Lightforge Loot Crate: Why Re-Release an 'Exclusive' Item?

[Ellisia]

I’m deeply concerned about the re-release of the Lightforge Loot Crate, including the Pyro Glide (returns January 27, 10:00 AM server time). When this crate was first released, it was marketed as exclusive and available for 30 days only, leading many of us to believe that the crate—and its items—would not return in the future.

Because of this, my husband and I spent $700 to purchase the entire set, thinking it would serve as a unique symbol of being early supporters of the game. We believed this exclusivity made the investment worthwhile. If we had known that the crate would return in just six months—and with higher drop rates—we would never have made that purchase.

Why This Feels Misleading

Marketing as "Exclusive": The crate was explicitly described as "exclusive" and limited to a 30-day window, strongly implying that it would never return. Players made purchases based on this assumption.
Devalued Purchases: Not only is the crate returning, but it’s being re-released with a 20% increased drop rate for items. This means players now have an easier chance of obtaining what was supposed to be a rare and exclusive reward. For those of us who spent significant money during the initial release, this is incredibly unfair.
Significance to Early Players: Many of us purchased the set to represent our dedication and support as first players. Re-releasing the crate with better odds erases the special meaning behind owning these items.

Questions for the Developers

Why was the crate marketed as "exclusive" if there were plans to re-release it later?
Why are the drop rates being increased, further reducing the rarity of these items?
Will there be compensation for players who made significant purchases under the assumption that these items were one-time exclusives?
How will you ensure clearer communication about "exclusive" and "limited-time" items in the future?

What We’d Like

We’re not asking for much—just transparency and accountability. If items like these are going to return, or if changes like increased drop rates are planned, players deserve to know from the start so we can make informed decisions about how to spend our money.

Thank you for listening. I hope the developers will address this issue fairly and take steps to rebuild trust with the community.

[GPS_Gone]

Obviously fraud.
They should have not mentioned 'Exclusive'
This game is full of Sh*t.

[RangeFinder]

Exclusive does not mean it will never be available again. What it means in this context is that those items where exclusive to the loot crates. Separately the loot crates were available for 30 days. They never said they would never be released again.

[Noxsa]

Originally posted by Ellisia:

it was marketed as exclusive and available for 30 days only, leading many of us to believe that the crate—and its items—would not return in the future.

Because of this, my husband and I spent $700 to purchase the entire set, thinking it would serve as a unique symbol of being early supporters of the game.

Seriously, is this your first game with lootbox'es lol, they ALL do it like that, just to prey on the weak, that's why people say its PREDATORY. do you now understand why lootbox'es are BAD.
i can't say i'm sorry, some people need to experience the bad, and i wished more had this experience, maybe then there would be more pushback and who knows they will stop doing this. "not waiting on that, its never going to change, because most people brains are so washed, they think and feel its normal"
i'm just glad my game brain evolved in a time where games are made by gamers for gamers.

[Ellisia]

Originally posted by RangeFinder:

Exclusive does not mean it will never be available again. What it means in this context is that those items where exclusive to the loot crates. Separately the loot crates were available for 30 days. They never said they would never be released again.

thanks for the reply! I get that 'exclusive' meant the items were only available for 30 days, but there was no clear explanation at the time about whether they'd ever return. For many of us, 'exclusive' usually means something that won't come back, so we assumed that’s what it meant.

The term 'exclusive' was a big part of the appeal, especially for early players who wanted something rare to show our support for the game. It made it feel like we were getting a special, limited-time item. The 30-day window also created urgency—like if we didn’t buy now, we’d miss out forever, which pushed us to act quickly.

But now, with the re-release and the increased drop rate, it takes away from that exclusivity and makes the original purchase feel less special.

It’d be helpful if the devs were clearer about what 'exclusive' really means in the future, so players know what to expect.

[Ellisia]

Originally posted by Noxsa:

Originally posted by Ellisia:

it was marketed as exclusive and available for 30 days only, leading many of us to believe that the crate—and its items—would not return in the future.

