Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix’s upcoming Marvel’s Avengers title is set to feature individually priced, character-specific season passes for its post-launch DLC characters.
Related: Datamine of Marvel’s Avengers Beta Reveals 15 Unannounced DLC Characters
In video games, a ‘season pass’ is a one-time microtransaction that grants a player guaranteed access to future downloadable content. It is usually at a slightly discounted price compared to what a player would pay to download the content separately.
Alternatively, season passes in titles such as Call of Duty: Warzone and Fall Guys allow players who purchase them to unlock in-game items, upgrades, and cosmetics as they naturally progress through the game.
Marvel’s Avengers takes these systems a step further with the introduction of season passes for individual heroes. This will be known in-game as Hero Challenge Cards.
According to a recent blog post from the Marvel’s Avengers team, “Hero Challenge Cards allow players to earn Resources, Units, Credits, and Cosmetics for completing in-game challenges”.
Related: Marvel’s Avengers Apologizes For “Insensitive” Captain America Statue Tweet
“Each Hero Challenge Card has 40 tiers of free and premium rewards” which will be “earned via Challenge Points by completing daily and weekly challenges.”
Rewards for tier-progression range from in-game materials and currency to unique emotes and costumes for each respective hero.
Related: Marvel’s Avengers Writer Shaun Escayg Confirms Crystal Dynamics Expected Fan Backlash
While Crystal Dynamics has “activated the premium Hero Challenge Card rewards for all 6 starting heroes at launch,” additional Hero Challenge Cards for the game’s DLC roster will cost players 1,000 credits, or $10 USD, each.
However, players who purchase a given Hero Challenge Card will be able to “earn back your 1,000 Credit activation cost” if they complete all of a Card’s featured challenges.
Related: Marvel’s Avengers Trophy List Leak Reveals Major AIM Villain
The development team also stressed that passes would “not rotate and won’t be retired” and that any earned rewards would “not provide a gameplay advantage”.
What do you think about this new take on the season pass in video games? Is Marvel’s Avengers a sensable step?
Marvel’s Avengers launches on September 4th for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC platforms.