Gaming platform Roblox is making in-app purchases less attractive to attract players to the web for purchases. Users should now receive up to 25 percent more value for the game currency “Robux” when they purchase it via “Gift Card, Computer or Web.” As announced by the provider in a forum postThis is a global and permanent adjustment of the pricing model, not just a temporary sales campaign.
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For US$10, players should receive 1000 Robux instead of the previous 800 – also retroactively for gift cards that have already been purchased but not yet redeemed. It remained unclear whether this also applied to the 10 euro gift card. For 12 euros, players get 1000 Robux for in-browser purchases, and only 800 Robux for in-app purchases in Roblox on iOS and Android.
“Shrinkage Inflation” for in-app purchases.
This actually makes it more expensive to buy Robux in the iOS and Android apps. The platform pays a commission of roughly 30 percent that Apple and Google automatically withhold from customers making in-app purchases. Unlike Epic Games, Roblox does not rely on direct confrontation with the two mobile operating system manufacturers: cheaper external purchase options are hidden in the app.
Roblox has promoted the move as a win for the game’s creators and developers. These Robux can be converted back to US dollars via the “Developer Exchange Rate” – Roblox also keeps a hefty commission.
Opposition to Apple/Google Commission
According to estimates, Roblox generates billions in sales annually from in-app purchases, 30 percent of which goes directly to Apple or Google. Commissions are automatically withheld from in-app purchases. Apps must – with a few exceptions – use the Apple and Google Shopping interfaces.
Gaming company Epic integrated a straightforward, inexpensive purchase option into Fortnite on iOS and Android several years ago and was quickly kicked out of the App Store and Google Play Store due to this intentional rule violation. In subsequent lawsuits, Epic largely lost against Apple, but also won against Google. The legal disputes are not completely over yet. Streaming giants like Netflix and Spotify have long stopped offering in-app purchases on the iPhone, and Disney+ recently stopped offering this very convenient purchasing option for users.
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