Why are one-time purchase mobile games getting rarer? Japanese dev explains

While “buy once and play” is common for PC and console games, the same cannot be said about mobile games. This is especially true of Japan’s mobile game market in recent times, as free-to-play games accompanied by microtransactions seem to have become the dominant revenue model. Japanese developer Yusuke Kurokawa recently shared some insight into what has caused this tendency.

On January 15, a Japanese creator took to X (formerly Twitter) to comment on the recent state of the mobile game market. They observed that, for some reason, mobile gamers nowadays have little choice besides playing gacha games with in-app purchases or fully free hyper-casual games. They expressed surprise at the apparent lack of demand for different genres of mobile games. Many users agreed with the post, recalling their excitement over mobile releases such as Resident Evil 4 and Dead Rising.

スマホの売り切りゲーム、昔は一定数ありました（ドラクエとかもあった）。

しかし、アプリストア側が規約や新OSが出るなどするたびに、アプリの更新が求められ、「売り切りでリリースして、あとは放置」が厳しく、常にアップデートを要求されるので、有料で売り切りモデルとの相性が良くないですね。 https://t.co/GOEhq6qnEz
— 黒河優介(YusukeKurokawa) (@wotakuro) January 15, 2024

Post translation: There used to be a steady stream of “buy once and play” mobile games (even titles like Dragon Quest). However, app stores do not mesh well with the one-time purchase model, because every time there are updates to the terms and conditions or the OS, you are required to update your app. This makes it hard to just put your game on sale and leave it, as you are constantly required to make updates. It’s a very incompatible combination.

In response, Yusuke Kurokawa of Unity Technologies Japan chimed in, explaining that app stores frequently require developers to update their apps. This happens whenever there is an update on the app store’s side, such as a change in terms and conditions or the OS. This need for constant maintenance conflicts with the one-time purchase model, making it a far less attractive option for mobile game developers.

Kurokawa adds that, in the case of Android games, there is also the danger that someone might crack your app and then distribute it illegally.

😡😡😡 pic.twitter.com/uNZYuGfwAg
— 抜風(ぬっきー) (@nukikaze) January 16, 2024

The issues Kurokawa pointed out also affect the consumer. Many users testified to this, sharing screenshots of mobile games they once purchased but can no longer update or play due to incompatibility issues.