Core Viewpoint - The controversy surrounding the price increase of the "Summon King" card pool in the game "Beyond the World" has led to significant player dissatisfaction, with accusations of a lack of communication from the developers regarding the changes [2][5][12]. Pricing Changes - The cost to draw a card in the "Summon King" pool increased from 300 to 400 yellow diamonds, representing a 33% increase without prior notification to players [3][5][11]. - In contrast, another card pool, "Lingjiangxian," maintained its price at 300 yellow diamonds per draw, highlighting the abrupt nature of the price change [3][5]. Player Reactions - Players expressed their frustration on community platforms, labeling the game as "money-grabbing" and criticizing the lack of transparency from the developers [5][11]. - Despite an official apology and a small compensation of three "Summon King" space fragments, players felt the response was inadequate, with many choosing to stop spending money on the game [7][12]. Game Mechanics and Monetization - The game relies heavily on a gacha system, where players spend money to obtain cards of varying rarity, with the new pricing structure altering the perceived value and return on investment for players [8][11]. - Players typically earn yellow diamonds through daily and weekly tasks, with a maximum of 1,270 yellow diamonds obtainable weekly, which translates to only a few draws under the new pricing [8][9]. Revenue Context - "Beyond the World" has seen significant revenue pressures, with estimates suggesting that daily iOS revenue could reach up to $1.5 million in 2024, indicating a strong financial incentive for the developers to increase monetization strategies [15][18]. - The game has been successful in the market, previously ranking high on iOS download and revenue charts, but the recent controversies may impact its long-term player retention and revenue generation [14][15]. Industry Implications - The incident reflects broader trends in the mobile gaming industry, particularly in the "乙游" (乙女游戏) genre, where emotional engagement and monetization strategies often clash, leading to player backlash [12][14]. - Developers are advised to conduct thorough market research before implementing significant changes to core monetization mechanics to avoid alienating their player base [18].