If your child plays video games, you may have heard them talk about Fortnite, V-Bucks, or Battle Passes. These are all part of a growing trend in the gaming industry: Live Service Games. But what exactly are they, and how do they work?
Below you’ll find a video as well as text to walk you through Live Service Games with Fortnite as an example. As well as a handful of tips to help you manage microtransactions best within these types of games.
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What Are Live Service Games?
Unlike traditional video games, which are purchased once and played as they are, Live Service Games are designed to evolve. These games receive continuous content updates that can be purchased as a means to keep their player base engaged over time. Instead of paying upfront, players are encouraged to spend money on in-game content like character skins, cosmetic items, and season passes.
Let’s take a closer look at how this works using Fortnite as an example.
How Fortnite’s Microtransactions Work
V-Bucks: Fortnite’s In-Game Currency
Fortnite uses a virtual currency called V-Bucks, which must be purchased with real money. Here’s how the pricing works, for the moment it’s a £6.99 for 1000 V-Bucks.
Players use V-Bucks to buy cosmetic items such as:
- Character Outfits – Unique skins for their in-game avatar.
- Back Blings – Stylish backpacks for customization.
- Pickaxes – Tools for gathering resources.
- Gliders – Used when entering the game.
- Contrails – Special visual effects when jumping into a match.
- Pets – Small companions that follow the player.
- Emotes – Dances and animations for characters.
- Wraps – Custom designs for weapons and vehicles.
- Music – Background music for the game’s lobby.
These items don’t improve gameplay skills—they’re purely cosmetic. However, because some of these items rotate frequently, there is a pressure to earn/buy them before they disappear!
The Battle Pass – Purchased with 1000 V-Bucks or £6.99 Per Season
One of Fortnite’s biggest microtransactions is “The Battle Pass” where players spend 1000 V-Bucks to gain exclusive access to a set of around 100+ cosmetic items during a specified “Season” in-game. Once the season completes these cosmetic items will no longer be able to be purchased or earned unless there is a special occasion where they are readded.
The battle pass can be accessed by anyone playing the game, however only players who have purchased the battle pass will have the ability to earn access to all the new cosmetic items. Players that haven’t will only earn every 4th or 5th item.
Fortnite Crew Subscription – £9.99/Month
Fortnite also combines their microtransactions in a monthly subscription as well. Allowing players the following benefits:
- 1,000 V-Bucks each month
- Battle Pass Access
- Limited-time cosmetics
- Additional Exclusive Passes
The Challenges for Kids
Why Is This a Concern?
- FOMO (Fear of Missing out), exclusive content, that will never be available again
- Peer Influence, don’t miss out on the fun your friends are having
- New releases of content each with the focus of pushing more microtransactions
It’s like walking into a toy store every day and being told, “Buy now or you’ll never see this again!”—and for many kids, that’s tough to ignore.
Ultimately, these spending habits can be difficult to steer clear of and it makes it all the more important that players equip themselves so they don’t over indulge with these seemingly small purchases.
How Parents Can Help
1. Set Spending Limits
Decide on a budget together—whether it’s a monthly allowance for V-Bucks or limiting purchases to special occasions. This helps kids understand that digital purchases are still real spending.
2. Encourage Smart Spending
Before they buy, ask: Do you really want this, or is it just because it’s new? Encouraging them to pause and think before spending can help as after a period of time the excitement within the game to have these various skins will simmer down.
3. Use Parental Controls
Fortnite allows parents to set a range of controls to avoid over spending online. Using these tools can help prevent impulsive spending.
- Require approval for purchases.
- Set spending limits.
- Turn off in-game purchases completely.
4. Shift the Focus
Remind kids that cosmetic items don’t improve gameplay—there is no advantage to having them or not, it is purely for a visual change or effect. A player who hasn’t spent a single £ of money in the game will have the same gameplay experience.
Final Thoughts
Fortnite is a fun, social game, but it’s also built to encourage spending, helping fund the constant updates and expansions that keep its world dynamic and engaging.
Kid’s playing a “live service game” like Fortnite need to know how the game works and it is extremely helpful if parent’s are aware of how to setup healthy boundaries for their children, so that they can ensure an enjoyable Fortnite experience without falling into unhealthy spending habits.
By having open conversations, setting limits, and using the tools available, you can protect from the dangers of live service gaming and ensure they reap the benefits of online play.
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