Game Economy
Ongoing coverage on Game Economy.
Latest coverage
Behold, "the whole story of Steam's economy in one picture": the top 1% of games earn 84.5% of estimated revenue, and most games barely make anything
A new analysis of 99,206 paid games on Steam reveals that the top 1% of games earn 84.5% of the estimated revenue, with half of all paid games earning less than $4,000 lifetime. The report, which excludes free-to-play titles, highlights extreme revenue disparities and a rapidly growing Steam catalog that outpaces revenue growth.
Guilds Go Live in AFK Heroes: Members Can Earn Up to 25% Extra $AFKHERO
AFK Heroes has launched its new Guilds feature, allowing members to earn up to 25% more $AFKHERO tokens, along with 100% more XP and Gold. This update is part of the game's Season 2 content, which also includes crafting, tournaments, and PvP. The introduction of guilds aims to boost player engagement and in-game rewards, though specific tier requirements for maximum bonuses have not been publicly detailed.
Massively Overthinking: How important is an auction house in MMORPGs?
MMORPG developers and players discuss the critical importance of auction houses and asynchronous trading systems. While some older MMORPGs succeeded without them, modern titles often rely on these features to facilitate player economies and trade, with their absence significantly impacting player experience and engagement.
No More Room in Hell 2’s 1.0 Update Introduces New Game Mode, Economy Overhaul, and More
Torn Banner Studios has released the 1.0 update for No More Room in Hell 2, marking its exit from Early Access. The update, titled Armageddon, introduces a new Survival game mode with unique maps, an objective-based Bunker map, and a solo mode. It also features a complete overhaul of the in-game economy, new items like the Rescue Beacon, assignments for earning Merits, a tutorial mode, and adjusted difficulty settings. The game is available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S with a launch discount.
Believe the hype for Wardogs, possibly the next great multiplayer FPS
Wardogs, an upcoming multiplayer FPS from Bulkhead, shows significant promise with its unique blend of milsim and extraction shooter elements. The game features a robust in-game economy where players earn and spend currency for gear, creating a strong incentive for survival and teamwork. Entering early access in September, Wardogs aims to strike a balance between approachable gunplay and deeper logistical gameplay.
Where Casual Gaming Ends and Sweepstakes Games Begin - Walkthrough, Tips, Review
This article clarifies the distinctions between social casinos, sweepstakes casinos, and licensed real-money casinos, emphasizing that sweepstakes models use a dual-currency system and operate as a sweepstakes rather than a gambling license. It outlines checks to differentiate them, such as currency types, prize redemption, free entry routes, and regulatory oversight, noting that sweepstakes casinos are in a legal grey area and face increasing restrictions in various regions.
AFK Heroes’ first 45 days: $53K spent by players, $14.3K earned back
In its first 45 days, AFK Heroes saw players spend $53,000 worth of AFKHERO tokens while only earning $14,300 back. The in-game marketplace facilitated $48,060 in sales from over 391,000 listings. This voxel idle RPG, launched on Solana, has implemented changes to its reward system and introduced features like guilds and crafting with its Season 2 update.
Ronin teases a new Pixels chapter and leaves out every detail
Ronin announced that the Web3 game Pixels is entering its next chapter, following multiple awards and reaching over 1 million daily active users. While details like a release date, chapter number, or feature list were not provided, previous chapters have significantly reworked the game's economy and player earnings. The announcement comes after Ronin's migration to an OP Stack layer 2 and its own rebranding as the 'gamification engine of Ethereum'.
Bees Join Chainers’ Animal Roster as Four-Day ‘Survivor Swarm’ Event Begins
Chainers has launched "The Survivor Swarm," a four-day in-game event featuring a new playable animal type: Bees. The event, running from August 6th to August 9th, includes both Progression and Mission tracks, offering various rewards. This update follows a recent Reward Pool rework by 51 Games, which adjusted in-game currency payouts and tiers.
Otherside Maps Out 74-Resource Economy Spanning 100,000 Otherdeeds
Otherside is developing an interconnected economy featuring 74 resources across its 100,000 NFT land plots, known as Otherdeeds. This system aims to deepen player engagement by directly linking land ownership to a broader resource framework. Yuga Labs recently acquired Unreal Engine technology from Improbable to support the virtual world's foundation, with upcoming updates promising development diaries and community feedback channels.
