EA Sports has announced the removal of controversial microtransactions from its college football simulation game, CFB 27, following widespread player disapproval. The company stated that all paid progression options will be removed from the "Road to Glory" and "Online Dynasty" modes.
These modes previously allowed players to spend real money to accelerate the improvement of their coaches or athletes. While an alternative grind-based progression was available, it required substantial effort. The introduction of these microtransactions marked a significant change, as "Road to Glory" and "Online Dynasty" had largely remained free of such monetization until this iteration.
Player opposition was vocal, with a boycott of the pay-to-level options gaining traction on social media under the hashtag #CFBPlayDontPay. Discussions on platforms like Reddit also indicated that many players were considering skipping the game due to the new in-game purchase system.
EA acknowledged that the removal of paid progression in these modes will result in some players being left with unused College Points. These remaining points cannot be applied to "Road to Glory" or "Online Dynasty" due to the system's elimination. However, unspent College Points can still be utilized in the game's "Ultimate Team" mode and other applicable areas.
The company communicated the change to players on the evening of July 10, with the implementation of the microtransaction removal occurring on the morning of July 11. EA advised players to spend their points within this limited timeframe.
In its statement, EA explained that player feedback indicated a misstep in the introduction of paid progression. "Your feedback on Road to Glory and Dynasty is that we've missed the mark with the introduction of paid progression options," the company stated. "This was added independent of deeper mode progression with the aim to give players more choice, but what you've said is that they're not adding the value we intended."
Looking ahead, EA committed to providing greater transparency and communication regarding live-service plans for next year's title, CFB 28. "We love this game. We love this community. We love college football," EA added.
While paid progression microtransactions have been removed from "Road to Glory" and "Online Dynasty," CFB 27 continues to feature microtransactions within its popular "Ultimate Team" mode, where points are sold in bundles ranging from $5 to $150. EA has a history of implementing similar paid progression systems, such as "Shortcut" bundles in various Battlefield titles that allow players to instantly unlock weapons and upgrades.