With the mobile gaming market growing in popularity, the number of Free2Play games are also increasing simultaneously. From games like Candy Crush & Genshin Impact to Roblox & Monopoly Go!… There are a plethora of games for us to discover and play without spending even a single dollar on it. But that’s not always the case. In some cases, the Free2Play system quickly transforms into a battle between who can afford the most in-game purchases, turning a so-called free game into a Pay2Win title. But what exactly is the danger behind pay to win games?
Nothing Is Truly Free2Play
Free2Play (F2P) games by definition are games that anyone can play without paying an entry fee or some sort of subscription. They are usually supported by advertising, sponsorships, or microtransactions. F2P games usually appeal to a large and diverse audience, as they lower the barriers to access and offer a huge variety of genres, styles, and modes. Probably some of the most popular examples of F2P games are League of Legends, Candy Crush, World of Tanks and Fortnite.
However Free2Play games aren’t always as ‘free’ as we believe them to be. It’s very easy to lose tons of money to them if you’re not careful with your microtransactions. But if they are supposed to be free… Why are there so many options for us to spend our money on various items and other goods? And why does it sometimes seem that it’s almost a necessity to be able to keep up with other players?
Developers Also Need A Living
The biggest and most obvious reason why F2P titles never are completely free… Is that developers also need to make a living off their game. A lot of studios simply sell cosmetics to their audience so they can customize their game a bit more. Some let you watch short advertisements for a small bonus in form of money or more lives to spend. Those methods don’t destroy the game’s balance and give all players an equal standing. Just because someone has a prettier mount, doesn’t make him stronger. It’s still the skill and effort that gets put into the game that drives the narrative forward… And not the money someone invested into it.
The World Revolves Around Money
Humans are naturally greedy and always want more and more money to be able to afford their lifestyle. Skins and ads are all good and well but… They only make a game prettier and might not be as popular as things that actually enhance your character. So, they start implementing a booster here, a new item there… And slowly but surely what once was a rather balanced and fair game… Soon turns into the dangerous financial and ethical trap people call Pay2Win. Gacha games have become extremely lucrative for developers. This is due to the random chances players have when they pull from a pool of their favorite characters.. People are willing to invest thousands of dollars, just to get their wifu or husbando of their dreams. It’s of course more than fine that developers want to make a living off the free games they are developing but at some point, it raises an ethical question… When is it enough?
Pay2Win – The Unethical Yet Successful Business Model
Pay2Win (P2W) as per definition are games in which you get an advantage over your opponents if you spend real money on items, weapons or other features and are thus clearly superior to other players.
While most P2W games are F2P, it doesn’t mean that every F2P is P2W. If we look at some of the most successful F2P games like League of Legends or Fortnite, we don’t see any P2W elements at all. While you can buy things in shops… They are all pure cosmetic and don’t give the players an unfair advantage over each other.
On the other hand we have games like Clash Of Clans or Fifa that highly depend on players spending money on various microtransactions so they can triumph over their opponents. While players and critics hate P2W mechanics it seems those kinds of games just won’t die out, no matter how many negative reviews they get. Why? The answer is simple: Because people won’t stop spending money on them.
Fear Of Missing Out
The fear of missing out (FOMO) is a psychological phenomenon where players experience anxiety or regret about not being involved in or missing out in in-game activities, events, or rewards. This can lead to players feeling pressured to constantly be online or playing, even when they are tired or have other commitments.
The same fear applies when items or other goods are only available for a limited time. Let’s take Genshin Impact for example. While it is not necessary to have a certain character to advance the story, some characters are still better than others or are more popular because they are new or a fan favorite. While there are ample opportunities to try to pull the character from its limited-time banner, a lot of players simply don’t get lucky. So, because they are afraid to miss them, they are willing to put in hundreds if not thousands of dollars because they are afraid to miss them.
The Fake Sense Of Urgency
Time-limited deals are another thing that occurs in almost every P2W game. Time-sensitive beginner bundles, special offers, limited items or characters… You name it. Most of us have fallen into that kind of trap one way or another while playing a F2P game that actually was a lot of fun to play. Why? Because the game made us think if we don’t buy those things now… We’ll never get them in the first place.
Getting Ahead
We play games because we like to challenge ourselves and even to measure ourselves with others. So, if people have to choose between a time-intensive grind and a way to skip it… They most likely chose the easier path. Boosters, upgrades, equipment… Those are just some of the many items you can often buy in P2W games in order to beat your enemies, no matter if it is PVP or not.
This point especially is what makes people despise microtransactions and the like. Once things turn competitive… It is both unethical and simply false to give people an edge over others just because they have a bigger wallet.
Gambling Addictions
Most of us only know the term gambling addictions in combination with casinos, and derbies. trading card games or other well-known gambling sources. But gambling is also very real in the world of video games. Loot boxes, gacha games, in-game casinos… All of those things tickle the same part of the brain as any slot machine. The thrill of throwing your virtual currency down the drain only to watch some fancy VFXs in hopes of getting that big jackpot is pure adrenaline. Is the star in Genshin Impact going to turn gold? Is that loot box in CS:Go going to have the skin inside that I always wanted? Nothing matches that intense feeling when you do pull what you were hoping for but… At the same time it can be so frustrating and rage-inducing that people easily give in to that little dollar sign in order to get another chance at it.
Differentiate Between F2P & P2W
To be able to differentiate between a good F2P title and a P2W title is very important, especially if you don’t want to support them by accident. Sometimes games look normal and fun in the beginning but at some point, you might hit a wall if you don’t spend some bucks in the in-game shop. So, here are some valuable tips on how you can quickly see if a game is P2W or not. Here is also a list on CBR about 15 Free Pay-To-Win Games that aren’t worth your money.
- Offering Spam: If a game showers you with time-limited offerings or any other in-game ads for their shop, you might want to stay clear of it altogether.
- Scarce Resources: When you play a game and it feels like you have to constantly wait for timers to finish or for resources to fill up you’re most likely to be able to skip it with real-life money, giving people an unfair advantage.
- Shop Only Items: If games offer strong and unique items that are only available in the in-game shop with their real-life currency it is most likely built to be a Pay2Win title as well.
Pay2Win titles never received any positive reviews from anyone but they still make millions if not billions in revenue every year because they play off the many fears people naturally have. Unless the government decides to put some rules into place, those exploitative tactics will only get worse the more time those companies have to dive into their players’ minds.
Since you’re interested in Pay2Win and its dangers, you might also be curious about the psychology behind microtransactions and why studios use them in the first place:
Free To Play, Pay To Win: Why Games Use Microtransactions
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