Subscriptions

Mechanics are not as commonly encountered in games of various genres, except for battle royales, where they are prevalent. On one hand, this is influenced by Chinese games and battle royales; on the other hand, it’s a genre that employs the highest number of diverse monetization methods.

Not all games utilize native platform subscriptions, meaning money in such projects is not automatically deducted. As a result, subscription mechanics here only involve a specific type of reward that players receive upon purchase. More often, these are resource rewards given on a calendar basis and advantages in terms of the percentage efficiency of something; conveniences can also be sold.

In Momento Mori, the most distinctive subscription model for the genre is native, yet it doesn’t provide daily rewards; it offers general benefits instead. This subscription window can only be accessed from the in-game store, driven purely by curiosity. As a result, the subscription sees little demand.

In Hero Wars, they offer a purchase that increases in effectiveness every week. The cost is very low, but it’s more of a matter of convenience. In a game where completing all activities takes time, time-saving is a sought-after service. While it might not involve automatic money deduction, it’s still challenging for players to decline this service, especially after several weeks have passed – the perceived missed benefit can become noticeable. Moreover, players can access this window from any battle, for instance, when they attempt to speed up a fight. Interestingly, subscriptions are quite popular in this context.

AFK Arena subscription as of 2021

2023 Subscription Update

Previously, subscription terms used to be more ambiguous, but that approach doesn’t align well with services. Players genuinely value understanding what they are being offered and why. Enhanced comprehension directly correlates with improved conversion rates. As for those who are open to taking a leap of faith, there’s always the option of exploring loot boxes.

An Example from Raid Shadow Legends with a Native Subscription.

Despite the presence of the word “Raid” in the game’s title, the mechanics within the game itself do not follow the typical battle royale style, as commonly seen in the genre. In the usual sense, this would imply the ability to instantly obtain battle results, effectively reducing the time required for farming resources.

In this particular game, all activities involve watching battles that need to be initiated. However, there is an option to set these battles to run automatically, without the player’s active involvement. Users can define the conditions for these battles and can even put their phone to the side or minimize the game on their computer (Raid is one of the few battle royale games available on almost all platforms). It’s this subscription that offers 70 such battles per day. For all players, especially paying subscribers, this serves as a way to automatically spend energy with minimal time investment on the player’s part. Additionally, the game offers tournaments and events as avenues for energy expenditure, which of course, hold appeal for paying players.

On this screen, there’s a subtle emphasis towards a more premium subscription, utilizing red and gold colors. However, regardless of the subscription being sold, there is a substantial amount of accompanying text. The uniqueness of this screen lies in its lack of distracting characters or pleasant images – it’s entirely text-based. This very contrast is what draws attention to it.

An older version of the subscription in this game: here, there’s a difference in translation, and the option of trial usage of the subscription is displayed separately. This is how native subscriptions differ from purchases that resemble them. The essence of the trial is to persuade the user to try it out for free and assess its benefits, but it’s merely a presentation for players. In reality, when the trial concludes, the money is immediately charged, which comes as an unpleasant surprise to users. Although many players simply cancel the subscription right away and continue to receive bonuses during the trial.

There’s a dark pattern of subscriptions that is utilized not only in games but also in various services. It triggers when a player or user attempts to unsubscribe, and they are informed that they will lose all their bonuses “immediately,” even though that’s not the case. The developers of Raid do not employ this dark pattern and adhere to platform guidelines.

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