Following the backlash against Lineage M back in September, where the team was accused of being rather lethargic in handling siege warfare abuse, the PC version of Lineage is now finding itself in the firing line. The community is sniffing out an attempt to transplant the 'transformation collection' system—a feature notorious for its aggressive monetization in the mobile spin-offs—straight into the classic PC experience.

This reveal dropped during the 27th-anniversary live stream on the official PC Lineage YouTube channel on the 24th. Lineage business lead Jang Jeong-gwan and development lead Ha Jin-wook took to the stage to detail the upcoming anniversary updates and events. Most notably, the 'transformation system renewal' caught everyone's eye. Ha remarked, "Think of it as a way to combine the joy of collecting transformations with genuine character progression."

The overhaul rests on three pillars: diversification, collection, and unique stat integration. "We are moving away from simple cosmetic changes to ensure these transformations provide real value to your gameplay," Ha explained. "We're prepping a wide array of new forms. Aside from base transformations, you'll be able to collect them through active gameplay. Each will carry unique stats, granting bonus buffs when you shift into them for specific situations."

The system goes live this November. Naturally, the PC user base is sweating, fearing that these 'unique stats' are just a backdoor for the dreaded transformation collection seen in Lineage M. When pressed during the stream, the developers notably didn't give a flat 'no' to the collection system. Instead, they insisted, "The structure is designed so you can earn them through gameplay, much like the Medal of Valor."

Specifically, players will be able to hunt down transformations through various content like standard grinding, instanced dungeons, Infinite War, and the Ant Queen's Hideout, excluding the basic forms. We'll have to keep a close eye on the November launch to see how this actually plays out. If it truly is a grind-for-power system, players might just let it slide. However, if the update comes hand-in-hand with a store package, we can expect the community to push back quite hard.

The broadcast wasn't just about transformations, though. World sieges are getting a mercenary system that allows players from different servers to join the fray, and siege-specific transformations are being added so lower-spec players can still contribute. From October 15th, they are also rolling out four rounds of class balance adjustments in two-week intervals. Finally, there is the 27th Anniversary Signature Restoration (TJ Coupon), which allows players to restore 10 items lost to failed enchantments between January 15th and October 24th at 8 PM.