Monetization
Ongoing coverage on Monetization.
Latest coverage
Marathon Is Live, But Deluxe Edition And Other Bonuses May Be Missing For Now
Bungie's new sci-fi extraction shooter Marathon is now live, but players are experiencing delays in receiving Deluxe Edition bonuses, Twitch Drop rewards, and other earned items. The developer is investigating these issues, with some rewards potentially taking up to 48 hours to appear. Despite these initial hiccups, the game is performing well on Steam, with a high concurrent player count.
Marathon’s Rewards Passes Won’t Expire and You Can’t Pay for Power, Says Bungie
Bungie has clarified that Marathon's Rewards Passes will not expire and can be purchased from previous seasons, with content unlockable through gameplay or an optional Premium Pass for cosmetics. The developer emphasizes that there is no "pay for power" system in the game, and all seasonal gameplay content will be free for all players. Marathon is launching today for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC.
Beyond the Paywall: The Rise of
The gaming industry is shifting towards social-first platforms that prioritize community and open access over traditional paywalls. These platforms leverage virtual currencies, sweepstakes mechanics, and social features like group chats and shared goals to drive engagement and retention. Mobile gaming dominates this space, with projections indicating significant market growth driven by evolving monetization strategies and expanding demographics.
The Sims 4's new paid mods aren't paying their creators enough
Electronic Arts has launched The Sims 4 Marketplace, a new store for user-created mods. However, the revenue share offered to creators is significantly lower than that of platforms like Roblox and Fortnite, raising concerns about creator compensation.
The Sims 4 is going the way of Roblox with a new marketplace where anyone can make moola from their custom creations
Electronic Arts is introducing a new marketplace and maker program for The Sims 4, allowing players to create and sell custom content like clothing and furniture. This move mirrors systems seen in games like Roblox and Fortnite, enabling creators to earn money from their creations through a virtual currency called Moola, with creators receiving a 30% cut of sales. The program is set to launch on March 17th.
The Sims announces a Creation Club-style Marketplace and Maker program enabling content creators to sell their work…
Electronic Arts is launching The Sims 4 Marketplace, an in-game destination for players to purchase new content, and the Sims Maker Program, which allows approved creators to sell their work. The Marketplace will feature "Maker Packs" of custom content, with creators earning 30% of sales made using the new virtual currency, Moola. The program aims to bring official custom content to consoles for the first time and is set to launch on PC and Mac on March 17.
The Sims 4 Announce Maker Program and The Sims 4 Marketplace | Invision Game Community
The Sims 4 is launching The Sims 4 Marketplace and The Sims Maker Program to integrate custom content directly into the game. The Marketplace will allow players to discover and purchase official "Maker Packs" created by approved creators, with PC and Mac versions launching March 17, 2026, followed by PlayStation and Xbox. The Maker Program enables creators to package, price, and monetize their content directly through the in-game system.
Xbox's co-op brawler Towerborne drops free-to-play and monetization plans for 1.0, but crossplay is bizarrely gone too
The action RPG Towerborne is shifting away from its planned free-to-play model for its 1.0 launch. Additionally, the game will no longer feature crossplay, a significant change from its initial multiplayer plans.
New York Sues Over Valve Loot Boxes
The State of New York has filed a lawsuit against Valve Corporation, alleging that its loot box mechanics constitute illegal gambling. The suit targets the "cases" and "keys" system, seeking to halt the practice and recover profits derived from it. This legal action could significantly impact the monetization strategies of PC games and the broader live-service industry.
UK advertising regulator issues Enforcement Notice targeting loot boxes
The UK's Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) and Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) have issued an Enforcement Notice requiring greater transparency for loot boxes in mobile games advertised on the Google Play and Apple App Store. Companies have three months to update their listings to clearly disclose the presence of random-item purchases before enforcement action, including potential advertising bans, begins on May 26, 2026.
Kick Partner Program: What You Need to Know Before You Start Streaming
The Kick Partner Program is designed for serious streamers on the Kick platform, offering enhanced monetization features and support beyond basic creator status. To be eligible, channels typically need to meet specific performance benchmarks like consistent streaming schedules, average viewer counts, and audience engagement over the last 30 days. Kick differentiates itself with a high creator revenue share on subscriptions and tips, fewer content restrictions, and the ability to multistream, making it an attractive alternative for creators looking to grow their communities and income.
How to Earn Money by Playing Free Fire (Real & Practical Ways)
This guide outlines practical ways players can earn money by playing Garena Free Fire, emphasizing that direct in-game rewards are not offered. Earning potential comes from participating in tournaments, using third-party tournament apps, creating content on platforms like YouTube, and live streaming gameplay. Success relies on skill, consistency, and utilizing external platforms rather than in-game features.
What MMORPGs Are Actually Worth Playing in 2025? Seeking Recommendations!
This article seeks recommendations for MMORPGs worth playing in 2025, asking the community to consider factors like player base, updates, gameplay, endgame, monetization, and community. It lists several popular titles such as World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy XIV, and Guild Wars 2 as examples, encouraging detailed explanations for why each game is recommended.
New Steam game has 300,000 players, but mostly negative reviews
The new Steam game Mecha BREAK has attracted over 300,000 concurrent players during its open beta, briefly surpassing titles like Marvel Rivals. However, the game has received mostly negative reviews due to significant concerns regarding game security, monetization practices, and overall gameplay balance.
