microtransaction

American  

[mahy-kroh-tran-sak-shuhn, -zak-] / ˈmaɪ kroʊ trænˌsæk ʃən, -ˌzæk- /

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.

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Etymology

Origin of microtransaction

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

Example Sentences

"The bet that we're taking is beginning with the removal of microtransactions and then more than a year's worth of integrity-based upgrades."

From BBC

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

From 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.

From New York Times

According to people familiar with the process, ZeniMax was strongly urging developers at its subsidiaries to implement microtransactions — that is, recurring opportunities within games for players to spend real money, say, outfitting their characters.

From 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.

From BBC