Final Edit: Originally this post was supposed to focus on how the community was preemptively defending the addition of microtransactions, but at almost 1,000 replies later, it's kind of mutated into something else. Also, I probably won't be responding to anything in this thread anymore. It's outlived its purpose, so just let it die. Recent data mining has revealed some new items in the form of consumables that buff things like XP gain and drop rates. It is still speculation at this point, but the timing of these items along with a few other clues points to most of (if not all) these items being available for purchase at the Eververse trading company. Let me say it again; this [i]is[/i] currently mere speculation, but fairly well informed speculation nonetheless. [b]AND PEOPLE ARE ALREADY DEFENDING IT[/b] They are saying the benefits are small, don't really matter or give anyone any sort of an edge (already bullshit.) But seriously, though. In response to an argument I've already seen far too many times: Pay-to-win does not actually mean pay to [i]win.[/i] It means paying real money to get an advantage over those who chose not to. We payed $140 dollars for this game with the expectation of being put on a level playing field, fairly competing for in-game goods with the expectation that effort must be put in to get what we want out. In a game in which, from launch, it was made clear that while the game was free, players could (and would be encouraged to) exchange real money for in game goods, this system works and is perfectly acceptable. But this distinction must be made clearly and immediately. For Bungievision to now be blurring the lines between the two, while enjoying the benefits of both, is unacceptable. By the way, notice how things have been going around here for the last few days? First, it was "I'm okay with emotes, but shaders should stay as things we earn." Next, "I'm okay with cosmetic items, but nothing that will help in gameplay." And now, it's "I'm okay with small beneficial items, but nothing too big." So then, what's next? Sooner or later, this is happening. Take a stand. And now, a message for Bungie: Very soon, Destiny will be facing quite a bit of new competition from games like Fallout 4, Black Ops 3, etc. This is no time to be testing the loyalty of your community. There has already been a large outcry against this, and many players have already threatened to leave. Please, Bungie. Don't do this to yourselves, to destiny. (I'm still not entirely convinced this isn't all just a plot by Activision to get people to jump ship to BO:3.) And if any of this does come true, my fellow guardians, have fun on Bungievision's wild ride to an empty game. [spoiler]Sorry if this all seemed a bit incohesive. I just wanted to get this all out there.[/spoiler] EDIT: I think quite a few points being brought up can be explained by reading the following comment chain in this thread: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/162643536/0/0/1 View replies, read original comment first, then my rebuttal, and so on. EDIT 2: The drop-rate buff items have been denied on Twitter, but all points made here are still valid both on principal alone, and if/when this is considered in the future. But this is good. We made noise, and forced Bungie's hand to address the issue. Maybe this community does still have influence after all?