Fixing Albion's Economy: SBI Unmasked (MUST WATCH) | How to Maximize Your Time in the New Economy 💰

Summary

In this video, the speaker discusses the economic changes in Albion Online, focusing on SBI's efforts to combat gold inflation, make the game more accessible for new players, and ensure long-term profitability for the company. The speaker, using their real-world economic experience, explains how recent updates—such as increased trash rates, nerfed silver generation, and changes to gear upgrades—have impacted the in-game economy. They highlight gathering as the most lucrative activity now, while also providing insights into how these shifts will benefit both new and veteran players in the long run. The speaker encourages viewers to engage with their thoughts in the comments.

Takeaways

• 😀 SBI aims to lower in-game gold prices to help new players afford premium with silver.
• 😀 The developer's goal is to balance their profit needs with improving the economy and player experience.
• 😀 Silver inflation is a key issue that SBI is addressing to make the game more accessible and fair for all players.
• 😀 A self-taught economist with real-life stock market experience, the speaker has successfully applied economic principles to the game.
• 😀 Changes like restricting daily gold buy/sell limits helped crash the price from 10,000 silver per gold to around 8,000.
• 😀 SBI is working to make premium more affordable by controlling silver inflation and balancing the in-game economy.
• 😀 SBI has introduced updates like increased trash rates and nerfed silver generation to combat silver inflation.
• 😀 The price of raw materials like T6 and T7 hides has risen due to these changes, making gathering more lucrative.
• 😀 End-game players' ability to generate easy silver has been reduced, leveling the playing field for newer players.
• 😀 Refining raw materials into finished products once offered higher profits, but the market for this has normalized.
• 😀 While some complain about the changes, the speaker believes they are essential for long-term game balance and fairness.

Q & A

What are the three main goals of SBI regarding the in-game economy in Albion Online?

SBI's three main goals are: 1) Lowering the price of gold to make it more attainable for new players, 2) Ensuring consistent profits for the company to fund game development, and 3) Combatting silver inflation to help keep the economy balanced and make premium accessible to a broader player base.

How did SBI aim to control the price of gold in the game?

SBI controlled the price of gold by introducing daily limits on how much gold players could buy and sell, which caused a decrease in gold prices from around 10,000 silver per gold to a steadier rate of around 8,000 silver per gold.

Why is controlling gold prices important for new players?

Lowering the gold price is crucial for new players because it allows them to make enough silver in-game to purchase premium with silver, instead of having to spend real money, which helps make the game more accessible.

What is the significance of the increased trash rate in the game?

The increased trash rate on gear makes it less profitable for high-level players to loot valuable items from PVE content. This forces players to either adapt their strategies or focus on other sources of income, such as gathering.

What impact did the changes to transmutation and enchantment have on the game’s economy?

The changes to transmutation and enchantment increased the cost of upgrading gear, especially for higher-tier items. This led to a drop in the prices of related items (runes, souls, relics) but also shifted the value of upgrading to raw materials instead of the upgrade items themselves.

How did SBI's changes affect the gathering economy?

Due to changes like increased trash rates and nerfed silver generation, gathering became more lucrative, especially for high-tier materials like T6 and T7 hides. The demand for raw materials rose as the value of refined materials increased.

What is the overall effect of SBI’s economic changes on veteran players?

Veteran players are experiencing reduced profitability from PVE and PVP activities, as the changes have made it harder to make money through traditional high-level content. However, their long-term wealth remains largely unaffected, especially for those with vast silver reserves.

Why does the creator believe that these economic changes are necessary for the game's long-term success?

The creator believes these changes are important because they optimize the in-game economy for new players and ensure a fairer balance. By making it more difficult for veterans to dominate silver generation, newer players have more opportunities to succeed and contribute to the economy.

What is the creator’s perspective on the role of raw materials in the game’s economy after the updates?

The creator sees raw materials as more valuable than before, especially in gathering. This shift has made gathering more profitable and created an environment where gatherers are essential to supply high-level players with materials, leading to a more balanced economic system.

How does the creator feel about SBI manipulating the in-game economy?

The creator, although a free market economist, understands the necessity of SBI's economic manipulation. They do not fully support it but recognize it as a strategic move to stabilize and sustain the game’s economy for the long term.