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- Gacha games investing in greed-free single-player titles like Stellar Blade and Granblue Fantasy: Relink is a respectable move.
- However, some developers like Hoyoverse continue to create one Gacha after another.
- It’s only right for profitable gachas to create a monetization-less game occasionally.
Gacha games is a concept that has only recently gained mainstream attention but has existed for years. You might not have heard of it before Genshin Impact, but they have a rich history on the mobile platform. Getting your favorite characters and their equipment is truly an adrenaline rush, which is what these games count on, you emptying your wallets.
But my point today is what they decide to do with this revenue. Some fail to maintain their charm and shut down, others invest it cleverly per popular demand and continue to grow, and some decide to prepare a non-predatory present for their loyal fans—my favorite kind.
Why it matters: If Nikke’s developer Shift Up and Granblue Fantasy’s Cygames can make purely entertaining single-player games, I see no reason other big gacha developers can’t.
Stellar Blade and GBF: Relink, A True Treat
What is this present I speak of? Well, of course, single-player games. Certain gacha devs decided to reward their loyal fans for all they spent on their games with an awesome single-player game free of microtransactions and full of love and dedication. What better reward could a gamer ask for?
The first such example is Granblue Fantasy: Relink. GBF is one of the oldest gacha games, with a strong, dedicated fanbase, and Relink isn’t the first time it invested in a non-gacha treat.
From the fighting games GBF Versus to the latest Relink, Cygames sure knows how to put a smile on my face. These titles, especially Relink, are just pure fan service overload. From an All-Stars fighting game to a full-blown JRPG complete with complex and entertaining gameplay, a short but sweet story, and a ton of replayability, it’s all I ever wanted.
And how could I not mention Stellar Blade? Korean developer Shift Up truly outdid itself. After the success of Nikke, it humbly decided to give something gacha-free to its fans: Stellar Blade. An action game inspired by Nier filled with slick combat, an engaging story, attractive characters, and exciting collaborations. I genuinely love gestures like this.
Stellar Blade is a success in every sense of the word
byu/Kazooie05 instellarblade
Where’s Hoyoverse’s Single-Player Game?
It takes a lot of guts to invest a huge sum in a single-player game that won’t earn nearly as much as a gacha. They could just make another gacha game, doubling the profit. Why produce single-player titles when gachas can earn for years? Just look at Mihoyo (now Hoyoverse).
Genshin Impact was the explosion that started the mainstream gacha trend. Hoyoverse’s Honkai Impact 3rd was doing well, but it was nowhere near what Genshin made. People came to its support one after another, and Hoyoverse became one of the biggest companies around. What did it do next? Make two more big-budget gachas, of course.
Don’t get me wrong, Hoyoverse knows how to please its fans. It has invested more wisely and grown its titles than any other gacha developer. But there’s no denying that money-making is one of its biggest priorities with 3 gacha games, growing powercreep, and manipulation of the game’s mechanics to favor newer characters.
Generosity Goes A Long Way For A Gacha
Besides, Hoyoverse isn’t the only one. Look at Kuro games, coming up with Wuthering Waves as a Genshin Impact competitor after Punishing Gray Raven. Similarly, the Arknights developer is also working on an open-world gacha game, which is a waste if you ask me. Arknights is probably the most unique and one of the best gacha games around.
Interesting characters, amazing stories, highly entertaining combat full of tactical depth, the need to understand the mechanics, and a less-predatory gacha system that does not promote excessive power creep. And now the developer is funding a “same-old” open-world gacha as if the concept hasn’t been exhausted enough.
My point is that no matter how lenient, a gacha will always remain a money-making business more than a game. However, as long as it occasionally rewards its players, an understanding can be reached. Even now, player happiness is through the roof when a gacha game issues free pulls.
Imagine the hearts a gacha can win with a solid, agenda-free single-player to reward fans for their consistent support. Stellar Blade and GBF did it, and trust me, it is the greatest form of care a gacha company can show. Other gacha games have enough funds for this, especially Hoyoverse, and it’s time for a hearty reward.
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Shameer Sarfaraz has previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, he loves to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games. Besides his passion for breaking news stories, Shahmeer loves spending his leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited his articles.
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