Technologies

Microtransactions Made Up 58% of PC Video Game Revenue in 2024, Research Shows

It’s not your imagination: Microtransactions are the primary driver for PC games to make money due to the popularity of Fortnite, Roblox and Call of Duty.

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.

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Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Thursday, April 17

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for April 17.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

My husband groaned when he saw today’s NYT Mini Crossword. «Why is it so huge?» he asked. It’s not, but there is one additional clue-answer combo in the Down category, so it seems longer. None of them are too tough, and I enjoyed the upcoming holiday pun. Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

The Mini Crossword is just one of many games in the Times’ games collection. If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get at those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Person, ___ or thing
Answer: PLACE

6A clue: Like someone you shouldn’t trust with fragile objects
Answer: KLUTZY

7A clue: A time to dye?
Answer: EASTER

8A clue: Dangle a carrot in front of
Answer: ENTICE

9A clue: Class for a cognitive science major, for short
Answer: PSYCH

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Activities on the docket
Answer: PLANS

2D clue: Full of sexual desire
Answer: LUSTY

3D clue: Commonly cobwebby room
Answer: ATTIC

4D clue: From Prague, say
Answer: CZECH

5D clue: Jane in classic literature
Answer: EYRE

6D clue: Not get rid of
Answer: KEEP

How to play more Mini Crosswords

The New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free for all to play. You can play the current day’s Mini Crossword for free, but you’ll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.