[molf]

Agreed; this should be made illegal entirely – this mechanic benefits no one except the game publisher.

[pitaj]

Except that it lowers game cost for everyone else when whales buy a bunch of cosmetic items.

[larrik]

These games aren't lower in price. Freemium games may have that aspect, but the games in the article are all AAA $60+ games with deluxe editions for $80 or over $100, and still have loot boxes.

[pitaj]

Games have been $60 for decades despite growing scope and inflation. Why do you think that is? It's because of alternative monetization strategies.

[larrik]

The market size been growing too, while distribution costs have dropped to next to nothing. Games used to be physical cartridges, after all.

[cloakandswagger]

And also the grown adults who enjoy gambling responsibly?

[kgilpin]

That totally works for me as well :-)