So this week has seen the introduction of single item features in the shop, and a continued focus on smaller bundles. While the issue concerning price is something that’s going to have to be fine tuned over time, the current layout of the storefront is an issue that can be addressed much quicker, and more decisively. This thread is to encourage discussion on the storefront UI, packaging and delivery of MTX in Infinite.
Main suggestion:
The current tile layout is extremely limited. Even if this were to remain as a method of introducing new items to the store as they become available and function as a “landing page”, there really needs to be a toggle for previously released items. This will cut down on FOMO and more specifically allow people to buy things individually, at their own pace within the current season, not to mention several other smaller issues/gripes that an open storefront would address.
Secondary suggestions:
Player Bundling
While a direct benefit of the main point would be piecemeal purchases that a lot of people want, to add to that I’d like to see a bundling system. Alongside your featured bundle of the week, let us build a bundle for a % discount off of the individual prices of the selected items. The bundle would consist of a helmet, chest, left shoulder, right shoulder, and 3 accessory slots to be filled by either coatings, visors, or hand/wrist/knee pieces/helmet accessories. Bundle price would come in 20-30% below piecemeal total. Could do the same thing with flair, allow a bundle for a handful of keychains, armor effects, emblems, pallets, nameplates, etc. This promotes not only value, but choice, and being locked into curated bundles often discourages purchases.
Store Sales
This is a super unpopular take, but let’s be real, cosmetic pricing in Infinite is not even remotely as bad as people make it out to be when compared to its competitors. With the exception of a few items (pre-price drops) the values have been in line with what other games are doing for similar items within those respective games. While we’ve gotten some pricing adjustments, varying from pretty good to meh, it is not a reasonable expectation that this will keep happening. Going into season 2 (if not sooner), a sale rotation would be a smart idea. Smart use of a sale feature should range from entire bundles to pieces of bundles or even big ticket standalones. This is tricky because you’re going to get people flipping their lid over FOMO and demanding discounts for something they “just bought”, but that’s how sales have worked for decades.
Obviously none of this should take precedence over the technical issues Infinite still faces, and I’d rather 343i focus on those first, but the team managing the storefront and MTX could benefit from constructive and REALISTIC input (i.e. “it should all be free” is not realistic and “Halo always had ______” is not constructive. So let’s hear some ideas!