History Main / Microtransactions

* The Mann Co. store in ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2''. The in-game store has just about every item in the game, most of which can also be obtained through the random drop system. There is still a small market in Unusual hats, something of a status symbol amongst players. The Mann Co. Supply Crate Key (the only way to open crates) and three hats in particular�Bill's Hat (from the ''VideoGame/Left4Dead'' series), Max's Severed Head, (from the Sam & Max series) and the Earbuds, when Team Fortress 2 was released for Apple computers�are used as the de facto currency for anything to expensive to easily be paid in [[ItemCrafting metal]]. With the expansion of Steam trading, however, other options are open such as trading Steam game gifts or items from other games.

{{Freemium}} is a SisterTrope that sometimes overlaps--a {{Freemium}} game that also uses Micropayments may offer them as an alternative to, in addition to, and/or as part of a Premium membership. Sometimes games will offer a one-time pack of credits for the Virtual Goods for free to give players a taste of power, in hopes that they'll come back to buy more--this is roughly analogous to a ThirtyDayFreeTrial.

Post Release Content, or content that is created after a game has been released, is additional purchasable content that comes in two distinct flavors: DLC, or big updates to a game, synonymous with expansion packs; and Microtransactions.

* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' episode "Freemium Isn't Free" has an in universe example. The Canadian government releases a ''[[ShowWithinAShow Terrance and Phillip]]'' [[AllegedlyFreeGame game]], which is essentially a parody of games like ''The Simpsons: Tapped Out'' and ''Family Guy: The Quest For Stuff'', where the object is simply to collect coins and build a town up. Most of the boys get bored of it very quickly, except for Stan, who racks up ''$26000'' of debt on the game. [[spoiler: Turns out that the game is the demonic plot of The Canadian Devil, Beelzaboot.]] This is TruthInTelevision, where a very small percentage of players (known in the industry as 'whales') provide the vast amount of income that Freemium games and Microtransactions earn.

This is the most common form of BribingYourWayToVictory because it generally allows you to pay as much as you like (although payments are often framed as "donations"), giving the richest players the ability to outpay everyone else. The most extreme cases can require players to pay to access vital game content, resulting in an AllegedlyFreeGame. However, it's entirely possible to have Micropayments without giving an unfair advantage to those who pay--for example, by making the exclusive content strictly cosmetic. On the flipside, some games can offer exclusive and powerful gear otherwise unobtainable in game, by buying it outright from the MTX shop.

* The [=iOS=] remake of ''VideoGame/DungeonKeeper'' did this to a ''horrific'' degree that managed to make the game fail within days. Doing ''anything'' in the game took around 24 hours (which you could speed up by buying gems). The backlash was so bad that it got ''governments'' to take notice and pass legislation that required games to mark use of in-app purchases rather than tout themselves as "free".

* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' episode "Freemium Isn't Free" has an in universe example. The Canadian government releases a ''[[ShowWithinAShow Terrance and Phillip]]'' [[AllegedlyFreeGame game]], which is essentially a parody of games like ''The Simpsons: Tapped Out'' and ''Family Guy: The Quest For Stuff'', where the object is simply to collect coins and build a town up. Most of the boys get bored of it very quickly, except for Stan, who racks up ''$26000'' of debt on the game. [[spoiler: Turns out that the game is the demonic plot of The Canadian Devil, Beelzaboot.]]

* ''VideoGame/Overwatch'' has the option to get Lootbox bundles, as well as credits for Overwatch League skins. In China, the microtransactions instead focus on buying the contents outright, with lootboxes serving as "special rewards" for when you buy something. In both regional variants you can also earn Lootboxes via gameplay with the introduction of the Arcade back in late 2016, as well as levelling up in quickplay. Getting what you want however....

* ''VideoGame/Destiny2'' has also has it's problems with microtransactions, with things coming to a head during the Christmas celebration the game had with its special loot boxes that only had that season's gifts. This made getting them a hassle and a headache, as they had to be bought if you wanted more than the three a week they would dole out within the short time limit of the celebration. Following EA's disastrous problems with ''VideoGame/StarWarsBattlefrontII2017'' did not help.

* ''VideoGame/Destiny2'' has also has it's problems with microtransactions, with things coming to a head during the Christmas celebration the game had with its special loot boxes that only had that season's gifts which made getting them a hassle and a headache and had to be bought if you wanted more than the three a week they would dole out of the short time limit on the celebration. Following EA's disastrous problems with ''VideoGame/StarWarsBattlefrontII2017'' did not help.

* ''VideoGame/PokemonRumble World'' uses Poke Jewels for the same purpose, and obtainable from the same methods, as ''Shuffle''.

* ''VideoGame/StarWarsBattlefrontII2017'' got into a whole host of trouble over it's handling of Microtransactions via loot boxes, so much so that governments actually took notice. Read more on the game's [[YMMV/StarWarsBattlefrontII2017 YMMV]] and [[Trvia/StarWarsBattlefrontII2017 Trivia pages]].

* Creator/{{Konami}} has adapted this model for their arcade games, using proprietary currency called PASELI. Aside from allowing you to pay for your games without having to insert anything into the machine other than your e-Amusement Pass (which up until the introduction of PASELI was simply used to log in to save scores and game options, among other things), you can use PASELI to use special items, modes, and services in-game. For example, you can pay to play ''VideoGame/{{DanceDanceRevolution}}'' on a per-song basis rather than pay for a full round, and in ''VideoGame/{{beatmania}} IIDX'', you can purchase a "DJ VIP Pass" that [[MercyMode allows you to play all three stages even if you fail your first two]]. For parents concerned that their children might overspend at the arcade, users under the age of 18 have a monthly limit to how much PASELI credits they can use.

