microtransaction

noun

mi·​cro·​trans·​ac·​tion ˌmī-krō-tran-ˈzak-shən 

-tran(t)-ˈsak-

plural microtransactions

: an online transaction involving a small amount of currency

And each time a song is streamed on one of those platforms, a microtransaction occurs, ranging from around .001 to .005 cents per play.

—John Klyce

especially : such a transaction made within a video game (as to purchase exclusive content or competitive advantage)

The microtransactions that most mobile games are built on—$1 here, $5 there—can add up quickly.

—Seth Schiesel

Is it entirely legal for companies with business models based mainly on microtransactions to target young gamers who may not fully understand that they are incurring a charge when they purchase things with in-game currency?

—Eric Neigher

Blizzard [Entertainment] famously touted last week that "Diablo Immortal" made $24 million in its first two weeks purely from microtransaction purchases.

—Josh Rouse

Examples of microtransaction in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There’s plenty of replayability between its single and multiplayer modes, and there are no microtransactions–the perfect couch co-op game for friends and family alike. Check out my review of Hypercharge Unboxed from May. —Matt Gardner, Forbes, 1 Jan. 2025

The game is also the #1 top seller on Steam right now, beating out all comers, which even includes earning more than the Steam deck itself and CS2 microtransactions. —Paul Tassi, Forbes, 10 Sep. 2024

Unsurprisingly, what was meant to be a forever game, constantly updated with new playable characters (and cosmetics to buy via microtransactions, of course), will now be cancelled in January 2025. —Matt Kamen, WIRED, 20 Dec. 2024

Players are able to purchase in-game items and experiences – known among gamers as microtransactions – such as costumes and dance moves. —Joyce Orlando, The Tennessean, 10 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

micro- + transaction

First Known Use

1995, in the meaning defined above