EB Games was teasing something via social media these last few days, and now the grand reveal has occurred – and people don’t like it.
EB World PLUS is a paid membership tier that is supposed to nest alongside the normal EB World membership scheme, offering a range of “new” and “exciting” offers for regular EB Games shoppers. These incentives include stuff like 5% additional trade value (on top of your existing EB World benefit), 5% off digital currencies (like PSN and Robux) and then purchase incentives like buy 10 booster packs and get one free, or buy 10 items of clothing to get your next one free – delightful.
INTRODUCING 📣 EB World PLUS!
— EB Games Australia (@EBGamesAus) July 31, 2024
Get more out of your EB World membership with amazing awards and benefits including free gifts, extra trade value, and MORE! Head instore or online from 9AM AEST tomorrow!
Unlock the power of PLUS! pic.twitter.com/pMBsS0ad4T
Only, people aren’t buying it – not only in the operative sense, but also the concept entirely. The cost of living crisis is a very real thing, and money for the sake of entertainment and recreation is in short supply. So imagine the reception of a massive group of consumers who are finding it difficult to consume their entertainment of choice, when one of the most prolific vendors in the great wide Australian expanse suggests that they sign up to a paid-for membership to get some marginal goodies.
Cost wise, it’s not terrible – $25 for three months or $49 for the year if you commit to the entire year – with a free “bonus gift” of a $30 ramen bowl if you are into that kind of thing. But it’s a subscription to a video game retailer.
So yeah, people let them have it with both barrels.
A battle pass for a retail shop just feels weird and unnecessary
— Liddles (@LiddlesTV) July 31, 2024
lol as level 4 member. This is garbage
— Odin (@odinburgerson) July 31, 2024
— Dragonbait (@dragonbait0o0) July 31, 2024
So it’s a paid battle pass and the EB World levels are the free to play benefits?
Off all the things you could have bought to life from video games, this is what you chose?
I guess it doesn’t matter anyway since JB is usually $20-$40 cheaper anyway. 🤡
— Liminalitytv (@liminalitytv) July 31, 2024
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It gets particularly gruelling when you whip out the calculator and really break down the benefits on offer – even the napkin math doesn’t quite paint a picture of value:
Let’s say to get the 1 free pack of cards. Each pack will cost an average of $6 why not. You would spend $60 for a free pack. And let’s say you get 10 shirts $35 each (not the kids one) you would be spending $350 for a free shirt.
— Katgaming HC (@katgamingHC) July 31, 2024
There is also the glaring matter that some of these bonuses used to be available only to those who had reached the coveted Level 5 tier of EB World Membership. That was an expensive mountain to climb, and now those who did so feel just a little peeved that others can technically get their hard earned benefits, like the extra trade credit. You can’t call it pay-to-win, if only because nobody really wins.
So yeah, not off to a great start. There has been no comment from EB Games end, but in all honesty it would likely be a losing battle given the atmosphere.
If you are excited about EB World PLUS, it is live as of August 2024. If you are *not* interested – feel free to frolic through the backlash and memes online. They can be enjoyed for free.
Known throughout the interwebs simply as M0D3Rn, Ash is bad at video games. An old guard gamer who suffers from being generally opinionated, it comes as no surprise that he is both brutally loyal and yet, fiercely whimsical about all things electronic. On occasion will make a youtube video that actually gets views. Follow him on YouTube @Bad at Video Games
