The launch of Arknights: Endfield, Gryphline’s latest action RPG gacha game, ran into payment issues for some players last week, particularly affecting those using PayPal. Reports emerged on launch day, Thursday, January 22, showing that certain players were overcharged, in some cases by hundreds of dollars, when making direct-to-consumer purchases.
The problem appeared early on, with player feedback reaching Gryphline by 2 a.m. GMT, and additional reports quickly followed. By around 3 a.m., the developer confirmed the issue and temporarily disabled PayPal as a payment option while investigating the affected transactions. According to the company, the glitch only impacted certain platforms, meaning not all PayPal users experienced the erroneous fees.
Developer Response and Refund Process
Gryphline issued a statement apologizing to players and reassuring them that it does not store PayPal payment information. The company emphasized that PayPal manages all payment data directly, and the issue stemmed from a technical problem rather than a data security breach.
At present, PayPal remains unavailable as a payment method in Arknights: Endfield while Gryphline works with partners to determine the cause and ensure the problem is fully resolved. Refunds for affected players are underway, with the company committing to review each case individually and restore normal service only once the investigation is complete.
Community Reaction and Platform-Specific Issues
Players affected by the glitch shared their experiences on social platforms such as Reddit, reporting unexpected fees and duplicate charges. The scope of the problem varied, with some users indicating minor discrepancies and others claiming significantly higher charges. Despite the frustration among early buyers, the developer has remained transparent about the situation and its ongoing resolution efforts.
Direct-to-Consumer Payments in Gaming
The incident highlights risks associated with direct-to-consumer (DTC) payment systems, which allow developers to process transactions outside major app stores like Google Play or Apple. While DTC offers more control over revenue and pricing, it also exposes publishers to potential technical failures that may not appear during testing.
Oran Stern, director of engineering for payments at Appcharge, noted that these failure modes often emerge only under the pressure of real-world transactions. Appcharge CTO Amit Porat added that while this incident may temporarily affect trust for Arknights: Endfield players, it is unlikely to impact overall confidence in DTC systems. He stressed that a properly implemented DTC infrastructure can enhance transparency and security for players.
PayPal Status and Ongoing Investigation
Gryphline has confirmed that PayPal will not be re-enabled until the issue is fully resolved. The company continues to audit affected transactions and coordinate with payment partners to identify the root cause. For players who experienced overcharges, refunds are being issued as part of the remediation process.
The situation underlines the importance of reliable payment systems as more publishers explore direct-to-consumer models and web3-related monetization strategies. While the launch of Arknights: Endfield attracted significant attention from the gaming community, the PayPal glitch serves as an early operational challenge for Gryphline’s rollout.
Source: PocketGamer
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why were players overcharged in Arknights: Endfield?
Some players using PayPal experienced a technical glitch that resulted in erroneous fees. Gryphline confirmed it was a platform-specific issue and not a security breach.
Has Gryphline fixed the PayPal issue?
PayPal remains disabled while the company investigates. Refunds are being issued to affected players, and the payment method will be re-enabled only after the problem is fully resolved.
Does this affect all platforms?
No. The issue affected certain platforms only, meaning not all users who used PayPal encountered extra charges.
Is player payment information safe?
Yes. Gryphline does not store PayPal payment details; all transactions are handled directly by PayPal.
Will this impact trust in direct-to-consumer payments in gaming?
Experts suggest this incident may temporarily affect trust for Arknights: Endfield players but is unlikely to have long-term effects on DTC systems industry-wide.
Can other payment methods be used in Arknights: Endfield?
Yes. Players can still use alternative payment options while PayPal is temporarily unavailable.
