H1Z1 offers refunds over microtransactions [Correction]

H1Z1, Sony's hardcore zombie survival MMO, will be offering refunds "no questions asked," for the repeated connection problems plaguing the game's Early Access launch.

Correction: The original version of this story completely missed the reason refunds are being offered. They are not being offered on account of the connection problems. They are for the "airdrop" microtransactions that some users had complained countered an earlier promise that vital supply items would not be available for purchase. The headline has been corrected and the story has been revised to reflect this. The original copy follows.

John Smedley, the president of Sony Online Entertainment, offered the refund himself on H1Z1's subreddit yesterday evening, directing customers to an email address to make the refund request.

The offer is valid only until Monday, he said, and it applies only to those who purchased the game as of 1:30 p.m. ET on Friday. The game was sold for $19.99. When its full edition launches, it will cost $39.99.

Users report that they can get a refund from Steam itself but the money goes directly to their Steam Wallet.

H1Z1 launched Thursday night on Early Access and appears to be the latest in a string of major flops for games with heavy online components, going back to the early fall. Thursday's heavily promoted launch event was delayed two hours and showcased players unable even to log into the game.

Friday saw the situation improve slightly, though the game's servers were carrying very high loads and users were facing 30-minute wait times and crashes of the H1Z1 client.