![Forever games: the economics of the live service model - podcast episode cover](https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2024/04/22/ep1-liveservice-theresaoreillyfornpr-resize-crop_sq-f09ef47ddfee2bd0bea7159afdc5df8dcb11679a.jpg?s=3000&c=66&f=jpg)
Episode description
People used to pay one standard price for their favorite games in a one-off transaction. But now, many game companies are offering their games for free, supported by in-game purchases. This is called the live service model.Today, the first episode of a week-long series about the video game industry. We investigate the promise and pains of the live service model and explain how it turned the industry upside down.
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