Because of this, my husband and I spent $700 to purchase the entire set, thinking it would serve as a unique symbol of being early supporters of the game.

Seriously, is this your first game with lootbox'es lol, they ALL do it like that, just to prey on the weak, that's why people say its PREDATORY. do you now understand why lootbox'es are BAD.
i can't say i'm sorry, some people need to experience the bad, and i wished more had this experience, maybe then there would be more pushback and who knows they will stop doing this. "not waiting on that, its never going to change, because most people brains are so washed, they think and feel its normal"
i'm just glad my game brain evolved in a time where games are made by gamers for gamers.

I get that lootboxes and re-released items are common in many games, but that doesn’t make it any less frustrating when it happens, especially when the word 'exclusive' is used to create that sense of rarity. This was actually my first lootbox purchase, and I really trusted that the 'exclusive' label meant the items wouldn't come back. In South Korea, the resale of virtual items is illegal, and I thought it would be the same for this game, especially with items marketed as exclusive.

In some countries, these practices are seen as problematic, and it’s why lootboxes often get labeled as predatory. I just feel like players deserve more transparency, so we can make informed choices.

Hopefully, it makes a difference if more players start pushing back against this kind of practice.

[Noxsa]

Originally posted by Ellisia:

Originally posted by RangeFinder:

Exclusive does not mean it will never be available again. What it means in this context is that those items where exclusive to the loot crates. Separately the loot crates were available for 30 days. They never said they would never be released again.

thanks for the reply! I get that 'exclusive' meant the items were only available for 30 days, but there was no clear explanation at the time about whether they'd ever return. For many of us, 'exclusive' usually means something that won't come back, so we assumed that’s what it meant.

The term 'exclusive' was a big part of the appeal, especially for early players who wanted something rare to show our support for the game. It made it feel like we were getting a special, limited-time item. The 30-day window also created urgency—like if we didn’t buy now, we’d miss out forever, which pushed us to act quickly.

But now, with the re-release and the increased drop rate, it takes away from that exclusivity and makes the original purchase feel less special.

It’d be helpful if the devs were clearer about what 'exclusive' really means in the future, so players know what to expect.

OH and "'exclusive' usually means something that won't come back" 100% means it would not come back, sadly they broke that OR are so incompitent that they don't know what exclusive means. ofc being an old gamer, i'm used to this that none of the devs know that word and all of them abuse it to get get rich. welcome to the gameworld.

[Ellisia]

Originally posted by Noxsa:

Originally posted by Ellisia:

thanks for the reply! I get that 'exclusive' meant the items were only available for 30 days, but there was no clear explanation at the time about whether they'd ever return. For many of us, 'exclusive' usually means something that won't come back, so we assumed that’s what it meant.

The term 'exclusive' was a big part of the appeal, especially for early players who wanted something rare to show our support for the game. It made it feel like we were getting a special, limited-time item. The 30-day window also created urgency—like if we didn’t buy now, we’d miss out forever, which pushed us to act quickly.

But now, with the re-release and the increased drop rate, it takes away from that exclusivity and makes the original purchase feel less special.

It’d be helpful if the devs were clearer about what 'exclusive' really means in the future, so players know what to expect.

OH and "'exclusive' usually means something that won't come back" 100% means it would not come back, sadly they broke that OR are so incompitent that they don't know what exclusive means. ofc being an old gamer, i'm used to this that none of the devs know that word and all of them abuse it to get get rich. welcome to the gameworld.

Well, I've been gaming for 25 years, so I'm pretty familiar with how things usually work. MMORPGs weren't really my thing, and I tend to stick with single-player games, so this was my first time dealing with loot crates. When I saw the term 'exclusive,' I thought it meant the item wouldn’t be available again, which is probably why I felt deceived.

