Will free-to-play (F2P) with microtransactions in games dominate the future of online gaming?

Microtransactions or micropayments are becoming increasingly common in F2P video games. Will freemium games replace the traditional pay-to-play model in the industry and become the future of gaming?

The video game industry is changing. Traditionally, online games have used a pay-to-play system which usually includes an initial downpayment (buying the game) and/or a monthly subscription fee. However many games have transitioned into a free-to-play (F2P) system. In F2P games users can start playing for free and only have to make some micropayments to unlock certain features or levels or to download additional content, following the logic of a freemium model. This can be very advantageous for those who don't want to invest a large amount of money to try a game that they may not like in the end.  It can also provide a great amount of gaming experience for free. Many F2P games such as Dungeon Keeper, Hearthstone, League of Legends, and DotA2, have become extremely popular.

Microtransactions in games: the limits

However, the model is no flawless. Many gamers claim that many games are not really F2P because they force you to pay for content. Often the free part in some of these games is equivalent to a demo in a traditional pay-to-play system. Whatsmore, the total amount spent by gamers through micropayments can often be larger than the cost of simply buying a game and paying a monthly fee.

Do you think that F2P games with microtransactions will continue to grow and finally dominate the market of online gaming? Or do you forecast that in the end users will go back to a traditional pay-to-play system?

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