Microtransactions
What microtransactions are, the different kinds, and how to stop unwanted in-game purchases.
Microtransactions are small purchases made inside a game after you already own it. They range from a few pounds for a costume to substantial sums for in-game currency, and they are now standard in most large online games.
The main kinds
Cosmetic. Skins, outfits, emotes, weapon appearances. They change how things look and nothing else. Generally considered the fairest kind, because a player who buys nothing is at no disadvantage.
In-game currency. Real money converted into coins, points or packs. The conversion rates are usually designed so that the amount you need never quite matches the amount sold.
Progression. Purchases that save time — experience boosts, unlocking things you could otherwise earn. This is where it starts to affect the game itself.
Loot boxes. Randomised rewards bought without knowing what is inside. These have attracted regulation in several countries because of their similarity to gambling, and some games now disclose the odds.
Why they exist
Games cost far more to make than they did, while the headline price of a game has risen slowly. Ongoing purchases fund live games that keep receiving content for years. That is the honest commercial explanation — whether a particular implementation is reasonable is a separate question, and varies enormously between games.
How do I stop in-game purchases?
This matters most when children play on a shared console, and every platform provides controls.
PS5: Settings, then Family and Parental Controls. You can set monthly spending limits per child account and require a password for every purchase.
Xbox: Settings, then Account, then Family settings. Spending limits and purchase approval requests are available.
Nintendo Switch: use the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app, and set the child up as a family member rather than an adult account.
Two additional precautions worth taking: remove the saved payment method from the account rather than relying on a setting, and require a password at every purchase. Together those stop nearly every accidental purchase.
If you want buying a game to be a deliberate act rather than an easy one, gift cards work well — the account can only spend the balance you loaded onto it.