The Controversy of Micro-Transactions in Games

Microtransactions (MTXs) are a business model that allows users to purchase virtual goods with micropayments. Game developers normally use them in free-to-play games to generate revenue. 

With microtransactions, players can unlock further gameplay, get extra lives, speed up the gaming process, or change a character’s appearance. While MTXs are common in the mobile gaming market, they are also available in PC and console gaming. 

Microtransactions have become a major factor in the gaming industry in the last decade. That doesn’t mean they never existed before. However, it’s not until 2010 that they started becoming a subject of controversy among gambling enthusiasts. 

They are lucrative for the gaming industry and promote the development of low-cost yet high-quality games. That means gamblers of all budget ranges can enjoy their favorite games. With microtransactions, casinos like Goldenslot can generate revenue from gamblers with a low budget and expand their player base with free-to-play games. 

According to skeptics, however, microtransactions can undermine the competitive spirit. They can also make players trade cash for time and prevent the gaming market from making a fair judgment between similar products. Let’s take a deeper look at the controversy of MTXs in the gaming industry. 

Microtransactions Alters Game Mechanics

One of the major reasons why players hate microtransactions is that they normally change game mechanics. Many developers design their games to encourage players to purchase MTXs. 

For free-to-play games, they achieve that by limiting the number of times a person can play within a specific period. Alternatively, they design the game to always display ads. 

Some mobile apps use dark patterns. The patterns are designed to trick you into performing unintentional actions. For example, the developer may place a button in a tricky position or color items in a confusing manner. 

This alteration of game mechanics also applies to major titles. In some games, you’ll have a hard time progressing to the next level, finding certain items, or accessing certain areas unless you purchase special items. Such features are common in massively multiplayer online games (MMOs). 

Not All Microtransactions Are Bad

While many people see microtransactions as an evil concept that ruins the gaming experience, this it’s not all bad. 

Most of today’s games run on servers that need continuous maintenance to operate at their peak. Microtransactions are an excellent way for small game developers to keep their games running at optimum performance by generating revenue to keep their servers operational. 

Some MTXs can even add new challenges for players to enjoy. This means that the developers will need to add hours of content to their games. 

Some microtransactions are purely cosmetic; you can’t pay to have an edge in the game. You can only pay for costumes, skins, dances, and other items that modify the look of your avatar. With such games, everyone has equal chances, and players can’t have a gameplay advantage by spending cash. 

Online games such as Counter-Strike, Dota 2, and Overwatch have cosmetic microtransactions, which many gamers don’t have a problem with.