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PlayerUnknown, the creator of the hit indie shooter Battlegrounds recently talked about the game’s future in an interview where he said that skins and loot boxes are going to be added in the future. Players will only gain access to the feature once it’s done, however, as the title is still in Early Access. Despite this fact, the MMO shooter has gained a huge following, which is why it’s also coming to consoles.
Brendan Greene, also known as PlayerUnknown, spoke to Gamasutra about the prospect of adding skins via loot boxes into Battlegrounds. Greene noted that he didn’t agree with some of the gambling practices involving skins in other games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, but he still believes that skins are essential in any game’s economy.
"I don't want to encourage gambling,” Green explains. “I'm very happy now Steam has put it in their terms that 'you cannot use this for gambling,' but I still believe the skin economy is a good thing to have in a game. Because it's monetization for us, but it also creates an economy for clothing items."
Players who might be concerned about this kind of monetization practice in an Early Access game don’t have to worry, however, as Greene explicitly said that it’s not going to happen until after the title is finished. He also explained that for the sake of simplicity, the marketplace is going to come in the form of keys to fit open boxes.
In related news, it would seem that Battlegrounds has become popular enough to merit a console release, Business Insider reports. The game costs $30 on Steam and has already grossed $60 million with 2 million units sold. Players simply adore the survival, last man standing appeal of the game, with 100 players stuck on an island where they are forced to clash or form temporary alliances.
Speaking to the publication, Greene revealed that he and his team are considering bringing the game over to both the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4, with the former being the priority. He didn’t provide a timeframe for when this will happen, but it’s likely after the game is released in its finished form.
