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Game developers and publishers earn money in several ways: selling a game, charging recurring fees for access, selling extra content or virtual goods, and sometimes showing advertising. The model determines when players pay and what they receive; storefront fees and accounting rules affect how much revenue a company ultimately reports. There is no single formula that applies to every game or studio.
How game revenue models differ
The main distinction is what the player pays for and when. A paid game typically earns revenue when someone buys it. A subscription charges repeatedly for access to a game or service. In-game purchases let players buy additional content after starting a game, while advertising can generate revenue without an upfront price.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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GameStop Physical Gift Card | $25.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Xbox Physical Gift Card | $25 | $25.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Nintendo eShop Physical Gift Card | $100.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Fortnite Physical Gift Card | $30.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Nintendo eShop Physical Gift Card | $50 | $50.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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| Model | What the player pays for | When payment occurs |
|---|---|---|
| Full-game sale | A copy of the game, digitally or as a packaged product | Usually at purchase |
| Subscription | Recurring access to an individual game or a multi-game service | On a recurring basis |
| In-game purchase | Downloadable content, virtual goods, or other extra content | During or after play, when the player chooses to buy |
| Advertising | Advertisers pay to reach players through ads in a game | As advertising is delivered or accounted for |
These models can overlap. A game may charge an upfront price and sell expansions, or be free to start while earning money from extra content and ads. The mix also differs between mobile, PC, and console games; a market-level estimate should not be mistaken for a prediction of one game’s earnings.
Full-game sales: one-time purchases
A studio or publisher can sell a full game as a digital download or as a physical packaged copy. The price paid by a customer is not necessarily the amount the developer receives: distribution, storefront, publishing, and other commercial arrangements can affect the proceeds.
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Electronic Arts reported $1,343 million in digital full-game download revenue and $672 million in packaged-goods sales for fiscal 2024. These are EA company figures, not totals for the game industry. EA also estimated that 73 percent of its Xbox One/Series and PlayStation 4/5 units sold in fiscal 2024 were digital; that estimate applies to those console platforms and EA, not to all publishers or platforms. EA’s fiscal 2024 Form 10-K
Subscriptions: recurring access
A subscription can cover a single game or a broader service offering access to multiple games. Examples of the latter include Xbox Game Pass and Apple Arcade. For a developer, being included in a subscription catalog creates a revenue relationship, but the existence of a subscription does not establish one standard payment formula.
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Payment terms depend on the particular agreement. The available evidence does not support assuming that every participating developer is paid per download, per hour played, or a fixed guaranteed amount. Boston Consulting Group’s December 2024 report defines subscriptions as recurring spending on individual games or services. BCG, “The Billion-Dollar Opportunity in the Video Game Industry”
In-game purchases and live services
In-game purchases let players buy additional items or content after entering a game. These may include downloadable content, virtual goods, or other extras. A live-service game can continue to offer new or changing content over time, creating opportunities for repeat purchases rather than relying only on the original sale.
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Electronic Arts says its live-services revenue includes extra content, subscriptions, and other revenue beyond full-game sales. It identifies extra content in its Ultimate Team modes and Apex Legends as material to its business, and says its free-to-play games are monetized through live services, particularly extra content. Those disclosures illustrate one publisher’s approach; they do not promise comparable results for other developers. EA’s fiscal 2024 Form 10-K
Free-to-play games and advertising
Free-to-play means players can begin without paying an upfront purchase price; it does not mean the game has no revenue model. A free game may earn money from optional extra content, subscriptions, or advertising. Advertising is particularly relevant to mobile games. BCG’s December 2024 report, drawing on Ampere Analysis, IDC, and BCG analysis, shows a substantially larger advertising share in its mobile-game revenue mix than in its PC and console categories. This is a 2024 market-level estimate, not a forecast for an individual title. BCG’s 2024 industry analysis
Rank #4
- An Epic Games account is required to redeem an Epic Games Store Card code
- If playing on a console platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch or Mobile) you need to link your Epic Games account to that gaming platform (one time) to redeem your gift card code
- The 16 digit code on the back of the card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly through your gaming platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch, Mobile, etc.)
- Note: Nintendo devices do not support Fortnite Shared Wallet, so V-Bucks purchased using your account balance will not show up on your Nintendo device. However, if you purchase items in the web Item Shop — or another platform where you play Fortnite — those items will be available in your Locker across all platforms.
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Why the sale price is not the developer’s take-home amount
A customer’s spending can be reduced by storefront or billing-service fees, and the applicable rate depends on the platform’s terms, location, program eligibility, and sometimes the user’s install history. Google Play’s documentation, accessed October 4, 2026, distinguishes automatically renewing subscriptions from other transactions. In Australia, the European Economic Area, Japan, the UK, and the US, rates depend in part on install cohort and regional rollout dates. In remaining markets until updated fees roll out globally, Google describes a 15% tier on the first annual $1 million for enrolled developers, 30% above that tier, and 15% for automatically renewing subscriptions. These are Google Play rules with stated conditions, not universal rates for every storefront or country. Check Google’s current terms for the market and transaction in question. Google Play service-fee documentation
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteGoogle also says that 97% of developers distribute apps and use Google Play at no charge and that 99% of developers subject to a service fee are eligible for a fee of 15% or less through its programs. These are Google’s figures about its own developer population and eligibility framework; they do not establish the rate any particular game studio will pay. Google Play service-fee documentation
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- Give the gift of fun with a Nintendo eShop gift code
- It's easy—apply it to your Nintendo eShop account in seconds.
- It ensures that you’ll always have funds on hand to help with purchases of new games and applications
- It’s designed for your Nintendo eShop purchases—no credit card required.
- The perfect gift for anyone who loves to play—including you. Choose from over 1,000 new, classic and indie games – delivered directly to your Nintendo Switch system.
Gross spending, revenue, and bookings are not interchangeable
When comparing game-business figures, check what each number measures. Consumer spending is what players pay. Reported revenue may reflect fees, deductions, and a company’s accounting policies. EA defines bookings as sales of products and services adjusted for changes in deferred revenue on online-enabled games. Because bookings and reported revenue use different bases, figures labeled with either term should not be compared as though they mean the same thing. EA’s fiscal 2024 Form 10-K
Quick Recap
- Payment timing: upfront purchase, recurring subscription, or optional repeat purchases.
- What is sold: a full game, access, extra content, virtual goods, or advertising inventory.
- Distribution terms: platform, billing arrangement, market, program eligibility, and applicable date.
- Accounting basis: consumer spending, reported revenue, or bookings.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
