As we head into the V2 alpha testing phase, one of our highest priorities is addressing Legacy’s in-game economy. Balancing the economy is no small task—it has to support new players trying to build up their ranches while also providing meaningful goals and challenges for long-time players. V1 taught us a lot about what works and what doesn’t, and V2 is our opportunity to apply those lessons and refine the system for the future.
Starting Funds and Growth
One of the first changes you’ll notice in V2 is your starting cash. New players will begin with $250,000, slightly less than in V1, but we believe this strikes a better balance between freedom and challenge.
In line with that, the revamped ranch expansion system now requires players to purchase land before building additional barns or pastures. You can also choose the size of each facility and expand them over time. This adds strategy and realism, but also increases the cost of growth—careful planning will be key.
We’re also exploring the idea of a yearly property tax on acreage and facilities, though we won’t implement that until we’ve gathered enough data from V2 testing.
Import Credits and the Credit Exchange
One major area we’ve adjusted is importing horses. In V1, only a single credit was needed to import a horse, which led to inflation due to the resale and immediate earning potential of those horses. In V2, players will now pay $5,000 game cash plus one import credit for each import—after their first five, which are free (credit still required). This small change will help curb early-game economic inflation and encourage more selective importing.
To better replace the outdated 3-month credit timer and better support player engagement, V2 will introduce a robust Achievement system. Credits will now be earned through meaningful in-game milestones—like winning your first show, breeding a foal, or joining a club. While players will still start with one free credit, completing early tutorial tasks will unlock four more, making the tutorial both rewarding and informative.
The Credit Exchange will remain, but with important adjustments:
- The starting exchange rate is now $250,000 per credit.
- Each credit you purchase will increase the exchange rate, capping at $1,000,000 per credit after 75 exchanges.
- This escalating system is designed to slow excessive accumulation and preserve balance while still offering flexibility.
And a critical note for the future: once we move from alpha to full release (~2026), credits earned via the exchange will be wiped. Only unused credits purchased with real money or through Patreon will carry over. This is essential to ensure a fair playing field when the final version of the game launches.
Job System and Other Adjustments
Jobs are also getting a major update. Salaries will now range from $1,800 to $4,050 per game month, up from the previous $700–$1,150. However, some jobs will now require specialized training or have age limits, which we’ll share more about in a future post.
Expect additional economic tweaks throughout V2: show purses, training costs, feed pricing, and more will all be fine-tuned based on feedback and testing.
In Closing
Balancing the Legacy economy is tricky, and we don’t take these changes lightly. But they’re necessary to ensure a fair, engaging, and long-lasting experience for everyone. V2 is our chance to build a better foundation—and we’re so excited to re-open this summer and share it with you.
Thank you for being part of this journey with us.