Loot boxes are all the rage these days for triple-A titles, but there's at least one big release that won't implement them when it debuts: Monster Hunter World . In an interview with Trusted Reviews, Monster Hunter World producer Ryozo Tsujimoto spoke on the decision to keep loot boxes out of the game, and it's not for the reason you might expect.
According to Tsujimoto, loot boxes won't make an appearance because of the way equipment could be earned in a less "fair" manner by some compared to others, and this could cause tension or dissent in the ranks between players. Since the game is all about working together and joining up with others to accomplish goals and hunt monsters, that would understandably put a bit of a kink in the process.
"The idea is that there’s a harmony in the four players going out and you’re going to get on well together," Tsujimoto clarified in the interview, through a translator. "If you feel someone hasn’t earned what they’ve got or they’ve got a better weapon just because they paid for it and you worked for yours, that creates friction."
"Even in a co-op game where it’s not pay-to-win, because we’re all on the same team, it’s like you didn’t earn that or you’ve got it and don’t know how to use it," Tsujimoto continued. "We don’t want that for Monster Hunter. There are absolutely no plans. It’s not in the game where you can get your random crate or random loot box and get a great item or great weapon. None of the stuff that affects the gameplay is even paid for. It’s all cosmetic, just stuff that’s a bit of fun."
Tsujimoto's reasoning is totally sound, especially when you consider the core threads and mechanics of Monster Hunter and Monster Hunter World specifically. It's all about utilizing special strategies and leveraging teamwork, not about one player who has to carry the rest or a bunch of gear that wasn't earned fairly. It's about, as Tsujimoto attests, finding out the "hurdle" that's keeping you from success in the game and figuring out how to move past it on your own, which could be hindered by letting players pay for their own special loot box equipment or advancement via premium currency.
Though we haven’t gotten specific details on exactly how goodies like cosmetic items will work in-game or what will be offered, it’s refreshing to hear this kind of take from Tsujimoto, and it’s clear that preserving the heart of the game is more important than stacking extra cash or being greedy for the sake of being greedy. Monster Hunter World launches Jan. 26, 2018.
