It has been confirmed earlier that Gears of War 4 will feature microtransactions. However, the developer has confirmed that it could be used to purchase in-game content but will never be used as a pay to win system.
The system was explained in a blog post by the developers who revealed the new Coalition calls cards. They can be used to unlock and buy a wide range of things including equipment, weapons, gadgets and unlock abilities. Everything done using the cards will be specific to the Horde mode. A new set of cards named as Bounty is also available. As the name suggests, it allows players to unlock new rewards in the game.
In the blog, the developers note that the cards are designed in such a way that they never often any unfair gameplay benefits. They simply make the game better to play and provide new content which can sometimes be acquired through other means.
Character
One of the cards can be used to unlock a character. The character that you unlock can be used in the horde or the versus mode. The particular character that you receive through the card can be heavily customized to get a unique look. It makes up for the entire Gears of War 4 experience.
Weapon Skins and Emblem
Another important add-on players can get when they make use of the coalition cards. Each weapon will have a particular skin and can be used to distinguish yourself in the battlefield. The performance of the gun will remain the same so as to keep the gameplay balanced. For the first time in the franchise, Gears of War 4 allows players to change the look of their weapons when they are acquired at a spawn point.
Similarly, the emblem which is a player’s identity can be modified to suit your preference. It is displayed in the scoreboards and lobbies whenever you score high.
Bounty
Bounties acquired in versus and horde mode provide more rewards and XP. If you secure seven kills in a single team deathmatch, you are bound to receive a reward. They can be acquired only when you actually touch a milestone and can also be acquired using these cards. The developers have confirmed that new equipment and abilities will also be part of the microtransactions. More details on the same is expected to be out in the following weeks before the game gets launched.