Just a year ago, developer id Software promised fans that Doom Eternal would not include microtransactions. In particular, the creative director Hugo Martin himself said that there wouldn't be a shop in "like you'd expect" and that "Eternal is a $60 game, not a free-to-play or a mobile game."
It seems that plans have altered, however. Doom Eternal just saw the release of a new cosmetic DLC pack. The Doomicorn Master Collection Cosmetic Pack, which costs $5 USD, offers the user a variety of podiums, animations, and skins to utilize. This bundle was previously given away for free as a part of the Twitch Prime Gaming Loot promotion.
Unfulfilled vows
A broken promise is bad enough, but it is plain offensive when the promise is badly crafted. It seems that a large number of customers who purchased this DLC aren't even getting the skins that were advertised.
Even worse, id Software has botched up a few more microtransactions in Doom Eternal. The Series One Cosmetic bundle has been introduced in addition to the Doomicorn bundle. It is more costly at $8.99 USD and includes every cosmetic that was exclusive to the first season of Eternal.
It should, at minimum, have cosmetics from season one. Rather, upon purchasing the Series One Cosmetic Pack, users get the Doomicorn skins. It's advised to hold off on buying either pack until the ethics of microtransactions in Doom Eternal are resolved, even if you're not too concerned about them.
Regrettably, it is not unusual for microtransactions to be included in AAA games despite prior assurances from developers. In 2019, Activision's Crash Team Racing was subjected to similar treatment and faced significant backlash from fans. Most likely, publisher Bethesda, not id Software, is the one that made this decision. Given Martin's prior opposition to this kind of economic model, it doesn't seem plausible that id Software intended to accomplish this.
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