Freemium games have long irked devotees of mobile experiences. It’s a term that has become synonymous with deceitful micro-transactions and egregious abuses of trust as the market rose to prominence, hence Apple and Google’s decision to remove the word “free” from applications that include in-app purchases in some shape or form only last year, following pressure from the European Commission.
Now, the company is set to go one step further with the App Store’s new-fangled Pay Once & Play section, which draws attention to a selection of games that don’t feature micro-transactions whatsoever. Here’s how Apple described the selection:
“Enjoy hours of uninterrupted fun with complete experiences spanning the App Store’s most beloved genres. Packed with thrills and unforgettable moments, these powerhouse games belong in every collection.”
On the digital storefront, the company has also divided the software into distinct categories, including Recent Releases, Blockbuster Games, and App Store Originals, with prices ranging from the standard 99 cents up to and above $10. Within these groups you can find a handful of eye-catching titles such as Evoland and Lara Croft and the Guardians of Light, while those more inclined to drop hours into their phone or tablet may find better content in the blockbuster section, itself boasting titles in the vein of XCOM: Enemy Within and BioShock.
Given the amount of attention that is often directed towards games featuring micro-transactions on Apple’s store, which often saturate the App Store’s best-selling charts, it’s refreshing to see the company redirect some of the traffic towards fully-fledged video games that may have otherwise been buried beneath the white noise.
Tell us, what do you make of Apple‘s new approach? Indeed, do you see yourself picking up any of these Pay Once & Play titles?