[Vile]

I'm pretty sure they will have worded it very carefully so as to avoid any future law suits. I know they have stated previously that "Lightforge Loot Crates are available for a limited time only." It would lead you to assume that it meant it was "exclusive" or ONLY available for this particular limited time, however legally speaking it doesn't specify that there will not be another "limited time" that the loot crate becomes available.

I do sympathize on one hand that you feel mislead and that you were sold the skins under false pretenses. However, by buying the lootcrates for such a ridiculously high cost you, and others like you, have sent the message to the developers that such systems are acceptable and given them incentive to continue selling them. Here we are today with a new lootcrate being sold every month for silly money. It's a bit late to start trying to rally players to start "pushing back". Many of us have done so from the start by not engaging with their premium RNG lootcrates from day one.

[Ellisia]

Originally posted by Vile:

I'm pretty sure they will have worded it very carefully so as to avoid any future law suits. I know they have stated previously that "Lightforge Loot Crates are available for a limited time only." It would lead you to assume that it meant it was "exclusive" or ONLY available for this particular limited time, however legally speaking it doesn't specify that there will not be another "limited time" that the loot crate becomes available.

I do sympathize on one hand that you feel mislead and that you were sold the skins under false pretenses. However, by buying the lootcrates for such a ridiculously high cost you, and others like you, have sent the message to the developers that such systems are acceptable and given them incentive to continue selling them. Here we are today with a new lootcrate being sold every month for silly money. It's a bit late to start trying to rally players to start "pushing back". Many of us have done so from the start by not engaging with their premium RNG lootcrates from day one.

Well, just to clarify, my issue isn’t about spending money on a game I enjoy. Based on current game prices, I usually spend around $50–60 on single-player games (excluding DLCs) and get 50–70 hours out of them. Once Human is free, and I’ve already played over 400 hours, so spending $300–400 fits my personal $1-per-hour rule.

As I mentioned before, this was my first experience with loot crates since I usually stick to single-player games. If this were a South Korean company, they’d probably be facing lawsuits for misleading terminology like ‘exclusive,’ but since it’s a Chinese company, that kind of accountability doesn’t seem to happen. Honestly, it’s made me more cautious about spending money on loot crates from Chinese developers in the future.

For example, after Once Human, I spent over 500 hours on Throne and Liberty through Purple, NCSoft’s platform. I even bought items there and had no issues whatsoever. I felt safe with how they handled in-game purchases. That’s something I can’t say for Once Human, unfortunately.

[SaberToothDeathMouse]

Originally posted by Ellisia:

I’m deeply concerned about the re-release of the Lightforge Loot Crate, including the Pyro Glide (returns January 27, 10:00 AM server time). When this crate was first released, it was marketed as exclusive and available for 30 days only, leading many of us to believe that the crate—and its items—would not return in the future.

Because of this, my husband and I spent $700 to purchase the entire set, thinking it would serve as a unique symbol of being early supporters of the game. We believed this exclusivity made the investment worthwhile. If we had known that the crate would return in just six months—and with higher drop rates—we would never have made that purchase.

Why This Feels Misleading

Marketing as "Exclusive": The crate was explicitly described as "exclusive" and limited to a 30-day window, strongly implying that it would never return. Players made purchases based on this assumption.
Devalued Purchases: Not only is the crate returning, but it’s being re-released with a 20% increased drop rate for items. This means players now have an easier chance of obtaining what was supposed to be a rare and exclusive reward. For those of us who spent significant money during the initial release, this is incredibly unfair.
Significance to Early Players: Many of us purchased the set to represent our dedication and support as first players. Re-releasing the crate with better odds erases the special meaning behind owning these items.

Questions for the Developers

Why was the crate marketed as "exclusive" if there were plans to re-release it later?
Why are the drop rates being increased, further reducing the rarity of these items?
Will there be compensation for players who made significant purchases under the assumption that these items were one-time exclusives?
How will you ensure clearer communication about "exclusive" and "limited-time" items in the future?

