The use of virtual currencies in video games is facing renewed regulatory scrutiny in Europe, with Italy's competition authorities reportedly examining monetization practices associated with Microsoft-owned gaming businesses. The investigation reflects a growing concern among regulators that in-game currencies can obscure the real cost of digital purchases and encourage … [Read more...] about Italy’s Investigation Into Gaming Virtual Currencies Raises New Questions About Microtransactions
Business Models
Battlefield, Call of Duty and the Battle for Subscription Gaming
Competition between Battlefield and Call of Duty has traditionally been framed as a contest over graphics, multiplayer design, military authenticity and the loyalty of first-person shooter audiences. The growing importance of subscription gaming adds another dimension to that rivalry. Reports concerning Battlefield 6 and its availability through Xbox Game Pass illustrate how … [Read more...] about Battlefield, Call of Duty and the Battle for Subscription Gaming
Your Game Business Model Is Decided by Genre Before You Choose It
Most studios approach the game business model as an open decision. Free-to-play or premium, ads or purchases, subscription or battle pass, all of it presented as a menu to be selected from once the game is roughly designed. In practice the decision was made earlier, by the genre, and studios that fight that constraint spend a year discovering it the expensive way. What the … [Read more...] about Your Game Business Model Is Decided by Genre Before You Choose It
Game Monetization Moved Off the App Store and Into the Browser in 2026
The most consequential thing to happen to game monetization this year was not a new mechanic. It was a change of venue. Publishers moved a meaningful share of their transactions out of first-party app stores and onto their own websites, and the difference between a 30% platform commission and a 5% to 10% payment processing fee is large enough to reshape how titles are … [Read more...] about Game Monetization Moved Off the App Store and Into the Browser in 2026