Nine Chronicles Rolls Out Season Pass With Courage, World Clear and Adventure Boss Tracks
Nine Chronicles has launched a new Season Pass featuring three progression tracks: Courage, World Clear, and Adventure Boss, designed to increase player engagement. Both free and premium tiers offer rewards, with a Premium+ option providing instant bonuses. This update aims to incentivize players to battle more and progress further, especially in anticipation of the upcoming Arena season.
EVE Frontier dangles 1,000 Grace on a seven-day Dermestid cull
EVE Frontier is hosting a Dermestid hunt event from August 4th to August 11th, where players can earn 1,000 Grace by collectively defeating 20 Dermestids. This event is part of Cycle 6: Sanctuary and aims to reward players with in-game currency that converts to EVE Points after the cycle ends. New KEEP missions are also available, offering individual Grace rewards.
Gamigo finally restored Trove’s market and introduced the new minipet questing and progression system
Gamigo has restored Trove's in-game Marketplace, which had been offline since December, allowing players to trade items again. The update also introduces a new 'Tiny Quests' feature where minipets gain experience and earn loot, alongside the Elysian Initiation event offering new rewards.
Early access MMORPG SpiritVale has finally brought its trade system back online after its rocky launch
The early access MMORPG SpiritVale has brought its trade system, including the auction hall, back online after a rocky launch that caused outages and exploits. Developer Baikun Interactive released a patch addressing party system issues, item exploits, login timeouts, and chat bugs, while also introducing a new report player feature and adjusting auction house fees and listing limits.
Albion Online reverses its dynamic spawn rate scaling, brings back the Divine Challenge and Ol’ Betsy
Sandbox Interactive has reversed changes to Albion Online's dynamic spawn rates following player backlash, aiming to maintain the game's economic balance. The company stated that community feedback is a top priority. Additionally, the Divine Challenge event has returned, offering rewards like learning points and a Divine Owl mount, while August's referral reward is the Ol' Betsy cow skin for the transport ox.
Wilder World brings gear repair online at the Armory
Wilder World has activated gear repair at the Armory, allowing players to restore damaged items to full stats and remove battle damage visuals. The cost of repair dynamically scales based on the extent of damage, gear category, and rarity, completing the persistent degradation system introduced previously. This feature addresses the one-way nature of damage that had previously left worn armor permanently weaker.
Crimson Desert update overhauls the game's economy with 133 new trading posts and trade goods that change in price
Crimson Desert has received a significant update overhauling its in-game economy with 133 new trading posts and dynamic pricing. Developer Pearl Abyss has introduced new trade goods, adjusted prices based on supply and demand, and added features like a 'Claim Bank Strongbox' for investing bonds. The update also includes map filters to help players navigate the expanded trading network.
AFK Heroes Makes Hero Power Level a Deciding Factor in Reward Pool Splits
AFK Heroes has updated its reward pool distribution to include hero Power Level as a deciding factor, meaning stronger heroes will now claim a larger share of rewards. This change comes weeks after a significant overhaul that increased daily emissions and introduced an Earning Boost. The game, which launched on Solana in June, aims to incentivize player progression and engagement within its play-to-earn economy.
How to Trade Pets in Adopt Me and Build a Better Collection - Walkthrough, Tips, Review
This guide explains how to effectively trade pets in Adopt Me by focusing on demand, offer inspection, and confirmation habits. It details the step-by-step trading process, the importance of the Trade License, and how trading values are shaped by factors like rarity, demand, and pet variants. The article also provides strategies for building a better collection and outlines trade safety rules to protect rare pets.
Why Balatro’s Card Runs Feel So Thrilling
Research indicates that players of complex MMOs like Path of Exile and World of Warcraft develop transferable cognitive skills such as problem-solving, strategic thinking, and risk assessment. These skills, honed through managing in-game economies and coordinating group content, are comparable to those required in professional and financial environments. The article argues that the cultural perception of gaming needs to evolve to recognize these developed capabilities.
