Digital board game Moonbreaker just received its first content update, and with it, Moonbreaker is ditching in-game monetization. Developer Unknown Worlds Entertainment, the studio behind Subnautica, said the in-game store and monetization model negatively impact its goal of "making Moonbreaker as fun as it can be."
In practice, this means that the in-game store is now disabled and Moonbreaker's premium currency, pulsars, is no longer available. All units are automatically unlocked, and Unknown Worlds states that units added in future seasons will also be automatically unlocked. This of course means that there is no longer a need for boosters and therefore they have also been removed.
Unknown Worlds is also refunding all Pulsar purchases made since the start of Moonbreaker's Early Access period, which the studio says were transferred directly to players' wallets in Steam within a few hours after the release of the last patch.
Moonbreaker Founder's Packs will remain in players' inventory for Steam, while the pulsars included in the pack will be replaced with exclusive skins for Zax and Slopper. However, Unknown Worlds says it will refund money for these packs if players are unhappy with the changes. Players have until December 6, 2022 to receive a refund for packages.
Previously, Unknown Worlds dropped its pulsar charging system for Moonbreaker's boss rush mode, Cargo Run.
In patch 1.1, the "merit" and "empty" currencies were replaced with "sparks", which can be used to increase the rarity of units, which Unknown Worlds explains is a purely cosmetic improvement.
You'll also see faster progression through the season track and some new rewards added for the season.
The patch makes major changes to the rules of the game. The game no longer has a power-up or "play" mechanic during each match. Crew rosters have been reduced from 10 to 8, and you will start each game with your entire crew.
These are pretty fundamental changes to Moonbreaker, so be sure to read full patch notes on the official site. The update also includes a new game map, Cholek, and the studio has released the second episode of its podcast filled with history, Moonbreaker: Tales from the Reaches. It's a pleasure to listen to while using the in-game miniature painting kit.
