Are in-app purchases ruining mobile video games?

We know more people are playing video games in the pandemic.

Not all of those will be sitting down to play on their consoles or PCs.

Recent research suggests that one in two people with a smartphone will have played a game on their phone in the last week.

How many of those games make money however has been a consistent talking point within the gaming industry for years.

The techniques some developers use to hook and retain players, however, are controversial.

Particularly when games advertised as “free” come with in-app purchases, sometimes known as microtransactions…

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I’ve noticed that a lot of “free” games really push those in-app purchases, and it can be pretty frustrating. It’s like they’re designed to be addictive, and that’s a real turn-off for me.

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It can be frustrating when you feel like you’re not really getting the full experience unless you fork out extra cash. On a different note, I’ve been exploring some apps that actually pay you to play games. They’re not the same as the usual in-app purchase model; they offer cash rewards or gift cards for your time and skill.

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