Guide · Spending
How free-to-play games make money, and how to stay in control
“Free to play” means free to start. The games still have to earn money, and knowing how they do it helps you decide what, if anything, is worth paying for.
The common business models
| What is sold | How it works | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Premium (virtual) currency | You buy a game currency with real money, then spend it in the in-game store. | Currency packs often do not match item prices, which leaves you with leftover currency. Convert prices back to real money before buying. |
| Premium account / boosters | Time-limited bonuses that speed up progression, for example more experience per match. | They run on a calendar clock, so they lose value if you do not play. |
| Season or battle passes | A track of rewards unlocked by playing during a season, often with a free and a paid tier. | Can encourage playing more than you want so that you do not “waste” the pass. |
| Premium items or units | Equipment, characters or squads that are only available for payment. | Check whether they give a gameplay advantage or are cosmetic. |
| Cosmetics | Skins, outfits and decorations without gameplay effect. | Limited-time offers can create pressure to buy quickly. |
| Randomised items (“loot boxes”) | You pay for a chance at a random reward. | Odds may be low. Some countries restrict them; in Belgium, regulators have treated paid loot boxes as gambling. |
Your rights as a consumer in the EU
- Clear prices. In 2024 the EU's network of consumer-protection authorities (the CPC Network) published key principles on in-game virtual currencies. One of them is that the real-money cost of items should be shown clearly, and that games should not exploit players, especially children.
- Withdrawal from digital content. Under the EU Consumer Rights Directive (2011/83/EU) you normally have a 14-day right of withdrawal for distance purchases. For digital content that is not supplied on a physical medium, you lose that right once supply begins, if you agreed to immediate supply and acknowledged that you would lose the right. This is usually what happens when you buy in-game items. Check the seller's terms.
- Children. Purchases made by children without parental consent may be challenged. Contact the platform or publisher's support promptly if this happens.
Practical tips
- Play for free for a few weeks before spending anything.
- Set a monthly budget and use your platform's spending limits.
- Convert every price back into real money.
- Be wary of countdown timers and “last chance” offers. Ask yourself whether you would buy the item at the same price next month.
- Never buy currency or accounts from unofficial sellers. It usually breaks the game's terms and is a common scam.
Sources
- Directive 2011/83/EU on consumer rights, Articles 9 and 16(m): https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2011/83/oj
- Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Network, “Key principles on in-game virtual currencies”, European Commission, 2024.
- Belgian Gaming Commission, loot box analysis, 2018.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. If anything here differs from the official terms of a game or platform, those terms prevail.