In a recent study, Vorhaus Advisors analysts asked the question: how would users react to the fact that in—game purchases from one game could be moved to another or even sold to other gamers? As it turned out, 64% of American players were interested in such mechanics at once.

A total of 2,268 Americans over the age of 18 took part in the survey. The study took place this summer from June to July.

The main thing from the results:

  • modern gamers often buy in games. In 2019 alone, Americans spent about $93 billion on in-game purchases;
  • the most “spending” audience last year were players aged 18-34. 60% of them bought virtual items from time to time. On average, each of the gamers of this age spent $192 per year on microtransactions;
  • mobile titles took the first place in terms of the number of player expenses. The second place was shared by console and PC games. But browser projects collected the least revenue from internal purchases;

  • a third of respondents (32%) believe that prices for virtual items are often unreasonably high;
  • However, 63% of US gamers are willing to leave more money in games if they could get real benefits from it for their in-game purchases. For example, “transfer” items from one game to another or even monetize them;
  • and 64% of the study participants say that they would like to launch games with similar elements more often than regular titles;

  • almost half of gamers (46%) would like to really feel like the owners of their in-game purchases;
  • at the same time, only 30% of all respondents say they are ready to sell virtual items for real money. But this figure is much higher among those who regularly spend money inside the game themselves — 51%;
  • respondents like the elements of the gaming blockchain mainly for preserving their privacy and getting out of the control of the authorities. Among other advantages, they highlighted the honesty of earnings and protection against theft or forgery;
  • the most attractive “blockchain function” players call the ability to trade with other players without intermediaries (peer-to-peer) or to do it through a universal platform for all titles.

Once upon a time, everyone was addicted to blockchain, and this will happen again in the future. I think that blockchain is more than just a fashion, especially since it is not so well known. When people start to learn about this, they discover that blockchain is a deep, real and elegant technology.

Mike Vorhaus

Founder of Vorhaus Advisors

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