Geocaching - Wikipedia
Geocaching is an outdoor recreational activity, in which participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or mobile device and other navigational ...
freemium
The largest site is Geocaching.com, owned by Groundspeak Inc., which began operating in late 2000. With a worldwide membership and a <anchor>freemium</anchor> business model, the website claims millions of caches and members in over 190 countries and all seven continents including Antarctica.[111] Hides and events are reviewed by volunteer regional cache reviewers before publication. Free membership allows users access to coordinates, descriptions, and logs for some caches; for a subscription fee, users are allowed additional search tools, the ability to download large amounts of cache information onto their GPS at once, instant email notifications about new caches, and access to premium-member-only caches.[112] Geocaching Headquarters are located in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, United States.[113]
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- [1Origin](#Origin)
- [2Types of product limitations](#Types_of_product_limitations)
- [3Significance](#Significance)
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# Freemium

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Free product where the extras require payment

[![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/29/Free-tier_in_freemium_business_pattern.png/220px-Free-tier_in_freemium_business_pattern.png)](/wiki/File:Free-tier_in_freemium_business_pattern.png) In the freemium business model, business tiers start with a "free" tier.

**Freemium**, a [portmanteau](/wiki/Portmanteau "Portmanteau") of the words "free" and "premium", is a [pricing strategy](/wiki/Pricing_strategies "Pricing strategies") by which a basic product or service is provided [free of charge](/wiki/Freeware "Freeware"), but money (a premium) is charged for additional features, services, or virtual (online) or physical (offline) goods that expand the functionality of the free version of the software.[\[1\]](#cite_note-1)[\[2\]](#cite_note-2) This [business model](/wiki/Business_model "Business model") has been used in the software industry since the 1980s. A subset of this model used by the video game industry is called [free-to-play](/wiki/Free-to-play "Free-to-play").

## Origin

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Freemium&action=edit&section=1 "Edit section: Origin")\]

The business model has been in use for software since the 1980s. The term _freemium_ to describe this model appears to have been created much later, in response to a 2006 blog post by venture capitalist [Fred Wilson](/wiki/Fred_Wilson_(financier) "Fred Wilson (financier)") summarizing the model:[\[3\]](#cite_note-avc_fav_bus_model-3)\[ _[failed verification](/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability "Wikipedia:Verifiability")_\]

> Give your service away for free, possibly ad supported but maybe not, acquire a lot of customers very efficiently through word of mouth, referral networks, organic search marketing, etc., then offer premium-priced value-added services or an enhanced version of your service to your customer base.

Jarid Lukin of [Alacra](/wiki/Alacra "Alacra"), one of Wilson's portfolio companies, then suggested the term "freemium" for this model.

In 2009, [Chris Anderson](/wiki/Chris_Anderson_(writer) "Chris Anderson (writer)") published the book _[Free](/wiki/Free_(Anderson_book) "Free (Anderson book)")_, which examines the popularity of this business model. As well as for traditional [proprietary software](/wiki/Proprietary_software "Proprietary software") and services, it is now also often used by [Web 2.0](/wiki/Web_2.0 "Web 2.0") and [open source](/wiki/Open-source_model "Open-source model") companies.[\[4\]](#cite_note-cnn_business_model-4) In 2014, Eric Seufert published the book _Freemium Economics_, which attempts to deconstruct the economic principles of the freemium model and prescribe a framework for implementing them into software products.[\[5\]](#cite_note-freemium_economics_pocketgamer-5)

The freemium model is closely related to [tiered services](/wiki/Tiered_Internet_service "Tiered Internet service"). Notable examples include [LinkedIn](/wiki/LinkedIn "LinkedIn"),[\[6\]](#cite_note-techstarthub_freemium_approach-6) [Badoo](/wiki/Badoo "Badoo"),[\[7\]](#cite_note-wsj_social_network-7) [Discord](/wiki/Discord_(software) "Discord (software)"),[\[8\]](#cite_note-8) and in the form of a "soft" [paywall](/wiki/Paywall "Paywall"), such as those employed by _[The New York Times](/wiki/The_New_York_Times "The New York Times")_[\[9\]](#cite_note-cjr_nytimes_paywall-9) and La Presse+.[\[10\]](#cite_note-paidcontent_three_more_paywalls-10) This is often in a time-limited or feature-limited version to promote a paid-for full version. The model is particularly suited to software as the cost of distribution is negligible.

