Is Blue Protocol’s controversial monetization system really ‘fun and fair’? We ask Amazon Games

There's no topic more controversial than monetization when it comes to the world of live service and MMOs. The lifeblood of the business model, each developer must walk a careful line between profitability and greediness. The perception of over-pricing can be damaging to the reputation of a game, and any whiff of pay-to-win can turn users hostile in a moment.For Blue Protocol, monetization concerns have been the first major controversy to mark the game in its run up to launch. Early testers on the Japanese beta were both troubled with high prices attached to the in-game cosmetic gacha, as well as the presence of powerful combat summons locked behind the paid battle pass and in-game currency. That second concern proved significant as these can be summoned and used during combat, potentially giving an edge to those willing to splash some cash now and in the future.With the game's Western launch being handled in a collaboration between Amazon Games and Bandai Namco, I wanted to put these concerns to someone able to address them directly. That's why I sat with Mike Zadorojny, franchise lead for Blue Protocol at Amazon Games, during a preview session last month and did exactly that. Read more