Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League faces backlash after Rocksteady reveals battle pass and online requirements.
Harley Quinn, King Shark, Deadshot, and Captain Boomerang stare downwards via Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League (2023), Rocksteady Games
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One of the FAQs on the game’s official website asks, “Is an internet connection required to play Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League?” The answer provided by the developer reads, “Yes, an internet connection is required to play Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League solo or via online co-op.”
Wonder Woman slams Superman into the ground via Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League (2023), Rocksteady Games
While not confirmed to demand a persistent connection, “always online” DRM checks were rejected by the gaming community at large. When the Xbox One was revealed at E3 2013, it was announced it would do just that, only for Sony to later announce the PlayStation 4 was cheaper and allowed users to play and share used games with no issue.
If the cheering and chanting of Sony didn’t make it obvious, then-head of Xbox Don Mattrick leaving a mere 18 days after that presentation did.
The Flash peers over Deadshot’s shoulder, the latter oblivious to his presence via Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League (2023), Rocksteady Games
However, the need for the game to use online connections may not be for DRM but to prevent illicit ways to obtain in-game currency or premium items.
“Will Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League have a battle pass?,” inquires another frequently asked question. “Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League will have a post-launch cosmetics-only battle pass system to earn new outfits, emotes and other items to customize playable characters,” prefaces the respective answer.
It continues, “Each battle pass will have free tiers available at no cost to all Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League players, along with premium tiers that will be available via an optional in-game purchase. All battle pass items will be cosmetic and will not affect gameplay in any way.”
Captain Boomerang via Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League (2023), Rocksteady Games
Another question asks if the upcoming title will have in-game purchases. Sure enough, “Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League will have cosmetic items available for optional in-game purchase that can be used to customize playable characters.”
“Each cosmetics-only battle pass will also have premium tiers that will be available via an optional in-game purchase. All in-game purchases will be completely optional and will not affect gameplay in any way.”
King Shark wears what could be The Riddler’s hat via Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League (2023), Rocksteady Games
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Requiring an online connection also makes the game time-sensitive. When the servers are shut-down, it would render the game unplayable and, should the game sell poorly, this could happen in under a year; negatively impacting players who did enjoy it.
The microtransaction-heavy Babylon’s Fall, for example, launched early in March of 2022 but was shut down February 27th this year — one of the many reasons why this particular title managed to squeeze its way into our Top 10 Worst Video Games Of 2022 list.
Players look out over the horizon via Babylon’s Fall (2022), Square Enix
Were this the case for Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, there is a chance the game may continue to run after support ends. Such examples include Chocobo GP and Crystal Dynamics’ infamous Marvel’s Avengers.
Neither of the aforementioned titles required players to be online at all times, though.
Harley Quinn talks on her earpiece as a Harley Quinn looks on as Superman holds up a soldier via Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League (2023), Rocksteady Games
The fear of the game being yet another poor quality microtransaction and live service game may explain the reception it has recently received.
Gaming news Twitter usr @Wario64 shared the details from the FAQ, summarizing, “Internet connection required to play Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, even in solo play,”
Wario64 highlights part of the Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League FAQ via Twitter
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The majority of replies and quote retweets in the comment’s section under Wario64’s post above condemned the online connection and the live service model.
YouTuber Cyael brought attention to the alarming number of dislikes found in recent trailers for the game, noting, “+100k Dislikes on @Rocksteadys Suicide Squad Kill the Justice League game for going full Marvels Avengers. Shills working overtime to fellate anticonsumer nonsense while Babylons Fall shuts down today. A glimpse into the future.”
Cyael notes the poor reception of recent Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League trailers via Twitter
It is worth pointing out that all of those trailers were uploaded on the same day Rocksteady showcased Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, during PlayStation’s most recent State of Play presentation, and revealed that the game would have a battle pass.
This was also the day @Wario64 shared the game’s FAQ that confirmed the game requires an internet connection to be played.
Deadshot, Captain Boomerang, King Shark, and Harley Quinn stare on in various states of confusion and shock via Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League (2023), Rocksteady Games
At the time of writing, the new like-to-dislike ratios on the trailers highlighted by Cyael are the following:
- IGN – Game Overview Trailer | State of Play trailer. 16,000 likes, 45, 000 dislikes.
- PlayStation – Official Co-Op Gameplay. 8,800 likes, 42,000 dislikes.
- IGN – Extended Gameplay | State of Play 2023. 9,300 likes, 15,000 dislikes.
- Official Game Channel – Official Co-Op Gameplay – “No Matter the Cost”. 3,200 likes, 10,000 dislikes.
- PlayStation – Behind the Scenes. 1,700 likes, 7,500 dislikes.
- Gamespot – Full Breakout. 1,400 likes, 6,400 dislikes.
- Warner Bros. Games – Official Co-Op Gameplay – “No Matter the Cost”. 1,100 likes, 5,700 dislikes.
- Official Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Channel – Official Behind the Scenes – “Out of Arkham Asylum”. 1,100 likes, 4,200 dislikes.
Deadshot in Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League (2023), Warner Bros. Games
Across the previously mentioned trailers, it’s an average of 5,325 likes and 16,975 dislikes. Rounded to 5,000 likes and 17,000 dislikes, that’s a 5:17 ratio — which is roughly just over three dislikes for every like.
NEXT: ‘Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League’ Alleged Plot Leaks, Leaker Claims Live Service Plans Scrapped
