The Polish publisher Go On Board has developed a new board game for Cyberpunk 2077 in collaboration with the video game studio CD Projekt Red. The corresponding crowdfunding campaign is running and has been very successful. The first expansion, of all things, is now being criticized by fans.
The Campaign board game with real-time twist to Cyberpunk 2077 has got off to a great start - the publisher Go On Board has now exceeded the three million US dollar mark with crowdfunding. However, the success is not surprising. Over 60.000 fans had already set their sights on the project before the start of the financing phase. The popularity of the brand is a good draw. But the fun stops when the money comes in - and so does the support of the fans. There is criticism. The reason: Go On Board has presented the first expansion for the board game. The price is hefty.
“Now you have to limit the damage”
Admittedly, the basic gameplay structure of the new board game for Cyberpunk 2077 is not for everyone. The real-time component during the active turn in particular is something that often causes discussions in the board game scene. In the case of Cyberpunk 2077, however, this concept fits perfectly with the IP and the template from the video game sector - you still have to like it. Many fans don't seem to be averse to it, especially because the rest of the board game's framework data seems to be right: a campaign with varied missions, the well-known characters from the video game, role-playing elements and a skill system that is closely based on the original. All of this could be fun, despite the real-time hectic nature of the otherwise tranquil board game business.
Now, however, trouble has arisen. The reason for this can be found in the announcement of the first expansion to Cyberpunk 2077 - The Board Game. Specifically, it is about the price that Go On Board is asking for it: around 60 US dollars. For comparison: the basic game costs around 80 US dollars, not 20 more. The publisher calls the package a "gameplay expansion". It contains four characters, a new enemy type and two missions. In view of the content, some fans' implants burst: "You announce a 60 dollar expansion on Friday afternoon and thought you could enjoy the weekend? What did you expect, now you have to do damage control".
In fact, communication is a crucial factor for successful crowdfunding campaigns, and fans expect prompt responses to questions. However, the developers have now taken their weekend off after the announcement, and although they want to be active again on Saturday, they need some sleep first. In the meantime, anger is building: even after hours, fans have not commented on the price-performance ratio. "Many are thinking about leaving the campaign because they fear more of these $60 surprises," one can read in the comments. The sentiment is similar: the pricing is excessive, and the expansion contains too little for the amount requested.
Such "moves" on the part of publishers are not unusual in the crowdfunding business. Campaigns are often enriched with content that seems to be out of line in terms of price - at least in direct comparison with the basic products. The conclusion that publishers would co-finance part of the overall campaign through expensive expansions is at least obvious. Although there is a choice, many fans often decide to buy the full package anyway. The "fear of missing out" - the fear of missing out on something - is a major factor. Especially when it comes to exclusive content that will not make it onto the market later. The latter does not apply to the expansion to the Cyberpunk 2077 board game, but it is quite clever on the part of Go On Board to outsource the additional content about the iconic Johnny Silverhand (played by Keanu Reeves) and his crew from the board game and offer it as a paid expansion.
The Crowdfunding campaign for Cyberpunk 2077 - The Board Game, which will also be available in a German version, runs until September 20th. Currently, 18.102 fans support the project.
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