----
''[[VideoGame/StarWarsBattlefrontII2017 Our intent is to provide Tropers with a sense of pride and accomplishment for unlocking different Tropes.]]''

----

* The [=iOS=] remake of ''DungeonKeeper'' did this to a ''horrific'' degree that managed to make the game fail within days. Doing ''anything'' in the game took around 24 hours (which you could speed up by buying gems). The backlash was so bad that it got ''governments'' to take notice and pass legislation that required games to mark use of in-app purchases rather than tout themselves as "free".

* Creator/{{Harmonix}} sells songs to go with their games. ''VideoGame/RockBand'' has 300 or so songs found across the five released games, and a handful available on "track pack" discs. The other 4000 or so require individual purchase at $2 a pop, or in packs which cost a little less. Thankfully, non-RBN songs before ''Rock Band 3'' (i.e. before keyboard and harmonies) have had their price cut in half, making them $1 a-la-carte. ''DanceCentral'' also has its own DLC.

[[AC:Entire Companies]]

[[AC:TabletopGames]]

[[AC:VideoGames]]

* ''[[VideoGame/PokemonTrozei Pokémon Shuffle]]'' lets you pay for "gems", which are exchanged for in-game currency or chances to play a level. You can get gems for free in the game, though, and money and chances can be obtained in-game (by completing a level or waiting).
* ''VideoGame/{{Portal 2}}'''s multiplayer mode has its own shop where players can pay real-world money to unlock for Atlas and P-Body, special emotes, accessories, and so on. It didn't catch on... until Videogame/{{DOTA2}} and [[Videogame/CounterStrike Counter-Strike Global Offensive]] implements the same system.

* The Mann Co. store in ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2''. The in-game store has just about every item in the game, most of which can also be obtained through the random drop system. There is still a small market in Unusual hats, something of a status symbol amongst players. The Mann Co. Supply Crate Key (the only way to open crates) and three hats in particular—Bill's Hat (from the ''VideoGame/Left4Dead'' series), Max's Severed Head, (from the Sam & Max series) and the Earbuds, when Team Fortress 2 was released for Apple computers—are used as the de facto currency for anything to expensive to easily be paid in [[ItemCrafting metal]]. With the expansion of Steam trading, however, other options are open such as trading Steam game gifts or items from other games.

[[AC:WebOriginal]]

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]

* ''Videogame/RuneScape'' formerly allowed the purchase of "spins" on the "Squeal of Fortune", a Wheel of Fortune parody on which the player was able to win assorted (mostly junk, but some very good) prizes, as well as experience rewards. This has since been removed and replaced by the very similar minigame known as Treasure Hunter, where "keys" can be [[BribingYourWayToVictory purchased]] to unlock treasure chests for random rewards (free experience, bonus experience used when skilling, and an array of useful items). There's also a straight online store called "Solomon's General Store" which allows you to buy costumes, animations and other cosmetic items. Nowadays, not a single week goes by without [[MoneyDearBoy at least one promotion]] active on Treasure Hunter, Solomon's Store, [[UpToEleven or both at once]].
** Taken to the logical extreme by Youtuber 'A Friend' who maxed out an account (named [[Irony Not p2w]]) with under four days playtime solely via microtransactions. By comparison, the fastest 'natural' maxed account was in the mid 40 days bracket.

Microtransactions, also called Micropayments, are small transactions found in online games and services where a user pays a one-time fee for access to a piece of exclusive content (VirtualGoods). This could be pretty much anything--a cute new hat for your VirtualPaperDoll, a cool new piece of armor, a temporary power-up, whatever. It could even just be a shortcut to content you could access for free--for example, you might pay real-world money for a cache of the in-game currency. The Virtual Goods can be bought directly, but it's also common for your real-world money to buy some amount of special in-game currency to spend in a special shop. See also AllegedlyFreeGame and {{Freemium}}.

This is the most common form of BribingYourWayToVictory because it generally allows you to pay as much as you like (although payments are often framed as "donations"), giving the richest players the ability to outpay everyone else. The most extreme cases can require players to pay to access vital game content, resulting in an AllegedlyFreeGame. However, it's entirely possible to have Micropayments without giving an unfair advantage to those who pay--for example, by making the exclusive content strictly cosmetic.

* ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty'' started slow with Microtransactions, adding extra Create-A-Class slots and camos in Black Ops 2. However, all the latest games use a system called Supply Drops. Certain content is only accessible by unlocking Random Number Generator loot boxes that yield 3 items each. You can earn in-game currency to open these boxes, but can pay for either an alternate currency (Black Ops 3 and Infinite Warfare) or a better chance at getting something good out of the boxes (Advanced Warfare). Obviously, currency earned in-game is dwarfed by whatever can be paid for.

* {{Discussed}} in this [[http://sirusgaming.info/2017/09/microtransactions-gone-far/ article]] whether or not its gone too far.

* ''VideoGame/PAYDAY2'' has microtransactions in the forms of safes for custom weapon skins. Through a RandomDrop, you can earn a safe that contains a random skin for a random gun that may or may not have stat boosts. The safes, drills, and skins can be traded between players as well and drills can also drop as you play too. There are also 2 types of Safes: Pre-Update 100 safes require drills to open, while Post Update 100 safes can be opened for free.

* ''VideoGame/{{Portal 2}}'''s multiplayer mode has its own shop where players can pay real-world money to unlock special emotes, accessories, and so on. This is tied to the Steam Trading system, so players can trade between games if they feel like it. Many of the {{Freemium}} games in the Steam system (like ''VideoGame/SpiralKnights'' and ''VideoGame/{{Dota 2}}'') are also in the Steam trading system and use Microtransactions.
* ''VideoGame/ProjectBlackout'' sells special, more powerful equipment for real money.