A freemium model is sometimes used to build a consumer base when the marginal cost of producing extra units is low. Thus little is lost by giving away free software licenses as long as significant [cannibalization](/wiki/Cannibalization_(marketing) "Cannibalization (marketing)") is avoided. Other examples include [free-to-play](/wiki/Free-to-play "Free-to-play") games – video games that can be downloaded without paying. Video game publishers of free-to-play games rely on other means to generate revenue – such as optional in-game virtual items that can be purchased by players to enhance gameplay or aesthetics.\[ _[citation needed](/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed "Wikipedia:Citation needed")_\]

## Types of product limitations

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Freemium&action=edit&section=2 "Edit section: Types of product limitations")\]

Ways in which the product or service may be limited or restricted in the free version include:[\[11\]](#cite_note-techcrunch_startup_school-11)

- Limited features: A free video chat client may not include three-way video calling. Most free-to-play games fall into this category, as they offer virtual items that are either impossible or very slow to purchase with in-game currency but can be instantly purchased with real-world money.
- Limited capacity: For example, [SQL Server Express](/wiki/SQL_Server_Express "SQL Server Express") is restricted to databases of 10 GB or less.
- Limited use license: For example, most Autodesk or Microsoft software products with full features are free for student with an educational license. (See: [Microsoft Imagine](/wiki/Microsoft_Imagine "Microsoft Imagine").) Some apps, like [CCleaner](/wiki/CCleaner "CCleaner"), are free for personal use only.
- Limited use time: Most free-to-play games permit the user to play the game consecutively for a limited number of levels or turns; the player must either wait a period of time to play more or purchase the right to play more.
- Limited support: Priority or real-time technical support may not be available for non-paying users. For example, [Comodo](/wiki/Comodo_Group "Comodo Group") offers all its software products free of charge. Its premium offerings only add various kinds of technical support.
- Limited or no access to online services that are only available by purchasing periodic subscriptions

Some software and services make all of the features available for free for a trial period, and then at the end of that period revert to operating as a feature-limited free version (e.g. [Online Armor Personal Firewall](/wiki/Online_Armor_Personal_Firewall "Online Armor Personal Firewall")). The user can unlock the premium features on payment of a license fee, as per the freemium model. Some businesses use a variation of the model known as " [open core](/wiki/Open_core "Open core")", in which the unsupported, feature-limited free version is also [open-source](/wiki/Open-source_software "Open-source software") software, but versions with additional features and official support are commercial software.[\[12\]](#cite_note-12)

## Significance

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Freemium&action=edit&section=3 "Edit section: Significance")\]

In June 2011, [_PC World_](/wiki/PC_World_(magazine) "PC World (magazine)") reported that traditional [anti-virus software](/wiki/Anti-virus_software "Anti-virus software") had started to lose market share to freemium anti-virus products.[\[13\]](#cite_note-pcworld_free_antivirus-13) By September 2012, all but two of the 50 highest-grossing apps in the Games section of Apple's [iTunes](/wiki/ITunes "ITunes") [App Store](/wiki/App_Store_(iOS) "App Store (iOS)") supported [in-app purchases](/wiki/Microtransaction "Microtransaction"), leading _[Wired](/wiki/Wired_(magazine) "Wired (magazine)")_ to conclude that game developers were now required to choose between including such purchases or foregoing a very substantial revenue stream.[\[14\]](#cite_note-14) Beginning in 2013, the digital distribution platform [Steam](/wiki/Steam_(service) "Steam (service)") began to add numerous free-to-play and [early-access](/wiki/Early_access "Early access") games to its library, many of which utilized freemium marketing for their in-game economies. Due to criticism that the multiplayer games falling under this category were [pay-to-win](/wiki/Pay-to-win "Pay-to-win") in nature or were low-quality and never finished development, [Valve](/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation") has since added stricter rules to its early-access and free-to-play policies.[\[15\]](#cite_note-15)

## Criticism of freemium games

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Freemium&action=edit&section=4 "Edit section: Criticism of freemium games")\]

See also: [Free-to-play § Pay-to-win](/wiki/Free-to-play#Pay-to-win "Free-to-play")

Freemium games have come under criticism from players and critics. Many are labelled with the derogatory term 'pay-to-win', which criticizes freemium games for giving an advantage to players who pay more money, as opposed to those who have more skill.[\[16\]](#cite_note-16)[\[17\]](#cite_note-17) Criticisms also extend to the way that the business model can often appear unregulated, to the point of encouraging prolific spending. Freemium games are often designed in a manner where players who are not actively using premium features are actively frustrated, delayed or require much larger investments in time required to acquire currency or upgrades.

