Welcome to the golden age of video game monetization, where developers have transformed the noble art of emptying your wallet into a game more intricate than the titles they sell. Let’s dive deep into the treasure trove of strategies that turn pixels into profits, with a cheeky wink and a nod to the absurdity of it all.
1. The One-Time Miracle Purchase
Ah, the ancient practice of buying a game once and owning it forever, a concept as archaic as floppy disks and manual save points. Take classic Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda for example. You handed over your cash, got a cartridge, and that was it. No hidden fees, no extra charges, just endless hours of trying to save a princess who’s always in another castle.
Remember the good old days when shelling out $49.99 felt like highway robbery? Ah, such innocence. Those days are as gone as the chances of a peaceful comment section under a game review.
Fast forward to the present, and we’ve gracefully transitioned to $59.99, a price that had many of us performing dark rituals in hopes our bank accounts would miraculously fatten overnight. But why stop there? In an industry that thrives on pushing boundaries (and patience), the bold move to a cut-throat price of $69.99 for new releases was as inevitable as a plot twist in a soap opera.
Take, for example, “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.” This gem had fans eagerly opening their wallets, paying the premium price without a second thought, as if the mere act would bestow upon them the honor of Hyrulean knighthood. It’s a masterclass in fan loyalty exploitation, proving that if you dress a price hike in a cloak of nostalgia and epic adventure, gamers will follow you off the edge of a fiscal cliff.
On the flip side, there’s the wonderfully disappointing “Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League” garbage. Ah, yes, the game that promised the moon, delivered a pebble, and had the audacity to charge the lunar mission price tag. This title dared to ask the question, “How much can we charge for mediocrity?” And oh, did it find out, with the backlash as swift as a nerf to everyone’s favorite overpowered character.
In this grand saga of digital extortion, the only certainty is change. And as we stand on the precipice of potentially even higher prices, one can only wonder what new heights of fiscal audacity the industry will reach. Will $79.99 be the new norm? Only time will tell. But one thing’s for sure: no matter the price, we’ll pay it, all the while crafting memes to mask our pain.
2. The Never-Ending Subscription Saga
Why sell a game once when you can sell it every month? Enter the subscription model, a beautiful scheme where you pay continually for the privilege of accessing the game you already can’t live without. World of Warcraft has been milking this cow for decades, ensuring that the only thing more epic than its quests is its ability to siphon your bank account dry on a monthly basis.
3. Fashion for Your Pixels: Skins and Cosmetics
Who knew that digital hats and shiny swords could become more valuable than real-world fashion? Fortnite turned virtual catwalks into a cash cow, proving that players will pay top dollar to make their avatar look like a snack while obliterating foes. Gameplay advantage? None. Street cred in the virtual world? Priceless.
It’s understandable to purchase skins for third-person video games like “League of Legends,” where one can fully appreciate the appearance of skins worn by in-game champions. However, it becomes perplexing to grasp why individuals are willing to pay for skins in first-person shooter (FPS) games such as Overwatch. In FPS titles, players predominantly view only their character’s weapons, diminishing the visible impact of having different skins. Though one is aware that the skin is there, the lack of visual satisfaction makes it a less appealing investment. The intrinsic value of skins in such games hinges more on the knowledge of possession rather than the direct enjoyment of the game’s aesthetics.
4. Pay-to-Win: Because Fair Play is Overrated
Nothing screams “competitive spirit” quite like using your credit card to obliterate the opposition. Clash of Clans offers the dream: Why grind when you can buy your way to glory? This isn’t just gaming; it’s a crash course in the realities of life, where the thickness of your wallet can often determine the extent of your triumphs.
5. The Battle Pass: Seasonal Extortion
Why sell you content once when we can sell it to you every few months? Apex Legends and friends introduced the Battle Pass, a genius invention that combines the thrill of gambling with the joy of deadlines. Pay up, play hard, or miss out on exclusive goodies that signify how much cooler you are than the peasants who didn’t pony up.
