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5 Types Of Micro-transactions To Help Your In-game Store Thrive
March 15, 2022
Thanks to digital content and constant online connections, the world of gaming has changed drastically in the past decade. Gamers used to purchase a complete game package as-is, with no options for upgrades or extra features. Now, console and mobile games often rely on microtransactions to make income and continue the flow of profits.
As you expand the launch of your game with microtransactions, there are various types to consider. The variety of options will help expand your in-game store and keep up with gamer engagement. The in-game store allows your game to feel fresh while consumers play.
1. Small Purchases
The idea of a microtransaction is to keep a majority of the options as micro or small as possible. The average cost for items should be around the one-dollar range, with many items set at a cost of less than a dollar. For instance, if your game has a daily limit on lives, you may offer an extra bundle of lives for $0.99
The use of psychological pricing for low amounts will also help influence the consumer to purchase. For example, instead of an item costing $1.00, the price $0.99 typically works better. For even smaller transactions you may choose to price items at $0.49 as opposed to $0.50. Consumers tend to view the odd price points as a better deal because their brain rounds the figures down, rather than up.
Small purchases add up over time and consumers may be more willing to make multiple small purchases instead of one large purchase.
2. Skins and Customization
Gamers love to make games all their own. Along with usernames and custom avatars, you can expand the customization options through microtransactions.
For example, your in-game store may feature new character skins to use as avatars. The skins could include new outfits, designs, and accessories like backpacks or hats. If the game involves animals, you may offer a new and rare skin for those characters. For example, if there is a tiger, the in-game store could feature a white tiger skin option as an alternative.
When a player purchases the skin, the skins become a permanent part of their account, which gives them a digital locker of items to keep and use while they play the game.
3. Holiday Themes
Along with general custom skins, your in-game store has the opportunity to promote a variety of holidays with items and themes. Holiday items allow the game to feel fresh and allows the designers to consistently feature new content.
In the autumn months, you have the opportunity to promote items for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. The three months of items may include special wallpapers, skins, or in-game bonuses. During the winter holidays, you have the opportunity to offer in-game presents. The mystery microtransactions add the element of surprise to the items.
You can incorporate a variety of random holidays and celebrations into your game. For example, any type of cooking game may feature a special pizza item for a holiday like National Pizza Day or National Deep-Dish Pizza Day.
Take advantage of these holidays to run unique promotions and put a focus on items that return to your in-game store to check out the selection and make a potential purchase.
4. Bonus Purchases
Even when they make microtransactions, gamers want to feel like they get full value for the money they spent. One of the easiest ways to do this is with bonus purchases.
A game with five extra lives may toss in two extra lives as a bonus. A Christmas sweater skin for a digital character may come with a bonus Santa hat. Figure out how to structure the digital bonus to benefit the consumer while not eating away at your own profits. Another way to help with the success of a bonus purchase is through the use of a timer. Some sales may be flash sales and only available for a limited amount of time. Through the use of a countdown clock, a player may be more enticed to purchase an item and get the bonus before the offer goes away for good.
5. Loot Boxes
Package deals offer a player the ability to purchase a bundle all at once, and one of the ways to bundle items is through the use of a loot box. A loot box is a randomly generated collection of items. Players may get a loot box with basic items or a loot box filled with some of the more rare items. The gamble they take to try and win big is part of the excitement that comes with loot boxes.
Through your in-game store, the game has the ability to offer a variety of loot box sizes and options players may access at any time.
The in-game store can be the key to success for the launch of your game, so contact our professionals at Xsolla to help with the set-up, implementation, and check-out process for all the various microtransactions.
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