In November 2014, the animated TV series _[South Park](/wiki/South_Park "South Park")_ aired an episode entitled " [Freemium Isn't Free](/wiki/Freemium_Isn%27t_Free "Freemium Isn't Free")". The episode satirized the business model for encouraging predatory game design tactics based on an improper business model.[\[18\]](#cite_note-18) In 2015, [Nintendo](/wiki/Nintendo "Nintendo") released two of their own freemium games in the _[Pokémon](/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon "Pokémon")_ series based on other standalone purchasable titles.[\[19\]](#cite_note-19)[\[20\]](#cite_note-Nintendo-20) With the title _[Pokémon Rumble World](/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon_Rumble_World "Pokémon Rumble World")_, Nintendo took a different approach by making it possible to complete the entire game without buying premium credits, but retaining them as an option so players can proceed through the game at a pace that suits them.[\[20\]](#cite_note-Nintendo-20)

## See also

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Freemium&action=edit&section=5 "Edit section: See also")\]

- [![icon](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Emblem-money.svg/28px-Emblem-money.svg.png)](/wiki/File:Emblem-money.svg)[Business and Economics portal](/wiki/Portal:Business_and_Economics "Portal:Business and Economics")

- [Business models for open-source software](/wiki/Business_models_for_open-source_software "Business models for open-source software")
- [Crippleware](/wiki/Crippleware "Crippleware")
- [Pay to play](/wiki/Pay_to_play "Pay to play")
- [Pay what you want](/wiki/Pay_what_you_want "Pay what you want")
- [Shareware](/wiki/Shareware "Shareware")
- [Threshold pledge system](/wiki/Threshold_pledge_system "Threshold pledge system")

## References

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Freemium&action=edit&section=6 "Edit section: References")\]