As of now, the Battle Pass has become the hottest trend in the video game industry. More and more games opt to incorporate a Battle Pass into their systems. Take Riot Games’ “Teamfight Tactics” and Overwatch 2 as examples. They create a new season every 3 or 4 months, accompanied by a new Battle Pass that contains many new skins and items you can unlock as you continue playing and earning experience points. Think about it: you pay for the pass, but you don’t even own the items outright. You also need to invest your time if you want to unlock them. It literally takes days of play if you aim to unlock everything. And yes, gamers recognize this irony and are still willing to pay for it.
6. Loot Boxes: Slot Machines for Gamers
Ah, loot boxes, the crown jewel of gaming monetization. Overwatch (the original game) made buying random digital goodies feel like Christmas morning, if Christmas was unpredictable and sometimes disappointing. It’s like gambling, but with better graphics and more legal gray areas.
And of course, how can we forget FIFA Ultimate Team (FUT) loot boxes, EA’s notorious cash-sucking machine, where dreams of pulling a Messi or Ronaldo from a pack are only a credit card swipe away. It’s like a slot machine dressed in a soccer jersey, promising the thrill of gambling with the added bonus of possibly winning big, if by winning big you mean acquiring a digital player who will be outdated by next year’s release. The beauty of these loot boxes lies in their ability to turn hope into currency. You see, in the magical world of FUT, your success on the pitch is just a few hundred packs away. It’s a place where skill is measured by your willingness to gamble and your tactical prowess can be significantly boosted by your financial investment. Truly, FUT loot boxes are a testament to EA’s genius in creating a game within a game, one where the odds are clear, but we play anyway, clinging to the belief that this next pack, yes, this one, will be the one that changes everything.
7. DLCs and Expansions: The Never-Ending Game
Just when you thought you’d conquered the game, along comes more content. The Witcher 3 basically said, “Oh, you liked that 100-hour adventure? Here’s another 40 hours, because sleep is for the weak.” It’s the gift that keeps on taking — your money, that is.
8. Seasonal Events: Limited Time, Unlimited Spending
Nothing says “celebration” like opening your wallet. Seasonal events offer exclusive, time-limited chances to buy things you didn’t know you needed. Animal Crossing: New Horizons does it with such charm that you’ll happily bankrupt yourself for a virtual pumpkin patch.
9. Early Access and Founder’s Packs: Paying to Be a Beta Tester
Why wait for the finished product when you can pay to play a buggy version now? Early Access flips the script, charging you to beta test their game. And with Founder’s Packs, you get the added bonus of paying extra for the privilege. It’s like buying a car in pieces and being thankful for it.
And, do you know what’s even worse than those two methods? Pre-Purchases. Seriously. You fork over cash for games you won’t even be able to play for months, all because your patience has worn thin. It’s the ultimate test of delayed gratification, where your excitement and anticipation are capitalized upon, tempting you to pay upfront for the mere promise of future enjoyment.
10. In-Game Advertising: Because Immersion is Overrated
Nothing enhances the gaming experience quite like a well-placed soda ad. Games like the FIFA series ensure that even in virtual worlds, you can’t escape the clutches of capitalism. It’s as if the billboards in dystopian novels were actually selling you real soda.
11. Merchandising: Your Favorite Game, Now in Plush Form
Why stop at digital when you can fill your actual house with game merchandise? The Pokémon franchise knows the deal: why catch ‘em all in-game when you can also buy them all in real life? It’s not hoarding if it’s collectibles, right?
The Wallet Wars
In the grand tradition of video game lore, the quest for more money has led to some of the most creative and, let’s face it, hilariously brazen strategies known to the digital world, from turning players into perpetual subscribers to selling them virtual clothes for their virtual.
THE END
Different ways that video games industry use to earn money and profit.
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Phu is the Head Writer at Eternal Dory, where his pen dives into the latest global trends and news in knowledge, graphic design, metaphysics, and entertainment. He has a knack for highlighting the fun aspects of his subjects, lightening the mood. Phu’s academic background is in Graphic Design, focusing on Animation and Motion Graphics.
