- Former BioWare developer Mark Darrah has recently proposed an alternative to microtransactions.
- He suggests using product placements more often in games to cover the costs of development.
- The developer believes an overemphasis on microtransactions is hurting certain types of games.
Practically all modern games rely on microtransactions, and this phenomenon has led to the rise of live-service titles. However, it’s no secret that many in the industry aren’t exactly fond of this style of monetization.
In fact, a BioWare veteran has argued that games should pivot away from microtransactions.
Why it matters: Games like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla made nearly €100 million in microtransaction sales, highlighting just how effective this practice is within the industry.
In a new video discussing movies and games, former Dragon Age producer Mark Darrah discussed the different strategies games and movies take to make money.
He pointed out that movies start with theatrical runs and then move on to streaming services and DVD releases. The game developer pointed out that movies also rely on product placements, and this revenue channel can be incredibly effective.
Mark Darrah argues that product placements could work in a similar manner for games. Making this point, he notes that microtransactions, the primary revenue source for many games, often force developers to cater to the small subset of players spending the most money on a game.
He also states that microtransactions are currently holding back certain game genres while making others overly popular. This is why Mark Darrah proposes the use of product placement as an alternative, stating that movies make great use of product advertisements and partnerships to cover production costs.
Product placement is a very small part of video games right now compared to movies. Maybe it could be a larger part of development.
I think the over-reliance on microtransactions is preventing genres from flourishing.
Interestingly, major games like Death Stranding 2 have made smart use of product placement in recent years. Therefore, there is merit to what Mark Darrah has said in his latest video.
What do you think about the BioWare developer’s suggestion? Let’s discuss in the comments and on the Tech4Gamers Forums.
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[Senior News Reporter]
Avinash is currently pursuing a Business degree in Australia. For more than 5 years, he has been working as a gaming journalist, utilizing his writing skills and love for gaming to report on the latest updates in the industry. Avinash loves to play action games like Devil May Cry and has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as IGN, GamesRadar, GameRant, Dualshockers, CBR, and Gamespot.
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