01. **[^](#cite_ref-1)**JLM de la Iglesia, JEL Gayo, " _Doing business by selling free services_". Web 2.0: The Business Model, 2008. Springer
02. **[^](#cite_ref-2)**Tom Hayes, " _Jump Point: How Network Culture is Revolutionizing Business_". 2008\. Page 195.
03. **[^](#cite_ref-avc_fav_bus_model_3-0)**Schenck, Barbara Findlay (February 7, 2011). ["Freemium: Is the Price Right for Your Company?"](http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/218107). Entrepreneur. Retrieved 2018-01-09.
04. **[^](#cite_ref-cnn_business_model_4-0)**Heires, Katherine (2006-10-01). ["Why It Pays to Give Away the Store"](https://money.cnn.com/magazines/business2/business2_archive/2006/10/01/8387115/index.htm). _CNN Money_. Business 2.0 Magazine. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
05. **[^](#cite_ref-freemium_economics_pocketgamer_5-0)**["I wrote Freemium Economics to encourage better F2P games not more, says Eric Seufert"](http://www.pocketgamer.biz/feature/57185/i-wrote-freemium-economics-to-encourage-better-f2p-games-not-more-says-eric-seufert/). _PocketGamer_. Steel Media. 2014-02-07. Retrieved 2014-09-04.
06. **[^](#cite_ref-techstarthub_freemium_approach_6-0)**Barr, Alistair (2011-09-11). ["'Freemium' approach attracts venture capital"](http://www.techstarthub.com/2011/09/11/freemium-approach-attracts-venture-capital/). _The Montreal Gazette_. Postmedia Network Inc. Retrieved 2013-08-13.
07. **[^](#cite_ref-wsj_social_network_7-0)**Rooney, Ben (2012-01-24). ["A Very Social Network"](https://blogs.wsj.com/tech-europe/2012/01/24/the-very-social-network/?mod=google_news_blog). _The Wall Street Journal_. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
08. **[^](#cite_ref-8)**["What Is Discord Nitro, and Is It Worth Paying For?"](https://www.howtogeek.com/667816/what-is-discord-nitro-and-is-it-worth-paying-for/). 2020-05-06. Retrieved 2021-09-17.
09. **[^](#cite_ref-cjr_nytimes_paywall_9-0)**Chittum, Ryan (2011-07-22). ["The NYT Paywall Is Out of the Gate Fast"](https://www.cjr.org/the_audit/the_nyt_paywall_is_out_of_the.php). _Columbia Journalism Review_. Retrieved 2011-12-07.
10. **[^](#cite_ref-paidcontent_three_more_paywalls_10-0)**Owen, Laura Hazard (2011-09-06). ["Three More Papers Put Up Paywalls, With Some New Twists"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120106193419/http://paidcontent.org/article/419-whats-new-in-newspaper-paywalls-google-one-pass-membership-programs/). _paidcontent.org_. Gigaom. Archived from [the original](http://paidcontent.org/article/419-whats-new-in-newspaper-paywalls-google-one-pass-membership-programs/) on 2012-01-06. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
11. **[^](#cite_ref-techcrunch_startup_school_11-0)**Kincaid, Jason (2009-10-24). ["Startup School: Wired Editor Chris Anderson On Freemium Business Models"](https://techcrunch.com/2009/10/24/startup-school-wired-editor-chris-anderson-on-freemium-business-models/). _[Techcrunch](/wiki/Techcrunch "Techcrunch")_. AOL, Inc. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
12. **[^](#cite_ref-12)**Wasserman, Anthony I. (2011). ["How the Internet transformed the software industry"](https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs13174-011-0019-x). _Journal of Internet Services and Applications_. **2** (1): 11–22. [doi](/wiki/Doi_(identifier) "Doi (identifier)"):[10.1007/s13174-011-0019-x](https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs13174-011-0019-x). [ISSN](/wiki/ISSN_(identifier) "ISSN (identifier)") [1867-4828](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1867-4828). Some companies have only a single version of their software, while others follow an "open core" model, providing a community release of the core version, and offering proprietary premium features us- ing a commercial license.
13. **[^](#cite_ref-pcworld_free_antivirus_13-0)**Dunn, John E. (2011-06-07). ["Free Antivirus Programs Rise in Popularity, New Survey Shows"](https://www.pcworld.com/article/485131/article-922.html). _PC World_. IDG Consumer & SMB. Retrieved 2011-06-12.
14. **[^](#cite_ref-14)**["iOS Game Developers Must Choose: Sell Digital Currency or Lose Money"](https://www.wired.com/gamelife/2012/09/life-after-disc-digital-coins/). _Wired_. 26 September 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
15. **[^](#cite_ref-15)**Gera, Emily (2014-11-21). ["Valve adds new rules to Steam Early Access to ensure games don't suck"](http://www.polygon.com/2014/11/21/7258763/valve-steam-early-access-rules-change). _www.polygon.com_. Polygon. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
16. **[^](#cite_ref-16)**["Most freemium games are pay to win - The Pub at MMORPG.COM - General Discussion Forums at"](http://www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/post/5512465#5512465). Mmorpg.com. Retrieved 2013-08-12.
17. **[^](#cite_ref-17)**Makuch, Eddie (2013-03-15). ["EA: freemium is 'where things are going' - GameSpot.com"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130708052342/http://uk.gamespot.com/news/ea-freemium-is-where-things-are-going-6405414). Uk.gamespot.com. Archived from [the original](http://uk.gamespot.com/news/ea-freemium-is-where-things-are-going-6405414) on 2013-07-08. Retrieved 2013-08-12.
18. **[^](#cite_ref-18)**Grubb, Jeffrey (2014-11-06). ["'South Park' is right about why 'The Simpsons' and 'Family Guy' free-to-play games stink"](https://venturebeat.com/2014/11/06/south-park-is-right-about-why-the-simpsons-and-family-guy-free-to-play-games-stink/). [Venture Beat](/wiki/Venture_Beat "Venture Beat"). Retrieved 2014-11-08.
19. **[^](#cite_ref-19)**Rad, Chloi (2015-02-18). ["Pokemon Shuffle Is Available Now, Free For 3DS"](http://ca.ign.com/articles/2015/02/18/pokemon-shuffle-is-available-now-in-europe-free-for-3ds). [IGN](/wiki/IGN "IGN"). Retrieved 2015-04-22.
20. ^ [_**a**_](#cite_ref-Nintendo_20-0) [_**b**_](#cite_ref-Nintendo_20-1)Dy, Marijim (2015-04-14). ["'Pokémon Rumble World' Recently Released For 3DS; Nintendo's Newest Freemium Game Doesn't Steal Your Money As Much As 'Pokémon Shuffle?'"](http://www.youthhealthmag.com/articles/13900/20150414/pok%C3%A9mon-rumble-world-recently-released-for-3ds-nintendo-s-newest-freemium-game-doesn-t-steal-your-money-as-much-as-pok%C3%A9mon-shuffle.htm). _Youth Health Magazine_. Retrieved 2015-04-22.

