Through the years, video games went from a leisure activity to a fully fledged competitive industry. Developers design video games to hook and keep people engaged for longer periods of time.
Games increasingly use monetisation features such as in-app purchases, subscriptions, and reward structures that boost the willingness of players to continue engaging with the game.
The most common incentive systems are reward loot boxes, battle passes, and bonus rewards from other competitive games. These systems influence how players interact with progression, rewards, and even competition in a game.
The Rise (And Controversies) Of Loot Boxes
Virtual items that players acquire by earning them in the game or buying them are known as loot boxes. Once the box is opened, it offers skin substitutes, players, or virtual money. The prizes are completely randomised and provide cosmetic upgrades to the players.
In a nutshell, the appeal of loot boxes rests in their unpredictability. Players giving the game a shot are allowed to break out into dozens of valuable and unique items. The process is a perfect way for players to leave virtual money behind while continuing to stay engaged in the game. As the game progression continues, dopamine is triggered, allowing more purchases to be made.
As in every other case, here too, there’s a catch. The feature has been linked to gambling and received a lot of backlash. Some classify these features as wagering which has made them the point of legal attention. Countries like Belgium and the Netherlands have stripped away some of the frameworks surrounding loot boxes which make it mandatory for developers to adapt.
In order to adapt to the laws set by these countries, developers have started moving away from loot boxes. With Belgium, Electronic Arts removed randomised loot boxes from FIFA’s Ultimate Team in 2019. Blizzard had also changed Overwatch’s features for legal reasons, and these adjustments show a shift in the industry toward transparent ways of making money.
Battle Pass: Is This A New, More Captivating Version?
Instead of gacha mechanics, Battle Pass uses structured progression to reward players. Players earn experience points by completing given tasks in the game, which allows them to unlock cosmetics, currencies, and many other rewards. Some Battle Passes come with free and premium versions, with the paid tier having extra content.
It motivates players to play consistently. Rather than having luck determine the rewards, players know what is waiting for them and when. This sense of progress maintains high levels of engagement—every match or challenge is one step closer to the next unlock.
Many have already integrated this system into their games. The most popular example is Fortnite, which introduced its first battle pass in 2017, replacing loot boxes with a seasonal progression system. Call of Duty and Overwatch also adopted a similar model, which was more indicative of the industry’s transition.
Yet there are many who find it less appealing. Players are now required to put in time in order to reach higher reward tiers before the season ends which puts a lot of burden on them. The temporally gated material instigates a need to play regularly which can lead to issues of overplaying. Some players feel the need to complete each battle pass for fear of missing rare things.
Bonus Rewards & Player Incentives
Logins, seasonal occasions, and promotions that are only active for a certain time are motivated by bonus rewards, which in turn increases player engagement. Free rewards for logging in are more common, and these rewards are given out on a consistent basis, serving as an incentive to cultivate better engagement amongst players. To further improve user engagement during certain seasonal events, some games will add new rewards and content, although temporarily, exclusively for that season. In addition, several gaming platforms increase the in-game experience and currency for completing certain activities as further motivation to participate.
Such aspects benefit the retention rate of players. In a gaming experience, players can have various short term goals, but in the long term. These free to play games are particularly dependent on these mechanics to promote an active player base and also promote micro transactions.
These systems fit differently in various genres. Daily login streaks are common in mobile games while live service games add rotating events. Multiplayer shooter games have a reward based ranking system, RPGs use limited time quests, and fusion of these two genres helps keep players active with the game.
The Bigger Picture: How Gamification Goes Beyond Gaming Itself
Reward Programs are not limited to video games only. Most online platforms have adopted similar mechanics to create retention amongst users. Mobile applications try to keep users engaged through streaks, and digital marketplaces have loyalty programs with different levels of benefits.
Online casinos use similar strategies. Players experienced with bonuses in-game are often met with familiar engagement in gaming with real money, where free spins and deposit bonuses are incentives to be engaged.
Online casinos use similar strategies. Players experienced with bonuses in-game are often met with familiar engagement in gaming with real money, where free spins and deposit bonuses are incentives to be engaged. For example, the avid multiplayer gamer who is used to earning daily login awards and seasonal battle passes, will find the natural transition in case of attempting online casino games with similar bonuses that can be found here. The familiar reward structure will make the transition seamless for the gamer, and the process of exploration can be fun, exciting, and rewarding.
Conclusion
Gamification methods enhance player interaction with loot boxes, battle passes, and bonus rewards. These tactics for increasing engagement are not limited to gaming; they affect other online activities and even wagering sites. The undeniable mechanisms behind these systems guarantee they will persist for years to come.