Dead Space 3 to Feature Optional Micro-Transactions for Weapon Crafting

For those who played Mass Effect 3's multiplayer, you might remember that the game offered booster packs in exchange for real currency to help you get better weapons and other unlockables. Of course, these packs can be earned via the game's in-game currency, but for those in a hurry, spending real money made unlocking stuff way easier.

Well, it seems this business model has crept its way into another EA-published title which is Dead Space 3. 

During a hands-on session with the game, Eurogamer has spotted a message about "downloadable content" when you don't have enough resources to craft a new weapon. 

If you tried it but lack the resources to make it, the game will send a message of "Cannot craft. Additional resources required." These "resources" don't necessarily mean money and can be picked up by players just by playing the game. But for those who want to take things faster, they can also purchase these resources at the in-game store.

Bear in mind that this doesn't mean that you need to use real currency to have the best weapon in the game — a fact that Dead Space 3 associate producer Yara Khoury was quick to point out.

You can buy resources with real money, but scavenger bots can also give you the currency that you can use on the marketplace…So you don't have to spend [real world] dollars.

While Khoury was unable to divulge how much players need to spend to help them hasten the weapon crafting process, she did reveal that there will be several different packs of in-game currency which will be priced varyingly. 

But wouldn't implementing this sort of feature mean that people with deep enough pockets can just splurge on weapons and coast through the rest of the game? Thankfully, that doesn't seem to be the case. According to Khoury, "There are a lot of weapon parts that are only available to buy later in the game. Unless you're playing through it again [on New Game Plus]."

Again, I think it's worth mentioning that this is an optional feature and one that I think a lot of core gamers will ignore. But regardless of what you think, it seems this sort of structure will slowly become the norm when it comes to both single-player and multiplayer-focused titles.

Are you okay with this new feature or is EA treading on unsteady ground by doing this?