microtransaction

[mahy-kroh-tran-sak-shuhn, -zak-]

noun

1. a relatively inexpensive payment for part of a product or for an upgraded service or experience: often at the core of an alternative sales and revenue model for businesses to maximize profit with a very large volume of piecemeal or à la carte sales, rather than a single lump sum transaction for each full product sold: The vehicle comes with heated seats, but you won’t be able to use them without enrolling in a recurring microtransaction with the manufacturer.

   Developers call this genre of game free-to-play, but the fact is you’ll never succeed without shelling out microtransactions at every level for the gear your character will need.

   The vehicle comes with heated seats, but you won’t be able to use them without enrolling in a recurring microtransaction with the manufacturer.

Word History and Origins

Origin of microtransaction¹

First recorded in 1985–90; micro- ( def. ) + transaction ( def. )

Example Sentences

F2P games generate cash with in-game purchases, ranging from "microtransactions" equivalent to a handful of change or, in some cases, hundreds of pounds.

Read more on BBC

Genshin Impact, Destiny 2 and Apex Legends have all earned hundreds of millions of dollars through microtransactions, but as competition for players’ time increases, the financial strategy finds itself in limbo.

Read more on New York Times

For the first three years, Redfall had a significant microtransaction plan in place.

Read more on Seattle Times

Rather than profiting from the initial sale of a video game, many of today's gaming companies rely on revenue generated by in-game purchases, or microtransactions.

Read more on BBC

They don’t appear to be unlocked via microtransactions, and through a special citizen of Splatsville, you can add any trait to your favorite piece of clothing.

Read more on The Verge