- Primary Subject: Video Game Paywalls (Monetization & Industry Practices)
- Key Update: Amid shifting consumer laws and a sharp rise in player pushback throughout early 2026, major gaming communities are actively organizing boycotts against titles that lock essential gameplay mechanics and endings behind premium transactions.
- Status: Confirmed (Industry Trend)
- Last Verified: May 28, 2026
- Quick Answer: Video game paywalls are digital monetization barriers that lock structural features, critical story endings, or powerful characters behind paid downloadable content or microtransactions.
When it comes to video games, especially those that are triple-A, it's expected that some content will be locked behind a paywall. In most cases, they're acceptable, as what needs to be paid for are usually cosmetics and have no effect on the overall gameplay.
However, there have been instances when what was paywalled was so integral to the game or provided such a huge advantage when purchased that it caused severe outrage or even disbelief among players. If you're wondering what they are, here are some examples of some of the most ridiculous ones.
1. Metal Gear Survive - Save Slots
In video games, especially modern ones, it's normal for them to allow you to have more than one save slot, as you might want to experiment in new ways of playing while still retaining previous progress. This was the case for the Metal Gear series, up until the release of Metal Gear Survive, where you were restricted to only 1.
If you wanted to have more, you were forced to purchase them, and it cost over $10 for each one. The idea that you had to buy a feature that has been free in games for so long placed the game in a horrible spotlight, and coupled with the host of other problems it was plagued with, it's understandable why people didn't want to play it.
2. Evolve - Monsters and Hunters
Back in the day, Evolve was a popular game whose main selling point was that you could play as either the monster that needed to stay alive and get strong enough to survive what's trying to kill you, or as a hunter together with a team that's meant to track and eliminate the growing threat. Considering that both play integral roles in the overall gameplay, it's insane to think that different types of them are locked behind a paywall.
If you don't shell out lots of money, you'll miss out on some of the coolest monster and hunter characters that are far better than what the base game gives you. While you can still encounter them via players who made the purchase, there's no way for you to play as them unless you make the necessary payments, which turned a lot of people off from Evolve.
3. Asura's Wrath - The True Final Ending
While others have locked true endings behind a paywall, this is one of, if not the most, infamous and well-recognized examples. Capcom and Cyberconnect2 believed that, after having put Asura through so much and finally getting his chance to face the final boss, it would be a good idea to end the game right before the climactic battle.
So, if you purchased the base game and refuse to pay for the Part IV: Nirvana DLC, you only get a huge cliffhanger and a message that essentially states that if you want to face the big baddie, you'll need to shell out money. While it wasn't a steep price to pay, the fact that you had to pay it at all was enough to grate on people's nerves.
4. Pokemon Legends: Z-A - Mega Evolution Forms
Pokemon fans were excited for this game, as not only did it let you go back to the familiar Kalos region and Lumiose City, but it also reintroduced the Mega Evolution mechanic. While you can obtain many of the stronger forms through the base game, some require that you purchase the DLC.
This is a big problem, as it could mean missing out on your favorite Pokemon and their new forms, while also giving certain players a competitive edge in multiplayer battles. They should have been in the base game instead of being paywalled, given how the Mega Evolution mechanic is the main driving point of the game.
5. The Sims 4 - Multiple Features
While the Sims have always been known to lock behind many features behind a paywall, the fourth game in the series is the one that took things a step too far. You would think that simple things like doing laundry, going out to eat, or being able to cuddle in bed would come free, given that they did in previous entries.
Well, they weren't, and not only that, but other features, such as owning pets, weather, apartment renting, and others that feel like they should have been part of the base game, were also locked behind a paywall. For a life simulation game, having to pay for all that made The Sims 4 feel so incomplete that many chose to stick with the previous entries instead.
There might be other examples of ridiculous paywalls, but these are some that I believe are the worst. Odds are that we might see even more in the future, but hopefully, that won't happen, as games that lock behind essential content usually don't benefit from doing so.
For more, stick with us here at Gfinityesports.com, the best website for gaming news, reviews, features, and guides.