The game industry has changed; it’s no longer just about consoles. Mobile games have completely changed the industry, and even traditional console games have shifted their focus to be more online-focused.
This shift has made all the difference in the world, especially for free-to-play games. It used to be that if you wanted to make money from a video game, you’d have to resort to costly microtransactions or pay-to-play models. But thanks to the rise of digital marketplaces like Steam, the game industry has transitioned to ad-supported free-to-play.
The Rise Of Steam
Valve took advantage of the changing environment and launched Steam, a digital distribution platform for games, in 2007. Since then, the service has grown to become the largest digital games store in the world.
Steam boasts over 100 million active monthly users and is the only platform that offers games totally free of charge. While the store’s games are completely free, they do offer in-game purchases which users can access through their account balance or credit card.
The Benefits Of Steam
It’s interesting to note that despite the emergence of platforms like Xbox One and the Nintendo Switch, Steam remains a popular choice among players due to its large library of games and easy-to-use interface. If you’re looking to build a gaming PC, Steam is a great option as it offers an all-in-one solution for managing game downloads and playing online games. Even if you have an existing Xbox One or Nintendo Switch, you should consider purchasing a Steam deck as an add-on to enhance your gameplay experience.
Free-To-Play Games – The Industry-Changing Model
Free-to-play games have totally changed the industry. Thanks to Steam, it’s no longer acceptable to charge players for an experience; you can give the game away for free and rely on advertising to support your product.
This model has been so successful that it even inspired other platforms like mobile games HitPoint and Genshin Impact to adopt a similar business model.
The Future Of Gaming
The video game industry is evolving; it’s no longer just about consoles or PCs. As mobile and social platforms like TikTok continue to grow in popularity, gaming will increasingly shift to mobile and social networks. With more people playing games on smaller devices, it’s essential that developers evolve with the times and realize that gamers have different expectations now than they did in the past.
If you’re a developer looking to break into the mobile or social games industry, consider pursuing a free-to-play business model as it provides many benefits. Just make sure that you’re aware of the risks before you embark on this path as you’ll have to compete with more established developers and established game companies.