I know this will be an unpopular opinion here, but I’d like to offer a contrasting view in case it’s useful for the discussion.

The whole point of consumables like fireworks or sparklers is that they’re gone once you use them. That’s not a flaw - it’s what makes them feel magical. When everything in VR can last forever, something you can only experience once actually stands out. It turns a random hangout into a real memory, because you know you can’t just pull it out again anytime.

I also find it interesting when people say “relationships and emotions in VR are just as real as in real life.” If we truly believe that, then limited-use items should be celebrated for the same reason real-life fireworks, birthday candles, or a sunset are celebrated: their beauty comes from the fact that they end.

None of this means people have to like consumables or buy them - of course, the choice should stay yours. I’m only suggesting that “one-time-use” doesn’t automatically equal “bad design.” Sometimes it can be intentional, meaningful scarcity instead of artificial frustration.

So glad its being talked about so much.

Very glad to see it.

Expiring consumable MTX is several dark patterns in one package.

First off, it encourages people to spend on consumables to impress friends - creating a social incentive to throw money at something you don't get to keep.

It also gives players a negative feeling of loss after using a consumable, because it an undue loss to purchase a microtransaction that you do not get to keep or reuse.

It's artificial scarcity in the same way that Meta Horizons charged you money to clap or cheer at the stand-up comedy events, with cheers and claps being single use items - something we as a community collectively ridiculed as unthinkable and impossible in VRC.

Having single-use items that are consumed, or temporary items is not in itself toxic - so long as players are given these for free, for an event, for a limited time, or as a seasonal flair. If the nature of the consumables does not lend itself to being permanently available, they should not cost money.

For instance:

- Giving every player 5 FREE pieces of fireworks for a newyears event: OK

- Charging players $5 for 5 pieces of consumable fireworks for a newyears event: NOT OK.

In the latter case, seeing friends use the item creates social pressure for others around them to participate, which leads to them either having to make a purchase they didn't want to, or feel separated from their friends. The system merely existing now leads to players having to choose between two different negative feelings. That is super dark.

Saddling players with a sense of failed loss aversion or social guilt after interacting with your systems, is repulsive. If customers can buy them for money, have them either regenerate on a daily, weekly or per-instance basis.

Consumables should not be in VRChat, I can understand a limit on the item being used her instance so say 50 people don't drop it at once and all use it at the same time but having it consumed and gone for good is horrible, put an instance cap on it sure and maybe a daily reset but not 'gone buy it again or it's gone for good.

This is pretty insulting to the people who have been supporting Vrchat since it's finally begun monetizing the platform. I have defended vrchat because i enjoy the platform, but this is indefensible and insulting.

Paid consumables disgust me to no end. If VRChat goes the way of credit card simulator mobile games, I will nope out of here so quickly.

1.) For things like the portable snow, I understand why it was made limited -- this is the kind of thing that could be disruptive to VRchat, forever! By making them limited, they make sure the amount in which they are disruptive will decrease forever, especially once they are no longer available for purchase.

2.) With only a datapoint of 1 item, it's difficult to say never, but I can't imagine ever enjoying using a consumable item knowing I'll never be able to use it again; especially if I paid money for it.

(Speaking of snow machine and other future consumable items).

Having it be limited is manipulative move and insult to the players that want to support vrchat- Here are some other possible options that could work instead:

_____Ault uses people may like:_____

There are many things that can be done with this, but paying $1 per use, or paying any amount for finite uses should not be one of these options and feels like an insult to those comfortable enough spending money in the store, as a lot of people are still not fully comfortable with it, and it gives more of a reason for them to distrust :[

the artificial scarcity of a particle generator is an insult to customers and the people who want to support VRChat. This is not worth 1$ per use but really, it's not about the lack luster particles, it's blatant testing of the waters to see what people are willing to put up with. It is valid to want to make VRChat profitable, and therefor sustainable, but this is not a fair product for customers.

I appreciate everything the VRC devs do for us but this is a step in the wrong direction. This makes it look like a money grab and feels dirty. I love supporting you with VRC+ but these types of moves make me reconsider it. This seems to be another straw on the pile while the camel's knees begin to get weak.