An exhaustive study carried out by NPD Group has revealed that, in select titles, players are more likely to shell out for microtransactions (23 percent) over downloadable content (16 percent).
Polling 8,000 players between the ages of 13 and 54, the study known as “DLC and Microtransaction Purchasing” found that 28 percent of all users have paid for some form of digital content in the past three months. Men and young men are the two demographics most likely to shell out for bonus material.
Of the games featured in the survey, NPD Group disclosed that it asked questions relating to microtransactions in Battleborn, Destiny, Gears of War Ultimate Edition, Grand Theft Auto V, and Halo 5: Guardians. Meanwhile, questions pertaining to DLC focused on Battlefield 4, Call of Duty: Black Ops III, Fallout 4, Lego Star Wars The Force Awakens, and Super Smash Bros. Wii U.
Here’s an overview of the additional tidbits to arise:
- Close to half of non-purchasers of microtransactions are not willing to spend any money on them.
- 48 percent felt the content was not worth the extra expense.
- Half of non-DLC purchasers stated the DLC was not worth the money.
- 16 percent believe the extra content should have been included in the full game price.
- Attitudes towards mictrotransactions are mostly positive, with the majority (77 percent) claiming to like that microtransactions allow them to extend their enjoyment of a particular game.
- 68 percent believe the pay-to-win aspect of microtransactions within gaming is unfortunate.
What do our readers make of these findings? Are you inclined to take the plunge and pick up DLC and/or microtransactions?
[Source: GameSpot]
