Destiny Cayde
Destiny side character Cayde gives a thumbs up in a mission from The Taken King. Activision

Microtransactions in Destiny were introduced this week (13 October) and so far they are only cosmetic and don't yet impact gameplay. New microtransaction information, data-mined from the recent update, reveals that may well change with the possible introduction of paid-for XP boosts and consumables that increase the likelihood for better loot drops.

Developers Bungie have created the Eververse Trading Company, an in-game store at which items can be bought for an in-game currency called Silver, which can be purchased with real-life money. At the moment players can only buy new emotes for their character, nothing which gives anyone an upper hand in gameplay.

One player has discovered a number of items within the database armoury which detail microtransaction items which could be deemed as "pay to win". The user, called Anatamize, listed them on Bungie's community forum.

  • Heuristic Light - Buy additional mouldering shards during the King's Fall Raid.
  • Indomitable Light - Buy more likelihood for armour and weapon drops during a normal mode King's Fall raid.
  • Valorous Light - Buy more likelihood for armour and weapon drops during a hard mode King's Fall raid.
  • Hunter Level 25 Starter Pack - Buy level 25 instantly, fully level any subclass instantly, and receive several telemetries to gain XP quicker.
  • Warlock Level 25 Starter Pack - Buy level 25 instantly, fully level any subclass instantly, and receive several telemetries to gain XP quicker.
  • Titan Level 25 Starter Pack - Buy level 25 instantly, fully level any subclass instantly, and receive several telemetries to gain XP quicker.
  • Subclass Infusion - Buy a fully levelled subclass instantly (Fully upgrades your currently equipped subclass)
  • Bone Trinkets - Buy Increased XP Gains from The Fallen for 10 minutes
  • Void Shackles - Buy Increased XP Gains from Hive for 10 minutes
  • Spent Displacer - Buy Increased XP Gains from Vex for 10 minutes
  • Campaign Medals - Buy Increased XP Gains from Cabal for 10 minutes

The microtransactions come in three flavours. Items that increase the amount of or likelihood of specific items being dropped by dead enemies during gameplay, Starter Packs which allow characters to skip right to level 25 or to the top level, with other perks as well, and various items which increase the experience gained from killing specific enemies.

Bungie and publishers Activision haven't yet confirmed whether these will actually appear in the game, but nobody would be surprised if this was the direction both companies are taking the game in.

Destiny recently passed its first birthday and released third expansion The Taken King. It appears as though the game's second year will feature fewer expansions, or none at all, which may be why micro-transactions are being introduced.

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