Microtransactions — small purchases that gamers 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 by 1.4%, 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.

While microtransactions aren’t as dominant on game consoles, making up 32% of revenue, they increased more sharply than on the PC side, by 4.5% from 2023 to 2024 for $13.9 billion in sales out of $42.8 billion total. Subscriptions to services like Nintendo Online, Xbox Live and PlayStation Plus went up by 14.1%. 

PC gaming sales overall remained steady at 0.1% growth, but console gaming revenue decreased by 3.9%. That could change with the arrival of a major new console, Nintendo’s Switch 2, this year, which could drive new game sales.

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 such as Fortnite, Roblox and Call of Duty. 

One other interesting trend in the report? «Recursive nostalgia,» with game franchises including Fortnite, Overwatch and Destiny 2 bringing gamers to their live services with vintage content. «As live service games reach 5+ or even 10+ years on the market, they finally have a deep enough history to become nostalgic about,» the report says.

Most of us use our phone GPS to get directions while we’re on the road, so a car charger that keeps it front and center is a must for long drives. This sleek and simple Satechi wireless charger is the perfect solution, and right now you can pick it up for less. It typically lists for $60, but right now, you can use the promo code CHARGE30 to get 30% off, which drops the price to just $42. There’s no telling how long this deal will last, so you may want to get your order in sooner rather than later to get these savings.

This compact wireless charger clips on to your car AC vents and has a swivel mount to find the perfect viewing angle. It’s also MagSafe compatible, and it’s equipped with a powerful magnet to keep your device securely in place. You’ll need to plug it into your vehicle’s cigarette lighter with the included adapter and USB-C cable, and it delivers 15W wireless charging to keep your phone’s battery juiced up during your drive.

Why this deal matters

Satechi’s mobile accessories are sleek and well-designed, and it’s a trusted brand here at CNET. Deals don’t come around all too often, particularly outside of major shopping events, so we’d recommend taking advantage of this $18 discount while you can.

Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge is set to kick off a year of premium phones that spotlight a thin and light design. The S25 Edge stole the spotlight from the rest of the S25 lineup during Samsung’s January event, and will arrive as other companies begin to announce their own thin phone concepts. This slimmer edition of the Galaxy S25 was available for attendees to see after Samsung’s keynote, but the phone hasn’t yet been available for a hands-on.

While the Galaxy S25 Ultra and the regular S25 and S25 Plus are now available, we are still waiting for more details about the Edge phone, which is set for release later this year.

Here’s everything we know so far, along with some rumors on what we could get with the S25 Edge.

What does the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge look like?

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge’s actual dimensions aren’t yet available, but a display showcasing a first look at the phone shows that it’s noticeably slimmer than a standard Android flagship phone. Samsung placed its first look at the Edge alongside stand-in models that approximated the typical thickness of other phones. 

This implied that the S25 Edge would have similar height and width dimensions to phones similar to the standard Galaxy S25 but would be noticeably slimmer. Unlike other S25 phones that have three or more rear cameras, this edition will include only two, like the foldable Z Flip series. 

The S25 Edge also will prioritize durability despite its thinner frame, according to Samsung UK Marketing Director Annika Bizon. After remarking on the phone’s design that was revealed in January as a top feature, Bizon began teasing the phone’s durability during an interview with TechRadar at Mobile World Congress 2025.

«With anything slim, durability [has to come as part of the package]. Those are the two features [of the Edge] that are exciting [for us]. Well, I know durability isn’t exciting, but it’s really important. So watch this space because there are some exciting things to come regarding this phone,» Bizon told TechRadar.

We don’t have any other specs at the moment but it’s possible this phone will sacrifice other attributes to maintain its slimmer frame.

When will the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge arrive in stores?

A specific release date has not yet been revealed for the new phone, but according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the Edge should be arriving in the US and other markets by the middle of 2025. Samsung’s TM Roh, the company’s president of mobile devices, told Bloomberg that the Edge would be one of at least two new devices on the way, including a mixed reality headset that will run on Android XR.

Should that release period pan out, we might see the S25 Edge arrive around the summer, which is when Samsung typically unveils its foldable phones and new Galaxy Watches.

How much will the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge cost?

In the same Bloomberg report, Roh said that pricing wasn’t settled by Samsung yet, but that the Edge is expected to be cheaper than the $1,300 Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.

«Our goal is to position this at pricing that is lower than the Ultra models, so it’s more accessible and has more customers,» Roh said in the report.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge

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Will the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge include a curved screen like prior Galaxy Edge phones?

Samsung used to use the Edge name to delineate Galaxy phones that had a curved screen. This included Edge editions of the Samsung Galaxy S6, S7 and the Galaxy Note. While the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge appears to be a revival of the name, it does not imply a curved edge display.

If you are looking for a phone with a curved edge display, though, last year’s Motorola Edge and the OnePlus 12 each include displays that wrap around the edges.

What Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge rumors are out there?

Current speculation about the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge pertains to the phone’s cameras but little appears to have gained traction as of this writing.

According to GSMArena’s report citing a post on X by user PandaFlashPro, the phone could have a 200-megapixel main camera alongside a 12-megapixel ultrawide one. If that were to be true, its main camera would be comparable to what’s seen on the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.

What about Apple’s rumored iPhone 17 Slim?

Apple’s rumored to be developing its own slimmer take on the iPhone, and it’s possible that Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge could beat it to the market. We have an entirely different rumor roundup on what we’ve heard about a possible iPhone 17 Slim, which might replace the «Plus» edition of the iPhone that Apple’s been releasing since the iPhone 14. 

The ‘Color of AI’: Samsung Galaxy S25 Phones Stay Cool in Blue

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