How to monetize emotes in-game

Dive deep into the dynamic realm of emote monetization, unveiling strategies that can transform theses simple animations into powerful revenue generatiors for your game!

Video games have evolved far beyond mere entertainment; they've become lucrative platforms for creators and developers alike. One of the most innovative ways to monetize these digital realms is through avatar animations, also called emotes.

In this article, we dive deep into the dynamic realm of emote monetization, unveiling strategies that can transform these simple animations into powerful revenue generators for your game!

1. Leverage in-app purchases

In the world of video games, Fortnite stands out as a prime example of how emotes can be monetized to great effect. This battle royale sensation has not only captured the hearts of millions of players worldwide but has also turned emotes into a significant source of revenue. Fortnite offers an extensive array of emotes, ranging from quirky dances to iconic gestures that allow players to express themselves in unique ways.

Around 70% of the well-known Battle Royale’s players have purchased at least one cosmetic item including skins and emotes, even though it does not give any competitive advantage in-game!

Accessible right from the main menu within the game, the Fortnite item shop provides players with the option to purchase emotes using V-Bucks, the game's virtual currency obtainable through real-world currency transactions. Emotes are categorized based on their functionality and complexity, ranging from "Uncommon" to "Epic," with the latter commanding a higher V-Bucks price tag. In particular, "Epic" items hold a prestigious status, often leading players to proudly showcase their emotes as they interact with fellow gamers.

Recently, Fortnite has implemented a gifting system that enables players to purchase emotes as gifts for their friends. It is a great way to foster social interactions, especially for special occasions, such as birthdays or holidays: motes can be fun and personalized gifts, and players may be more willing to spend on emotes during such occasions. Also, when a player receives an emote as a gift, they may feel a sense of reciprocity and be inclined to return the favor by gifting emotes to others or making their own emote purchases, which would drive twice as much revenue.

2. Embrace seasonality and limited-time sales

Several games that monetize emotes, such as Roblox, have introduced limited-time offers as a powerful tool for emote monetization in video games. Let's delve into the reasons that make this strategy a compelling revenue driver.

First of all, limited-time offers create a sense of urgency among players. When players see that an emote is only available for a short period, they feel compelled to make a purchase quickly to avoid missing out on exclusive content. This fear of missing out (FOMO) can be a strong motivator for spending.

Secondly, by making emotes available for a limited time, game developers can create a perception of scarcity. Players understand that these emotes won't be accessible indefinitely, making them more desirable. Scarcity can drive players to spend more readily because they want to acquire something that's considered rare or special. When coupled with urgency, scarcity can drive players to make impulsive purchases of emotes they would not have considered otherwise.

Finally, limited-time offers encourage players to log in and check the game regularly to see what's new in the store. This increased engagement benefits the game's ecosystem, as active players are more likely to spend money. It also keeps the player base excited and engaged with the game's updates.

3. Introduce a battle pass or a subscription

Another great way to monetize emotes is to include them into a subscription-based program such as a Battle Pass.

Apex Legends’ Battle Pass includes emotes that will be unlocked progressively.

Incorporating a Battle Pass into a game becomes especially worthwhile when there's a diverse range of rewards to offer within it, such as emotes, avatar or weapon skins, virtual currencies, and more. This approach delivers a comprehensive package to players, allowing them to fully express and customize their in-game experience.

Moreover, Battle Passes serve as an excellent means to introduce exclusivity and elevate the perceived worth of certain emotes. Specifically, emotes that were previously featured in past Battle Passes hold even greater value, as they become prized collectibles.

Battle Passes are particularly beneficial to the game’s retention and engagement as it leverages players’ sense of achievement. To unlock all the collectibles included in the Pass and make the most out of the money invested in it, players are incentivized to complete challenges, level up, and engage more deeply with the game. Also, Battle Passes are often associated with a specific season or time frame, encouraging players to engage consistently throughout the duration of the pass. This ensures a steady stream of revenue and keeps the player base active.

4. Implement loot boxes for additional revenue

Finally, games like Overwatch 2 or League of Legends have implemented Loot Boxes, which have a chance of containing emotes, skins, and other cosmetic items.

Loot boxes inject an element of surprise and excitement into the gaming experience, often resulting in spontaneous purchases as players eagerly acquire more loot boxes in pursuit of their desired collectible. The thrill of unveiling each loot box and the tantalizing possibility of securing a coveted item can trigger a surge of dopamine, fostering a positive psychological connection with the process and motivating players to persistently acquire more loot boxes.

Implementing a loot box system becomes a more viable choice when there's a wide array of potential rewards available. This diversity of rewards dilutes the likelihood of obtaining a specific collectible, making the pursuit of rare items all the more enticing. In the League of Legends system, Loot Boxes are the only way of unlocking collectibles that are not available for sale anymore.

Loot box systems hold considerable profit potential, given that players frequently invest modest amounts, repeatedly, with the hope of obtaining those elusive and highly desired emotes. However, gamers often voice concerns and ethical objections towards systems that solely rely on loot boxes and randomize all rewards.

Start monetizing emotes using kinetix

Monetizing emotes in video games can be a rewarding venture for both developers and players. By integrating high-quality emotes, and leveraging various strategies like limited-time offers, you can unlock a new revenue stream while enhancing the gaming experience. Emotes aren't just animated expressions; they're a gateway to engagement, community, and profitability in the world of video games.

To help you monetize emotes, Kinetix lets you choose emotes from the world’s largest emotes library and integrate them in your game’s shop, in one click. You can schedule shop updates directly from your Kinetix Developer Portal, allowing you to offer daily fresh content in your game without requiring any additional action from you in the game. Whatever your chosen monetization strategy, Kinetix can help you bring it to life!

‍