Unlike the Crash N. Sane Trilogy or the Spyro Reignited Trilogy, Activision’s latest remaster/remake is not a straight-up remaster/remake. Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled is based on the original kart racer, but also includes content from Crash Nitro Kart, and brand-new tracks and characters new to the series.
This is part of the Grand Prix, which is basically free Battle Pass equivalent where players participate in races and do challenges in a season to reach milestones of unlocks. Which is also kind of like what Forza Horizon 4 is doing with their Horizon Life games-as-a-service feature.
As such, Activision has decided to put in microtransactions. When the new update rolls out, you can buy Wumpa Coins straight out of your platform store as various bundles.
These Wumpa Coins are still can be gained through normal progression and are used to buy cosmetics in the Pit Stop which contains limited-time skins, characters and karts. For example, the next season of Grand Prix, the Back N. Time Grand Prix, will see baby Crash and baby Coco as unlockable skins.
It’s essentially pay-to-skip, but like previous Activision titles, putting in microtransactions post-launch after most of the reviews are out feels like they intentionally wanted to dodge the criticisms that those entail.
The Back N. Time Grand Prix for Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled starts August 2nd.
Via Game Informer