Capcom was present at this year’s Tokyo Game Show with new details regarding Devil May Cry 5 in tow. Along with showing off new gameplay for established protagonist Dante (who will once again be sharing the spotlight alongside DmC 4 lead Nero) and unveiling a third playable character named V, Capcom revealed that the upcoming game will have real-money microtransactions. However, Capcom is also working to ensure said microtransactions will be as unobtrusive as possible.
During their Devil May Cry 5 demon-slaying adventures, players will periodically encounter Divinity Statues which allow them to spend the Red Orbs they have collected on character upgrades and helpful items. This is very much in line with the in-game shop systems from previous DmC games, but in DmC 5 the Divinity Statues will also have a new sub-menu which offers players the opportunity to purchase packages of Red Orbs for real money.
As DmC 5 game director Hideaki Itsuno recently explained to GameSpot, the Red Orb microtransactions will essentially allow players to skip the grind of slowly accruing orbs so they can unlock more powerful upgrades:
“With giving people the ability to purchase Red Orbs, it’s something we want to give people as an option. If they want to save time and just want to get all the stuff at once, those people can do that. But on the other hand I don’t feel you have to get all the moves. You should be able to play it the way you want to play it.”
Itsuno went on to explain that, while instantly unlocking all upgrades via Red Orb microtransactions is technically possible, it may in fact not be the best strategy for players who want to truly master the game’s combat tactics. Throughout the entire DmC series, more complex upgrades and character maneuvers have been purposefully made more expensive (in terms of Red Orb cost) since they require more time and skill to master. If a player instantly unlocks all upgrades from the get-go, sure they’ll have a lot of options but they might also find themselves overwhelmed, as opposed to a player who slowly unlocked upgrades over time and gained the requisite mastery along the way.
Whether you dabble in the game’s microtransactions or note, you’ll be able to play Devil May Cry 5 for yourself come March 8, 2019, a release date which Capcom confirmed last month. For more on the latest Capcom news, you can also read about the recently announced Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy.