormgate, the highly anticipated real-time strategy game from Frost Giant Studios, has launched into Early Access on Steam amidst a wave of mixed reviews from its community. This article delves into the issues raised by Kickstarter backers and the current state of the game post-launch.

Stormgate Launches with Mixed Reviews

Backers Upset Over Stormgate’s Microtransactions

The launch of Stormgate, heralded as a spiritual successor to Starcraft II, has been marred by discontent among its backers. Despite raising over $2.3 million through Kickstarter, with an initial funding goal of $35 million, the game's monetization strategy has sparked significant backlash. Those who invested $60 in the "Ultimate" bundle anticipated comprehensive early access content, a promise that many feel has not been fulfilled.

The game, marketed as free-to-play with microtransactions, has introduced an aggressive monetization model that has left many backers feeling deceived. For instance, individual campaign chapters are priced at $10, as are single co-op characters, which is double the cost of similar content in Starcraft II. Backers who pledged $60 or more expected access to three chapters and three characters, only to find that the new character, Warz, introduced on launch day, was not included in their rewards.

A Steam reviewer, Aztraeuz, encapsulated the sentiment of many when they stated, "You can take the developer out of Blizzard, but you can’t take Blizzard out of the developer. 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 outcry, Frost Giant Studios issued a statement on Steam, thanking players for their support and attempting to clarify the content of the Kickstarter bundles. They admitted that many expected the "Ultimate" bundles to include all gameplay content available at Early Access launch. As a conciliatory gesture, the studio promised that all Kickstarter and Indiegogo backers at the "Ultimate Founder’s Pack tier and above" would receive the next paid Hero for free. However, this offer does not extend to the already released Hero, Warz, due to purchases already made.

Despite this gesture, frustration persists among the community over the game's monetization approach and various gameplay issues.

Frost Giant Studios Addresses Player Feedback After Early Access Launch

Stormgate was crafted by industry veterans with a vision to revive the golden era of RTS games. While the core gameplay has shown promise, the Early Access version has been met with criticism for its aggressive monetization, unclear visuals, missing campaign features, lackluster unit interactions, and an AI that fails to provide a challenge.

These elements have contributed to a "Mixed" rating on Steam, with some players dubbing it "Starcraft II at home." Our review, however, acknowledges the game's potential and suggests areas like story and visuals that could be improved upon.

For a comprehensive analysis of Stormgate’s Early Access, explore our full review below!