What We’d Like

We’re not asking for much—just transparency and accountability. If items like these are going to return, or if changes like increased drop rates are planned, players deserve to know from the start so we can make informed decisions about how to spend our money.

Thank you for listening. I hope the developers will address this issue fairly and take steps to rebuild trust with the community.

"Exclusive" does not mean one-time-only window of opportunity. It means you can ONLY get that item "exclusively" through Loot Crates. Now if they suddenly decided to make the Pyro Glide an item that you can just buy for X-amount, then you would have something to **rightfully** complain about. I don't blame you for misunderstanding - and I'm sure the Devs love that it's so easily misunderstood. That's why they keep doing it - because folks like you with money to spend keep gambling in order to get what you wanted.

I thank you for supporting this "free" game - it's because of you, and others like you, that I'm able to play... although I have spent some money on cosmetic house decor as well.

As for the "Limited Time" declaration... that just means that after 30 days it won't be available ... until they decide to bring it back. Again, it's **very** misleading but as consumers we have to think of things literally. Had they said, "it's available for the next 30 days and then you will NEVER be able to get it again" then again, you would have something to complain about, rightfully so.

The only way we are going to stop companies from doing this sort of thing, is to simply stop paying for the stuff in this way. It is, very basically, online gambling and the first rule of gambling is: The House always wins. I would love to have the Pyro Glide, but I won't gamble for it. Will I continue to "support" this game through a few microtransactions for cosmetic furniture or character skins... I might if I see some I like. But I absolutely positively will not support "online gambling".

[Ellisia]

Originally posted by SaberToothDeathMouse:

Originally posted by Ellisia:

I’m deeply concerned about the re-release of the Lightforge Loot Crate, including the Pyro Glide (returns January 27, 10:00 AM server time). When this crate was first released, it was marketed as exclusive and available for 30 days only, leading many of us to believe that the crate—and its items—would not return in the future.

Because of this, my husband and I spent $700 to purchase the entire set, thinking it would serve as a unique symbol of being early supporters of the game. We believed this exclusivity made the investment worthwhile. If we had known that the crate would return in just six months—and with higher drop rates—we would never have made that purchase.

Why This Feels Misleading

Marketing as "Exclusive": The crate was explicitly described as "exclusive" and limited to a 30-day window, strongly implying that it would never return. Players made purchases based on this assumption.
Devalued Purchases: Not only is the crate returning, but it’s being re-released with a 20% increased drop rate for items. This means players now have an easier chance of obtaining what was supposed to be a rare and exclusive reward. For those of us who spent significant money during the initial release, this is incredibly unfair.
Significance to Early Players: Many of us purchased the set to represent our dedication and support as first players. Re-releasing the crate with better odds erases the special meaning behind owning these items.

Questions for the Developers

Why was the crate marketed as "exclusive" if there were plans to re-release it later?
Why are the drop rates being increased, further reducing the rarity of these items?
Will there be compensation for players who made significant purchases under the assumption that these items were one-time exclusives?
How will you ensure clearer communication about "exclusive" and "limited-time" items in the future?

What We’d Like

We’re not asking for much—just transparency and accountability. If items like these are going to return, or if changes like increased drop rates are planned, players deserve to know from the start so we can make informed decisions about how to spend our money.

Thank you for listening. I hope the developers will address this issue fairly and take steps to rebuild trust with the community.

"Exclusive" does not mean one-time-only window of opportunity. It means you can ONLY get that item "exclusively" through Loot Crates. Now if they suddenly decided to make the Pyro Glide an item that you can just buy for X-amount, then you would have something to **rightfully** complain about. I don't blame you for misunderstanding - and I'm sure the Devs love that it's so easily misunderstood. That's why they keep doing it - because folks like you with money to spend keep gambling in order to get what you wanted.

I thank you for supporting this "free" game - it's because of you, and others like you, that I'm able to play... although I have spent some money on cosmetic house decor as well.

