Key Takeaways
- A majority of PC gamers now spend their money within existing games rather than purchasing new full-priced titles.
- With game prices increasing, players are becoming more selective.
- While hits, like Fortnite, continue to thrive, many developers have failed to replicate their success.
Until the early 2010s, the most exciting moment in gaming was the release of a new title, complete with midnight launches and endless trailer breakdowns.
Today, the real action is happening elsewhere. According to new research, gamers are increasingly choosing to spend their money within the games they already love.
In today’s modern gaming sphere, with prices rapidly increasing across the board, are gamers becoming disillusioned with new releases?
Microtransactions Over New Games
Recent data from Newzoo’s 2025 research reveals that 58% of PC gamers’ spending is now directed toward microtransactions. In contrast, only 28% of gamers spent money on purchasing full games in 2024.
This trend aligns with usage patterns: Just 8% of total gaming time was spent on newly released titles, while 60% was dedicated to older games.
Live-service games—often free-to-play—retain players through regular content updates and a wealth of in-game purchases.
According to Newzoo, full-game purchases totaled $10.7 billion in 2024, a 2.6% decline from the previous year.
The research reflects a clear industry shift: Players are choosing to invest in ongoing in-game content, customizing characters and unlocking new features, rather than buying new games.
Value of Live Service
The rising cost of gaming may also influence PC gamers’ reluctance to invest in entirely new experiences.
Not only are development budgets climbing, but game prices are, too—Nintendo, for example, recently announced that the long-awaited Mario Kart sequel will be $80 in some regions.
A free live-service game can offer hundreds of hours of engagement, while most single-player, story-driven experiences last between eight and 16 hours.
That said, developers of single-player games are responding by creating longer, more immersive experiences.
Titles, like Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and Metaphor: ReFantazio, boast completion times ranging from 60 to 150 hours.
Still, even the longest single-player games can’t compete with the longevity of successful live-service titles. Fortnite, for example, has offered eight years of content and engagement for its most dedicated players.
Live Service Flops
Inspired by Fortnite’s massive success, many developers have tried to capitalize on the live service model. Some succeeded: Call of Duty: Warzone gained immense popularity during the pandemic—but many others have failed spectacularly.
PlayStation’s Concord has become the company’s biggest failure, lasting just two weeks online before being delisted.
Sony initially planned to release 12 internally developed live-service games by 2026. However, internal discussions now suggest a pivot.
In a recent earnings call, Sony’s Senior Vice President for Finance and IR, Sadahiko Hayakawa, said:
“We intend to build an optimal title portfolio during the current mid-term planning period—one that combines single-player games, where we have proven strength and greater predictability of success, with live-service games that offer potential upside, albeit with higher release risks.”
The Future of Gamer Spending
Microtransaction spending on consoles is lower than on PCs, but according to Newzoo, it still accounts for 32% of gamer spending.
Developers have increasingly added cosmetic items and microtransactions to offset the rising costs of game development.
At the same time, subscription services, like PlayStation Plus and Xbox Game Pass, are reshaping consumer habits.
These services offer access to extensive game libraries—including some new releases—for a monthly fee far less than the price of a single AAA title.
Video game journalist Keith Stuart suggested it may be time for gamers to reconsider their spending habits in this shifting market:
“As prices rise, it’s important for players to carefully consider which AAA titles they purchase at full price. Exploring a broader range of smaller, independent games can offer unique experiences at much lower costs.”
He added, “Sony and Nintendo must respond to unpredictable market forces, but we, as consumers, don’t have to follow blindly. We can choose to play a different game.”
Kurt Robson is a London-based reporter at CCN, specialising in the fast-moving worlds of crypto and emerging technology. He began his career covering local news in Cornwall after graduating from Falmouth University with First Class Honours in Journalism. There, he cut his teeth on everything from council meetings to missing swans.
He quickly rose through the ranks to become a frontline journalist at several of the UK’s leading national newspapers. Over the years, he has interviewed musicians and celebrities, reported from courtrooms and crime scenes, and secured multiple front-page exclusives.
Following the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kurt shifted his focus to technology journalism—just ahead of the AI boom. With a natural curiosity and a trained eye for emerging trends, he has found a new rhythm in reporting on innovation.
At CCN, Kurt's work focuses on the cutting edge of crypto, blockchain, AI, and the evolving digital world. Drawing on his background in people-first reporting and his deep interest in disruptive tech, Kurt delivers stories that are insightful, entertaining, and human-centric.
