LogFAQs > #963847813

Judgmenl posted...

I seriously believe that cash shop locked cosmetics is pay to win.

That's axiomatically false, though. Cosmetics don't help you win the game. If they did, they wouldn't be cosmetics.

Now, it can certainly be argued that cosmetic microtransactions (or DLC or loot boxes or whatever other monetization system) are no less predatory and manipulative than actual P2W offerings, given the extent to which they capitalize on FOMO and how games often structure themselves in a way that places social pressure on players to encourage cosmetic purchases. That, I won't disagree with. To that end, you can extend that to argue that there's no meaningful distinction between P2W and cosmetic microtransactions, though I would disagree with that. But the definition of "pay to win" is being able to purchase significant gameplay advantages that free players either can't have or have to invest very heavily into the game to attain. "Cosmetics" refers to items (purchased or otherwise) that only have an aesthetic effect and do not provide gameplay advantages. By definition, cosmetics can't be pay to win.