Social science
21 Aug 2026
The hidden high costs of ‘free-to-play’ videogames show players need better protection, scientists say
We know playing slot machines can trigger uncontrolled spending and addictive behaviors in some people. But what about paid-for features in ‘free-to-play’ games? Microtransactions like loot boxes or paid progression within a game can add up quickly and easily. In their new article in Frontiers in Public Health, Dr Markus Meschik and his colleagues investigate who spends the most among children playing these games, and how the heaviest spenders are affected, showing higher rates of traits associated with gambling disorder and gaming disorder. In this guest editorial, Meschik and coauthor Dr Mark Griffiths break down the hidden threat of microtransactions, and how regulation could tackle it.
