Microtransactions — small purchases that video game players make on items like costumes or gestures in games including Fortnite and Roblox — continue to account for the majority of PC gaming revenue, rising to 58% of revenue for game companies, according to a report from research firm Newzoo.
Money coming in from PC gaming microtransactions rose 1.4 percent, accounting for $24.4 billion of the overall $37.3 billion in PC gaming sales in 2024, according to The PC and Console Gaming Report 2025.
Downloadable content, typically additional game levels or bonus content, also increased in popularity by nearly a percentage point, accounting for $5.8 billion last year.
Microtransactions have long been controversial among gamers, some of whom would rather pay a flat fee for game content than to pay incrementally for bonus virtual goods or gameplay additions. But according to the research report, they are wildly popular in game franchises that include Fortnite, Roblox and Call of Duty.