Stormgate Microtransactions Draw Criticism

Stormgate's Steam early access launch has sparked a divided response among fans and backers. This article examines the concerns raised by Kickstarter backers and analyzes the game's current state.

Stormgate's Rocky Early Access Debut

Backer Disappointment Over Monetization

Frost Giant Studios' Stormgate, a real-time strategy game aiming to evoke the spirit of Starcraft II, has experienced a challenging launch. Despite raising over $2.3 million on Kickstarter (against a $35 million initial goal), the game faces criticism from backers feeling deceived. Those who pledged $60 for the "Ultimate" package expected complete early access content, a promise seemingly unfulfilled.

Many backers viewed the project as a passion project, contributing to its success. While advertised as free-to-play with microtransactions, the aggressive monetization has alienated many.

Individual campaign chapters (three missions) cost $10, and co-op characters are priced identically—double the cost of Starcraft II's equivalent. Backers who invested $60 or more anticipated full early access gameplay, but felt betrayed by the omission of day-one content, such as the Warz character, from their Kickstarter rewards.

One Steam reviewer, Aztraeuz, commented, "You can take the developer out of Blizzard, but you can’t take Blizzard out of the developer...Why are there pre-day 1 microtransactions that we don’t own?"

In response to the negative feedback, Frost Giant Studios issued a Steam statement, thanking players and acknowledging that the "Ultimate" bundle's content wasn't clearly defined during the Kickstarter campaign. As a goodwill gesture, they offered the next paid Hero free to backers who pledged at the "Ultimate Founder’s Pack tier and above." However, this excludes Warz, as it was already purchased by many.

Despite this attempt at reconciliation, frustration persists over the monetization and underlying gameplay issues.

Addressing Player Feedback Post-Launch

Stormgate carries significant expectations, developed by Starcraft II veterans. While the core RTS gameplay shows potential, criticisms include aggressive monetization, visual inconsistencies, missing campaign features, underwhelming unit interactions, and an unchallenging AI.

These factors have resulted in a "Mixed" Steam rating, with some labeling it "Starcraft II at home." Despite these flaws, the game's potential for improvement remains. For a comprehensive review, please see our full analysis.