As for the "Limited Time" declaration... that just means that after 30 days it won't be available ... until they decide to bring it back. Again, it's **very** misleading but as consumers we have to think of things literally. Had they said, "it's available for the next 30 days and then you will NEVER be able to get it again" then again, you would have something to complain about, rightfully so.

The only way we are going to stop companies from doing this sort of thing, is to simply stop paying for the stuff in this way. It is, very basically, online gambling and the first rule of gambling is: The House always wins. I would love to have the Pyro Glide, but I won't gamble for it. Will I continue to "support" this game through a few microtransactions for cosmetic furniture or character skins... I might if I see some I like. But I absolutely positively will not support "online gambling".

Honestly, it’s funny how everyone’s defining ‘exclusive’ differently—I’ve seen so many interpretations just in this discussion alone. Maybe that’s why they used the word ‘exclusive’ in the first place, to confuse people into buying.

At this point, I’ve learned my lesson. Now, both me and my husband check the company behind any game we find interesting—where they’re based, their reputation, and all that. It’s crazy how much this has changed us—two people who used to never care about who made the game, as long as we enjoyed it. But now, after dealing with shady stuff, we’ve become a lot more cautious.

I’ve also started staying away from companies based in China that are third-party and not directly related to platforms like Steam. I’ve seen a lot of issues with them—like with Once Human—where players reached out about account blocks or payments, but got vague and unapologetic responses.

[Ellisia]

Honestly, the reason I posted this was just to see if anyone else feels the same way or if it’s just me. I’m also wondering if there’s something in their terms and descriptions that I obviously missed. Should I contact them or Steam about this? Is this even illegal? I know it’s gonna take time, but I’m curious if anyone else is willing to stand against this kind of thing, too, idk. Also, I want the devs to know that people aren’t stupid—they can see exactly what they’re doing, and it’s not like they don’t know what’s going on.

[Vile]

Originally posted by Ellisia:

Honestly, the reason I posted this was just to see if anyone else feels the same way or if it’s just me. I’m also wondering if there’s something in their terms and descriptions that I obviously missed. Should I contact them or Steam about this? Is this even illegal? I know it’s gonna take time, but I’m curious if anyone else is willing to stand against this kind of thing, too, idk. Also, I want the devs to know that people aren’t stupid—they can see exactly what they’re doing, and it’s not like they don’t know what’s going on.

I've read similar protestations elsewhere on these forums since it was announced so you're definitely not alone. The terms and conditions which you agreed to before playing the game are extensive and will no doubt absolve the company and its subsidiaries of any liability.

The cosmetics are STILL going to be pretty rare as there's only a small minority of OH players who would be willing to and/or in the financial position to spend $300-$400 on a couple of cosmetic items (especially on a game that is a brand new IP with no existing legacy fan base). They're STILL some of the best looking skins in the game. I understand that you feel like their perceived value has diminished by being offered for sale again, but it was inevitable they would be available for purchase further down the line. They were never going to invest all that time and money creating fancy cosmetics with animated cut scenes for them only to be for sale for 30 days.

I DO agree it's a scummy way to sell cosmetics. Gacha games are notorious for utilizing FOMO as the main marketing tool and like a previous poster stated, premium gambling loot crates shouldn't exist in games, especially ones accessible to minors. I don't fancy your chances against a multi billion dollar corporation like NetEase. I'd chalk it up to inexperience and move on from it. The game probably won't even be around this time next year anyway so just enjoy the cosmetics while you still can.

[Bambule]

told you guys before xmas this is pure fraud, scam and scram and you jumped me ;)
it will get worse, jump the ship as long you have any sense left

[Jake Deviant]

I've been here since the first beta and I do own the loot crate that is coming back. I don't care that it is considering all the loot crates since then have been ehhh. No idea who they are listening to coming up with these late designs but they are not it. Car skin no thanks, and truck skin no thanks. The weapon skins are cool and I bought some with tokens.