Game Stores, Subscriptions and Microtransactions: Who’s Paying and How in 2025?
The gaming industry and the way people play and interact with games have never diverged so dramatically from their origins. Once upon a time, players would go into a dedicated store and buy a physical copy of a game, and that’s where their spending journey ended. There was something special about holding the game in your hands and becoming engrossed in it for days or weeks, a culmination of all the anticipation leading up to that moment.
Today, the spending doesn’t stop. Since we’re constantly connected to the internet, gaming payments are quick, easy and encouraged. The industry has created an ecosystem that keeps players engaged and wanting more. Curious about how gamers are spending and what shapes the choices they make? Here’s a closer look.
One-Off Digital Purchases
Although gamers are increasingly adopting subscription models and microtransactions, many still prefer the old-school model of buying games outright and nothing else. The difference is that many lean towards digital purchases, rather than physical cartridges requiring space on your shelf.
One-off purchases are typically made on platforms like Steam or Epic Games or via a console store like the Nintendo eShop or PlayStation Store. Even mobile gamers can make a one-time purchase without paying extra for premium features or ad blocking. That way, game purchasing is still predictable for those who aren’t looking for the frills.
Gaming Subscription Models
Gaming subscriptions are likely the most popular and common option of the bunch. Services like PlayStation Plus and EA Play provide not just access to games for purchase but large libraries of titles for one flat monthly fee. This brings the streaming service-style format to the game world, where instead of buying individual games, players can explore and try out dozens of titles without committing.
For those who prefer to check out a wide variety of genres and game styles, this is the best way to do so. On the publisher end, subscriptions create a steady and predictable revenue stream that anchors players to their ecosystems. Platforms may also include perks like exclusive content or early access to sweeten the deal. Since many gamers are starting to value experimentation and flexibility over ownership, subscriptions have become an attractive, low-risk option.
Microtransactions and Cosmetic Items
There’s no hallmark of modern gaming quite like microtransactions. These small, optional purchases let players enhance their game experience with cosmetic items like character skins, outfits and emotes, and in-game currency, loot boxes and battle passes. While not having these extras won’t often affect the fairness of gameplay, they provide the ability to personalise.
Developers and publishers use microtransactions as a revenue driver, especially for free-to-play games. After the free download or one-off game purchase, they can continue offering content updates and extras for a fee. Players can then continuously funnel money into their experience, and game companies get a constant flow of income.
Bundles and Value Packs
Bundles are a tried-and-true way for players to get more bang for their buck. For example, the EA app often offers seasonal or publisher-specific bundles that feature multiple games or expansion packs at a discounted price. Like shopping and seeing sale signs, these methods make it more appealing for cost-conscious gamers to want to buy or explore titles they never thought about purchasing. For example, The Sims series promotes bundles that feature expansion packs and stuff packs that provide access to multiple content additions.
Again, it’s a tactic that benefits both players and publishers. Bundles can boost sales and bring attention to older titles, and gamers can save on costs while enjoying the element of discovery.
Differences Between Platforms
While certain types of game spending are more popular than others, each gamer is still unique. Where and how players spend and how often depends on the platform they use. Console gamers are more likely to buy full-price new releases or subscribe to services that provide access to a different game library every month. Meanwhile, PC players often turn to bundles or wait for sales. Mobile users seem to be in a league of their own, making much more frequent purchases, albeit small, for apps.
All these different spending habits are often encouraged by the way game libraries and subscription formats are structured. Just like games themselves rely on psychological leverage to keep players playing, platforms keep players spending by nudging players towards certain actions.
Shifting Player Preferences
Player habits are typically a product of platform design, built-in incentives and the ease of digital payments—and those factors aren’t limited to the traditional gaming industry alone. Other adjacent digital spaces, like casinos that accept Trustly, show just how important speed, trust and convenience are to heightened user spending. Fintech innovations like these pay-by-bank payment options align with these new gamer preferences and prevent an interruption in gameplay.
Gamers don’t like being boxed in, so platforms shouldn’t assume that spending patterns are one-size-fits-all. People want to be able to choose from a variety of payment methods and platforms that match their needs, and those in the gaming business should take that into consideration if they want to thrive.
Where Player Spending is Headed
If we analyse trends over the past few years, player spending has evolved immensely. Game companies are encouraging spending, but of players’ own accord. Still, gamers expect convenience and personalisation above everything else, and the industry is likely to continue responding immediately to any changes in those expectations. Looking ahead, player spending will focus on strategic value and the seamless payment systems that support it