this post was submitted on 18 Apr 2025
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[–] [email protected] 27 points 1 day ago (2 children)

I believe the difference is that gacha introduces an element of chance, so you spend an in game currency to buy a spin of a wheel where you may get different rewards. Microtransactions could be something like "spend $5 and get this new skin", it's a guarantee. Gacha will be like "spend $1 for a 10% chance at this legendary skin, spend $5 for a 70% chance, etc etc"

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago

Ah, I get it. Thanks!

[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 day ago (2 children)

So in a lot of ways, it’s just the Asian term for loot box games, something that western games shied away from a bit after the Battlefront 2 controversy and EU attention, which Disney got embroiled in.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Hasn't Team Fortress 2 done that forever?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 23 hours ago

Yes, iirc Valve popularized the concept in the west with TF2, Dota 2 and CS:GO.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 day ago

Yes. It's from the coin machine that sells a random toy in capsule. Gacha is the clicking sound that machine makes when you turn the button to get a capsule.