Videogame player experiences with micro-transactions: An interpretative phenomenological analysis

Videogame monetisation methods have become a billion-dollar industry. Concerns surrounding micro-transaction use and potential negative psychological impact have become prevalent in recent years. For example, there is a suggested association between loot box buying and problem gambling, although this does not capture the nuanced experiences of players with a broad range of micro-transactions. The present study aimed to identify convergences and divergences in videogame player experiences with micro-transactions, using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Eleven participants took part in online semi-structured interviews. Interviews focused on participants’ feelings, beliefs and motivations surrounding micro-transaction use. Six super-ordinate themes were identified: (i) self-control vs.