What Impact Do Microtransactions Have on a Game?

The topic of microtransactions is a contentious one in the gaming community. While they’re a method of game development that can draw in enormous amounts of money, they can also reduce the game to a cynical corporate product – detracting from the artistry of the experience. This conflict between the two sides of a game is nothing new, but many feel as though it’s best personified by the inclusion of microtransactions. However, are they something that ruins a game by existing, or can they just be ignored entirely?

A Shift in Developmental Focus

It’s easy to tell people just to ignore microtransactions (even if this isn’t always possible), but the reality is that a strong presence of microtransactions in a game can have a knock-on effect on the design philosophy of the game itself. If a game is designed to make money consistently, that means that this is something that players are going to notice again and again. They’ll be redirected to the store; certain hurdles in the game will be designed specifically so that microtransactions are an option for bypassing them. When it comes to multiplayer games, microtransactions can even provide some players with a way to skip the arc of power and buy their way to the top of the leaderboards instead, which can make them contentious for a different reason.

Are They the Point?

To many people, payment within games isn’t something that’s always a problem. After all, when it comes to online casinos, the presence of payment is something that’s very much inherent to the genre. The appeal of being able to play blackjack games online – like those found if you click here – wouldn’t be nearly as strong if players weren’t able to put money down – the gambling is arguably the point. However, it might be that the difference here is one of perception and expectation.

When it does come to microtransactions in games, cosmetic payments are sometimes seen as less controversial than payments more linked to gameplay. This might be because cosmetic microtransactions are just about allowing a player to put money towards a particular aesthetic that can help them to define their own experience. Going without this addition doesn’t prevent someone from playing the game or getting the most out of it; it’s just an additional option.

Pay to Progress

Most problematic of all, however, is arguably the kinds of payments that halt a player’s progress in its tracks. This is something that’s seen quite regularly in freemium gaming – where the initial download of the game is free, but the player is swiftly greeted by an obstacle that can be moved either by waiting a long period of time or by paying a set amount.

This can also be seen taking root in games that people are expected to pay full price for, such as Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, where grinding up levels is essential to being able to access certain quests – but an option is given to pay to skip this grind entirely. In this instance, the controversy comes from how the story of the game itself is designed in a way to force players to pay.