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Ahead of the development of Cyberpunk 2077, CD Projekt Red continued to emphasize transparency. They announced they’d offer two editions: a standard and a limited collector’s edition, stressing a simple, no-hidden-catch approach. This was in stark contrast to the Anthem fiasco, which became a textbook case of problematic monetization.
EA’s Anthem launched with a fraught pre-order process that included early access, demo days, and exclusive content through different pre-order tiers and subscriptions — all of which piled pressure on players to purchase early or miss out on content. The backlash reflected broader frustrations with EA’s approach: locking features behind paywalls and pre-order bonuses that felt less like rewards and more like marketing tricks.