One of the most significant industry shifts that have occurred within the gaming sector is the pivot away from expensive, standalone titles towards mass gaming experiences that can be enjoyed by customers free-of-charge. While the free-to-play model was once a fringe element of video gaming that was confined mostly to cheaply produced mobile titles, it is now the focal point of the industry. But why is the free-to-play model so successful, and how is it a profitable model for developers? Read on to find out.
Truly Social Gaming
Many have argued that the FTP model has its origins in free Facebook games such as Farmville and Candy Crush, which introduced truly free gaming to hundreds of millions of players around the world. These social media origins are still a major driver of clicker games popularity today. Most of the major FTP games right now have social elements at the core of their appeal, including competitive multiplayer, live chat, and lively in-game forums. The sociability helps players get more out of their gaming experience.
Adoption by the Online Casino Industry
Another factor that is driving the success of the FTP model is the widespread adoption of it by one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world of gaming – the $50 billion a year online casino industry. As more and more people around the world opt to play real-money online games such as slots, poker, and blackjack on their mobile devices, online casino platforms are attempting to stay on top of current trends by offering free FTP games. One major example is Genesis Casino in India, a major platform that offers free spins on the most popular slot games in the world to all of its customers. Such tactics are becoming an essential part of online casino business models, which is further driving forward the popularity of FTP.
A Reliable Revenue Generator
Although players do not pay a penny to access a free-to-play game like Fortnite or CoD: Mobile, such games have proven to be some of the most profitable of all-time. Not only are many free-to-play mobile games much cheaper to develop than their paid counterparts, but they also draw much larger audiences. This is why advertisers flock to buy up ad space on FTP games, thus providing the majority of revenue for most of the biggest titles. Do you have unused MTG Arena promo codes? MTGA Codes webstore will buy them for cash.
The global free-to-play market is now worth a staggering $82.5 billion, significantly more than the $45.2 billion generated last year through console game sales.
Reliance on Prevalent Technologies
Another reason why FTP games have an edge over console games is that the medium they are played on is far more accessible. On a global scale, very few people actually own a current-generation games console or gaming PC – less than 50 million people are believed to own an Xbox One, for example. Meanwhile, billions of people own smartphones and laptops that can support the most popular FTP games, ensuring a significant market advantage for developers. This is why console providers such as the Nintendo Switch and even Xbox have been pivoting hard towards the FTP model in recent years, offering free games to their players to keep them on board.
Popularity in Emerging Markets
Finally, it’s worth noting how FTP has enjoyed unprecedented success in global markets where console developers have traditionally stayed clear of. For games such as Fortnite, PUBG Mobile, and CoD: Mobile, the biggest and most enthusiastic markets are found not in the US or Europe, but in India and China. Part of this success is related to the above-mentioned factor of smartphone penetration, but it is also true that FTP developers have tried much harder to market their wares in emerging markets.
For the moment, the success of FTP looks unstoppable. Whether it will continue to dominate or reveal itself to be little more than a phase remains to be seen, but we will be watching closely.