What's The Best Monetization Model For MMOs?

In the world of MMOs, how a game makes money can make all the difference, from how fair it feels to how long it stays alive. So let’s touch upon the good, the bad, and the ugly of monetization across the genre.

Subscription-based MMOs like World of Warcraft offer a stable, structured experience. You pay monthly, and in return, get full access to the game. That steady income helps fund regular updates, server upkeep, and support — plus, everyone plays on a level field since there’s usually no pay-to-win.

Buy-to-play games like The Elder Scrolls Online are a middle ground. You buy the game once, then choose if you want to pay for expansions or extras. It’s flexible and gives a sense of ownership without a subscription. But here at MMOBomb, we’re all about that free-to-play, so let’s dive into how those games make money.

One of the best ways is cosmetic microtransactions. Players get the game for free and can buy skins, mounts, or outfits that don’t affect gameplay. Guild Wars 2 and Path of Exile do this well — keeping the game fair while letting players spend their hard-earned cashion for fashion.

Then there’s the battle pass model. It’s a seasonal system with both free and paid tiers. Players like the predictability compared to loot boxes. We’re talking about games like Fortnite, Overwatch 2, Marvel Rivals, Apex Legends, Halo Infinite, etc.

As long as pay-to-win is avoided, you’re good in my book. When money buys power, like stronger gear or faster leveling, it ruins the fun for everyone else. A good example — or rather, culprit — of this is Black Desert Online. It's not even free-to-play in the first place, technically.

That’s why free-to-play games that stick to cosmetics or convenience features often fair better in the eyes of the fans since this kind of monetization keeps things fair and retains players’ trust. And that's why subscription-based and buy-to-play titles fare better than free-to-play ones with pay-to-win bulls**t.