Are Gaming Microtransactions Worse Than Ever in 2025?

If you thought microtransactions were bad before, 2025 has taken them to another level.

What started as optional DLC in the early 2000s evolved into loot boxes, battle passes, FOMO-driven skins, and straight-up pay-to-win mechanics. And now? Some games aren’t even pretending to be fair anymore.

Let’s look at the worst offenders:

🔥 Call of Duty locks fan-favorite weapons behind $30 bundles
💰 FIFA (EA Sports FC) has turned Ultimate Team into a pay-to-win casino
⚠️ Diablo Immortal made headlines for proving “free-to-play” really means “spend $100K if you want to compete.”

While some argue that cosmetic-only microtransactions are fine, publishers keep pushing the limits. How long before single-player games start locking basic features behind paywalls?

So, are we past the point of no return, or is there still a chance for gamers to push back? Have we simply accepted that every game comes with a price beyond its initial purchase?

Are microtransactions worse than ever, or is this just the reality of modern gaming? Let’s get into it.