Apple and Google earn money: Roblox makes in-app purchases more expensive

The gaming platform Roblox is making in-app purchases less attractive in order to entice players to make purchases online. Users will now receive up to 25 percent more of the game currency "Robux" if they buy it via "gift card, computer or web", as the provider announced in a forum post. This is a global and permanent adjustment to the pricing model and not just a temporary sales promotion.

For 10 US dollars, players will once again receive 1000 Robux instead of the previous 800 –, including retroactively for gift cards that have already been purchased but not yet redeemed. Whether this also applies to 10 euro gift cards remains unclear for the time being. For 12 euros, players will receive 1000 Robux for purchases in the browser, but still only 800 Robux for in-app purchases in Roblox on iOS and Android.

"Shrinkflation" for in-app purchases

The purchase of Robux in the iOS and Android app will effectively become more expensive. The platform passes on most of the commission of up to 30 percent that Apple and Google automatically retain on in-app purchases to customers. In contrast to Epic Games, however, Roblox does not rely on direct confrontation with the two mobile operating system manufacturers: In the app, the cheaper external purchase option is concealed.

Roblox is marketing the move as a benefit for creators and developers of game worlds. They can convert the Robux they earn back into US dollars via a "Developer Exchange Rate" – Roblox also retains a substantial commission.

Resistance to the Apple/Google commission

According to estimates, Roblox generates billions in revenue from in-app purchases every year, 30 percent of which is taken directly by Apple and Google. The commission is automatically deducted from in-app purchases. Apps must use the purchase interfaces of Apple and Google for this – with a few exceptions –.

Several years ago, the games company Epic integrated a direct, cheaper purchase option in Fortnite on iOS and Android and was immediately kicked out of the App Store and Google Play Store as a result of this deliberate breach of the rules. In the subsequent lawsuits, Epic largely lost against Apple, but also won against Google. The legal disputes are not yet completely over. Streaming giants such as Netflix and Spotify have long since stopped offering in-app purchases on the iPhone, and Disney+ has recently done away with this very convenient purchase option for users.

(lbe)