The Ethics of Micro-transactions

It is my opinion that micro-transactions can be ethical. It is, after all, not unethical for a developer to wish to profit from their hard work on a piece of software. if that developer is releasing a free game, or working with a large team or unpopular company, it may be difficult to profit from a product without adding some kind of incentive for the consumer to invest money.

My idea of an ethical micro-transaction scheme would be akin to that found in many of the free “battle royale” games that have recently become so popular. They often have no in-game items or boosts for purchase, nothing that affects gameplay or gives one an advantage. They simply sell cosmetics to make your character, or their gear, stand out from the crowd visually. I find this to be a reasonable and admirable system of making profit.

Even though I’m sure they quite easily could be, I do not believe micro-transactions should be regulated. A state/federal mandate on what games can and can’t sell as part of their experience is an infringement on the free market. Ultimately, I believe that if there is an issue with a game’s micro-transaction system, the company which released it will suffer both financially and in the market of public opinion. This was definitely the case with EA and their Star Wars Battlefront 2 debacle (Battlefield V continues to sell poorly).