Games have evolved drastically in the past two decades. It used to be almost impossible to find a game to play for free, while today, there are hundreds available to stream or download. Free to play games usually come with in-app purchases. While you can play the game for free, you will need to spend money on downloadable content (DLC), new items, and or “leveling up.” Players make microtransactions for in-game purchases. Usually, the transactional amount for virtual purchases in games is low, hence the name microtransactions.
You find the most popular games on mobile and consoles using microtransactions from League of Legends (LOL) to Fortnite. The games are free to download but generate millions of dollars for these companies through microtransactions.
How Companies Benefit From Microtransactions
League Of Legends and Fortnite garner plenty of popularity because these are free to download, and anyone can play the game whether you utilize microtransaction advantages or not.
The developers also promote in-game purchases by introducing new items for gamers daily. They don’t charge players to download the game and play, but it is a hugely lucrative practice to promote these new items through microtransactions.
In the long run, such games earn a lot more with microtransactions than a one-time purchase, and since the transactions are a small amount each time, gamers don’t think twice about the cost.
The level of transactional engagement depends largely on how much the available item adds to the player’s experiences. For example, Marvel fans were thrilled to find out that Fortnite’s new season had everything related to Marvel available, from player’s skin to pickaxes.
The connection prompted a surge in the purchase of Season 4 Battle Pass, an in-game purchase that required 950 V-Bucks (in-game coins). V-Bucks were purchased in bulk with real money. With the Battle Pass, gamers received access to a myriad of in-game Marvel items as they play Fortnite.
Microtransactions Could Be The Future Of Gaming
Microtransactions are considered by many as the future of gaming economics, and it is proving an ingenious way for developers to gain a fanbase for their products. These games are free to download, so once it gains traction, thousands become interested and take part without paying for it. At that point, all that developers need to focus on is enticing as many new players as possible to purchase one thing after the other as they progress within the gameplay.
Fortnite and similar games have a massive ratio of players making microtransactions because these products are continually introducing cheap and exciting new items. You increasingly find big game developers taking a similar approach, introducing downloadable content and other items that are only available through in-game purchasing.
Microtransactions are still a fairly new concept, and it remains controversial with many who feel that the gaming industry is changing into a profit scheme rather than an entertainment platform. Even online casino platforms have become intrigued by the concept, testing it out on platforms such as SA Gaming where you can play for free or accelerate your chances of winning with a few pay-to-play transactions.
Most developers have utilized microtransactions to make the games profitable, and it seems the trend continues for now.
