After AFK Journey players voiced their frustrations over recent seasonal changes, developers answered with enhanced rewards.
AFK Journey offers players a rich world full of magic and strategic battles. However, the recent seasonal update drew significant backlash, particularly around the overall reduction in rewards across multiple game modes and the misleading value labels of the Seasonal Noble Path.
The controversy began after the release of “Song of Strife,” which introduced new zones for exploration, new Legend Trials, and additional AFK Stages. However, players soon realized that the rewards in these modes were significantly reduced or completely removed compared to previous seasons. The changes included:
- Reduced campaign rewards.
- Fewer open-world rewards.
- Less value in various in-game packs.
- Drastically reduced Legend Trial rewards.
Moreover, the Season Noble Path Travelogues, advertised as having 3000% more value, did not live up to the claim. Compared to the normal Noble Path, which consistently provided substantial rewards, the Season Noble Path’s offerings fell short, leading to widespread frustration and accusations of false advertising.
In response to the backlash, the developers issued a hotfix on May 16 to rectify the situation and restore player confidence. The hotfix introduced several key optimizations, including increased rewards for various gameplay features.
Specifically, rewards for the Season AFK Stage progress, Season Legend Trial, and Season Corrupt Creature’s first defeat were all boosted, alongside enhancements to specific chests and Desolate Grounds rewards in Battle Drills.
AFK Journey also addressed the Season Noble Path adjustment directly. The developers acknowledged the value discrepancies and committed to updating the labels and adding new rewards to the Season Travelogues. Players who have already purchased and claimed rewards will receive appropriate compensation, including additional faction Acorns and A-Level Soulstones for both free and paid travelogues.
Beyond the immediate fixes, the developers outlined their approach to balancing the game in light of the backlash. A statement from the design team explained the oversight in reward distribution and promised to adjust the rewards for future seasons to match those of the Starter Story.
The hotfix also included various bug fixes to improve overall gameplay. These fixes addressed issues in the Supreme Arena, Battle Drills, Emporium purchases, and several other areas, ensuring a smoother experience for players.