## Further reading

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Freemium&action=edit&section=7 "Edit section: Further reading")\]

- [Anderson, Chris](/wiki/Chris_Anderson_(writer) "Chris Anderson (writer)") (June 24, 2009). _[Free: The Future of a Radical Price](/wiki/Free:_The_Future_of_a_Radical_Price "Free: The Future of a Radical Price")_ (1st ed.). Hyperion. [ISBN](/wiki/ISBN_(identifier) "ISBN (identifier)") [978-1-4013-2290-8](/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-4013-2290-8 "Special:BookSources/978-1-4013-2290-8").
- Martins, Rui (January 2016). ["Freemium Marketing Strategy – The Good The Bad and The Villain"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190513113114/http://ruimartinsblog.com/freemium-marketing-strategy-the-good-the-bad-and-the-villain/). _RuiMartinsBlog.com_. Archived from [the original](http://ruimartinsblog.com/freemium-marketing-strategy-the-good-the-bad-and-the-villain/) on May 13, 2019. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
- Sterling, Bruce (June 2006). ["Blogging for Dollars"](https://www.wired.com/2006/06/blogging-for-dollars/). _Wired_. Retrieved December 7, 2011.

- [v](/wiki/Template:Software_distribution "Template:Software distribution")
- [t](/wiki/Template_talk:Software_distribution "Template talk:Software distribution")
- [e](/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Software_distribution "Special:EditPage/Template:Software distribution")

[Software distribution](/wiki/Software_distribution "Software distribution")

[Licenses](/wiki/Software_license "Software license")

- [Beerware](/wiki/Beerware "Beerware")
- [Floating licensing](/wiki/Floating_licensing "Floating licensing")
- [Free and open-source](/wiki/Free_and_open-source_software "Free and open-source software")
  - [Free](/wiki/Free_software "Free software")
  - [Open source](/wiki/Open-source_software "Open-source software")
- [Freely redistributable](/wiki/Freely_redistributable_software "Freely redistributable software")
- [License-free](/wiki/License-free_software "License-free software")
- [Proprietary](/wiki/Proprietary_software "Proprietary software")
- [Public domain](/wiki/Public-domain_software "Public-domain software")
- [Source-available](/wiki/Source-available_software "Source-available software")

Compensation models

- [Adware](/wiki/Adware "Adware")
- [Commercial software](/wiki/Commercial_software "Commercial software")
  - [Retail software](/wiki/Retail_software "Retail software")
- [Crippleware](/wiki/Crippleware "Crippleware")
- [Crowdfunding](/wiki/Crowdfunding "Crowdfunding")
- Freemium
- [Freeware](/wiki/Freeware "Freeware")
- [Pay what you want](/wiki/Pay_what_you_want "Pay what you want")
  - [Careware](/wiki/Careware "Careware")
  - [Donationware](/wiki/Donationware "Donationware")
- [Open-core model](/wiki/Open-core_model "Open-core model")
- [Postcardware](/wiki/Postcardware "Postcardware")
- [Shareware](/wiki/Shareware "Shareware")
  - [Nagware](/wiki/Nagware "Nagware")
- [Trialware](/wiki/Trialware "Trialware")

Delivery methods

- [Digital distribution](/wiki/Digital_distribution "Digital distribution")
- [File sharing](/wiki/File_sharing "File sharing")
- [On-premises](/wiki/On-premises_software "On-premises software")
- [Pre-installed](/wiki/Pre-installed_software "Pre-installed software")
- [Product bundling](/wiki/Product_bundling "Product bundling")
- [Retail software](/wiki/Retail_software "Retail software")
- [Sneakernet](/wiki/Sneakernet "Sneakernet")
- [Software as a service](/wiki/Software_as_a_service "Software as a service")

