The ninth anniversary of Fate/Grand Order erupted into controversy following a poorly-received update. The update introduced powerful new skills requiring significantly more "servant coins" to unlock, demanding far more duplicate character pulls than previously needed. This increase, from six to eight (or nine to avoid extensive grinding), angered players, especially those who'd already invested heavily in the game. The new requirement felt like a setback, undermining the positive impact of a recently introduced pity system.

The backlash was intense, with angry fans bombarding the game's official Twitter with angry posts, some containing graphic death threats against the developers. While player frustration is understandable, the severity of these threats overshadowed legitimate concerns and damaged the reputation of the fanbase.

In response to the severe criticism, Yoshiki Kano, FGO Part 2's development director, issued a public apology. He acknowledged player dissatisfaction and announced several changes. These included the ability to switch between unlocked skills while retaining the original skill's level, and a promise to restore servant coins spent on Holy Grail summoning and provide additional compensation. However, these measures didn't fully address the core issue: the continued scarcity of servant coins and the increased need for duplicate characters.

The developer's response, including 40 free pulls for all players, is seen by many as a temporary fix rather than a long-term solution. The eight-duplicate requirement for maxing out five-star servants remains a significant hurdle for completionists. The community remains skeptical, pointing out previous unfulfilled promises to increase servant coin availability.

The Fate/Grand Order anniversary controversy highlights the precarious balance developers must strike between monetization and player satisfaction. While the immediate outrage may lessen with the offered compensation, the damage to trust between developers and players is significant. Rebuilding this trust requires open communication and genuine engagement with player concerns. The community, after all, is vital to the game's continued success.

For those unfamiliar with the game, download Fate/Grand Order on Google Play. Also, check out our latest news on Identity V's Phantom Thieves collaboration.