Asmongold has been notoriously outspoken about his hatred of pay-to-win titles like Diablo Immortal and the complaints have been heard by United States Senator Ted Cruz.
The World of Warcraft streamer recently faced backlash for paying hundreds of dollars while playing Diablo Immortal, a mobile game that
has extensive micro-transactions. His viewers found it hypocritical after Asmongold had raged against Blizzard during the initial announcement of the game. But Asmongold was seemingly attempting to prove a point by throwing cash around.
Asmongold says he was trying to show that pay-to-win is real and shouldn’t exist. That’s not exclusive to his social media anymore, after an appearance on Verdict With Ted Cruz.
Ted Cruz agrees that loot boxes and microtransactions are an issue
Asmongold has discussed his hatred of loot boxes for years, explaining that the microtransactions are “predatory” and especially focusing on loot boxes that provide competitive advantages. Asmongold has even called on the government to regulate loot boxes a few times in the past.
On June 12, Asmongold told his Twitch viewers that he had been in contact with Ted Cruz. At the time, Asmongold said that it could mean nothing but what resulted was Cruz opening up about the discussion on Verdict a podcast hosted by Michael Knowles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCHB8mEH9Ww
“I’m something of a gamer. In games, I don’t like it when you can buy in-game items and sort of make your character stronger or get advantages,” Cruz said.
Cruz admitted that he’s given in to microtransactions in the past but finds it concerning that children may also be doing the same thing. Loot boxes have a “fair amount of randomness,” Cruz said, making it similar to gambling. It can become addicting to people, including impressionable younger gamers.
On June 18, Asmongold reacted to the segment on stream. He said: “I didn’t believe this. I thought it was going to be some b——-. So he actually agrees with me 100%.”
Cruz labeling himself as “something of a gamer” comes weeks after
blaming a rash of violence
in America on violent video games, among other things.
Olivia Richman
About Olivia Richman
Olivia has worked in media ever since graduating from college, with her coverage ranging from traditional newspaper reporting to digital coverage of all things gaming, online betting, and nerd culture. She has traveled around the world pursuing that coverage, from the far coasts of the United States to the busy downtown core of Tokyo, Japan. Olivia’s favorite games include Overwatch and Super Smash Smash Bros, and she has been published at Esports Illustrated, Inven Global, EsportsInsider, Upcomer, and elsewhere.
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