Deceptive and/or illicit

- [Unwanted software bundling](/wiki/Unwanted_software_bundling "Unwanted software bundling")
- [Malware](/wiki/Malware "Malware")
  - [Infostealer](/wiki/Infostealer "Infostealer")
  - [Ransomware](/wiki/Ransomware "Ransomware")
  - [Spyware](/wiki/Spyware "Spyware")
  - [Trojan horse](/wiki/Trojan_horse_(computing) "Trojan horse (computing)")
  - [Worm](/wiki/Computer_worm "Computer worm")
- [Scareware](/wiki/Scareware "Scareware")
- [Shovelware](/wiki/Shovelware "Shovelware")

[Software release life cycle](/wiki/Software_release_life_cycle "Software release life cycle")

- [Abandonware](/wiki/Abandonware "Abandonware")
- [End-of-life](/wiki/End-of-life_product "End-of-life product")
- [Long-term support](/wiki/Long-term_support "Long-term support")
- [Software maintenance](/wiki/Software_maintenance "Software maintenance")
- [Software maintainer](/wiki/Software_maintainer "Software maintainer")
- [Software publisher](/wiki/Software_publisher "Software publisher")
- [Vaporware](/wiki/Vaporware "Vaporware")
  - [list](/wiki/List_of_vaporware "List of vaporware")

[Copy protection](/wiki/Copy_protection "Copy protection")

- [Digital rights management](/wiki/Digital_rights_management "Digital rights management")
- [Software protection dongle](/wiki/Software_protection_dongle "Software protection dongle")
- [License manager](/wiki/License_manager "License manager")
- [Product activation](/wiki/Product_activation "Product activation")
- [Product key](/wiki/Product_key "Product key")
- [Software copyright](/wiki/Software_copyright "Software copyright")
- [Software license server](/wiki/Software_license_server "Software license server")
- [Software patent](/wiki/Software_patent "Software patent")
- [Torrent poisoning](/wiki/Torrent_poisoning "Torrent poisoning")

- [v](/wiki/Template:Video_game_monetization "Template:Video game monetization")
- [t](/wiki/Template_talk:Video_game_monetization "Template talk:Video game monetization")
- [e](/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Video_game_monetization "Special:EditPage/Template:Video game monetization")

[Video game monetization](/wiki/Video_game_monetization "Video game monetization")

General concepts

- [Digital distribution](/wiki/Digital_distribution "Digital distribution")
- [Downloadable content](/wiki/Downloadable_content "Downloadable content")
- [Games as a service](/wiki/Games_as_a_service "Games as a service")
- [Microtransactions](/wiki/Microtransaction "Microtransaction")

Types

- [Advertising-based](/wiki/Adware "Adware")
- [Blockchain game](/wiki/Blockchain_game "Blockchain game")
- [Buy-to-play](/wiki/Buy-to-play "Buy-to-play")
- [Free-to-play](/wiki/Free-to-play "Free-to-play")
- Freemium
- [Freeware](/wiki/Freeware "Freeware")
- [Premium](/wiki/Premium_game "Premium game")
- [Shareware](/wiki/Shareware "Shareware")
- [Subscription-based](/wiki/Subscription_business_model "Subscription business model")
  - [Pay-to-play](/wiki/Pay-to-play "Pay-to-play")

Approaches

- [Loot box](/wiki/Loot_box "Loot box")
  - [_Gacha_ games](/wiki/Gacha_game "Gacha game")
- [Season pass](/wiki/Season_pass_(video_games) "Season pass (video games)")
  - [Battle pass](/wiki/Battle_pass "Battle pass")
- [Skin gambling‎](/wiki/Skin_gambling "Skin gambling")

Related topics

- [Advertising in video games](/wiki/Advertising_in_video_games "Advertising in video games")
- [Digital rights management](/wiki/Digital_rights_management "Digital rights management")
- [IP protection of video games](/wiki/Intellectual_property_protection_of_video_games "Intellectual property protection of video games")
- [Video game industry](/wiki/Video_game_industry "Video game industry")

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[Categories](/wiki/Help:Category "Help:Category"):

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