Gundam Evolution season 1's best units are unlocked at the start, it's alarming players as to the direction the game may be headed in.
Gundam Evolution is free to play, and that naturally comes with a fairly robust monetization system. A common currency system is in place with a free currency players can complete free challenges and battle levels to unlock, called Capital points. However, there is also a currency players can purchase to then spend on things like a battle , unit unlocks, unit cosmetics, and loot boxes, called Evo coins. A coin is approximately worth the same as one cent (1,000 evo coins is purchased for $10.00). Capital can be used to purchase new mobile suits and a specific capital loot box, but it cannot be used to unlock specific loot boxes, cosmetics, or the battle .
Similar to Overwatch 2's divisive battle , Gundam Evolution's stingy distribution of free-to-play currency and outdated loot box model threatens to burn players out. Over-monetization has been a frequent problem in free-to-play shooters, namely Halo Infinite and the aforementioned Overwatch 2. Most free-to-play Gundam Evolution players will only be able to unlock two mobile suits in the first season. Capital is currently locked to either two levels on the battle or the beginner challenges, which are finite and are also time-gated. Combined, this is estimated to only unlock a maximum of two mobile suits - nowhere near enough to unlock all five locked mobile suits, nor the future ones promised in further seasons.
Gundam Evolution Is Locking Characters Behind A Paywall
Gundam Evolution shares another unfortunate similarity with Overwatch 2's excessive cosmetic prices. Gundam Evolution currently features three "Abyss Guardian" sets, each of which features four unique skins. Each of these Abyss Guardian sets costs 3,480 evo coins, equating to over $30.00. Furthermore, evo coin sales are only done in multiples of thousands, meaning the actual cheapest amount of money players need to put in to just buy one of these sets comes out to over $40.00, nearly $10.00 per skin. These skins are nearly as valuable as individual units themselves, which are priced at 990 evo coins.
Gundam Evolution's core features have all come in for praise, but memories of Halo Infinite's own problems - despite its well-recieved gameplay - are difficult to ignore when considering the monetization issues plaguing the otherwise promising hero shooter. Gundam games in general are known for loot boxes and the like, but Gundam Evolution is poised to take a spot no other Gundam game has come close to approaching, at least in the West. If it doesn't want to ruin this opportunity, then Bandai Namco may have to change its approach.
