Hero's Song Won't Have Microtransactions

John Smedley says that no game of his will include microtransactions.

In a recent Reddit AMA, former Sony Online/Daybreak boss John Smedley and his new studio Pixelmage Games revealed that Hero's SOng won't include any microtransactions.

"There will be zero selling of any microtransactions in any Pixelmage Games game including Hero's Song. So no--no power will ever be sold period. Earn it," Smedley said.

When asked to explain why he is so against microtransactions, Smedley said microtransaction systems can "change the feeling of development."

"I don't like microtransactions because I worked on too many games with them," he explained, potentially referencing games like H1Z1, PlanetSide 2, and DC Universe Online. "They change the feeling of development to one where you feel like you have to worry about the business instead of the gameplay. That leads to tons of compromises. I hated that."

"I also hated defending stuff we did to make money to our players.. because they're right.. they know we spent too much time focusing on that stuff."

Smedley also said that part of the reason why he left Daybreak was because of his public clash with hackers.

"I was also under some pretty heavy attack by hackers, and I'm not going to say that didn't enter into the equation [to leave Daybreak]," Smedley said. "I don't like having my co-workers having to deal with that."

Pixelmage has launched a Kickstarter campaign to help fund Hero's Song, asking for $800,000 to finish the game.