Just as it looked like the Pokemon Unite devs had listened to fans over the $40 skin controversy, it's happened again. It has been quietly revealed that Lucario's limited-time Halloween holowear will set players back 2499 Aeos Gems, which itself costs at least $39.99 in real money.
Like all holowear, Costume Party Style: Lucario can only be bought with Aeos Gems - a currency that cannot be earned in-game, only purchased in bundles. This is the second skin this month to cost as much as a full game, with the first being the Sacred Alolan Ninetales holowear. This has players worrying that this will become the norm got microtransaction pricing within the game.
The community's reaction to the news is overwhelmingly negative. Many fans are taking to the Pokemon Unite subreddit to complain about the price, claiming that developer Timi Studios is ignoring them.
"The community backlash from the [Alolan Nintetales] holowear meant absolutely nothing; heck for all you know [it] sold well at $40 to them that they are perfectly fine to do this again", said user phoenixcypherk1. Others agree, with GekiKudo replying, "League [of Legends'] highest quality skin is like $15 less and has infinitely more detail and work put into it."
Many are also unhappy with the lack of options when buying skins. The only way to purchase them is to spend real money on a microcurrency, with nothing in-game allowing you to win it instead.
"I think $40 is absolutely ridiculous, but the norm of that being the only way to obtain them is what really gets me". writes Xanndbor. "I could live with it if they were available in the loot boxes or holoticket store. But sadly it's starting to feel like that won't be the case".
While not currently as negative as the Nintetale's skin announcement, the tweet about the new Lucario holowear also has fans complaining. Many are now saying that they will not purchase these premium skins until the price tag is reduced.