Microtransactions Dominate 58% of PC Gaming Market Revenue in 2024, Full-Priced Games See Decline
The PC gaming market continues to grow, with players showing a strong preference for spending money on microtransactions rather than full-priced games.
According to the latest 2025 Gaming PC and Console report by Newzoo (thanks TechSpot), the picture is clear: microtransactions made up 58% of all PC market revenue in 2024, totaling $24.4 billion. This marks a 1.4% year-over-year increase.
Which Games Are Players Spending the Most On?
The report highlights the top three games that generated the most revenue through microtransactions: Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Roblox, and Fortnite. These games are leading the way in terms of microtransaction earnings, with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 standing out for its massive success in this area.
Even though PC gamers are increasingly spending money on microtransactions, the topic still tends to be somewhat controversial. Despite being the leading source of revenue in the industry, microtransactions are often discussed negatively.
DLC Growth and the Decline of Premium Games
In addition to microtransactions, DLC (Downloadable Content) also saw an increase, generating 0.8% more revenue than the previous year. DLC earned $5.3 billion, making up 14% of the total PC market revenue. This growth was driven by expansions and updates for popular titles like Diablo 4, Elden Ring, and World of Warcraft.
On the other hand, premium games, which were once the dominant force in the market, saw a decline of 2.6%. They earned $10.7 billion, representing 28% of total PC market revenue. This drop is linked to changing habits among gamers, who are increasingly opting to spend on free-to-play titles rather than full-priced games.
Despite these shifts in revenue sources, the PC market has remained stable, with a small annual growth of 0.1%. In total, the market generated $37.3 billion in 2024. Newzoo forecasts steady growth for the PC market, predicting revenues will reach $37.9 billion in 2025 and surpass $40 billion by 2027.
