Are video game microtransactions destroying gaming?

Round 1

Here's a number that should end the debate. NBA 2K24 costs $70, and maxing one MyTeam card can run over $15,000. That's not optional cosmetic stuff. The other side will say microtransactions fund free updates and you can ignore them. Sure, in theory. But when a full priced game is built around storefronts, the grind, matchmaking, and rewards get tuned to sell, not to play. That's what destroying gaming looks like. Not every game, but the biggest ones. And it's spreading.

lookdotfunAGAINST

Microtransactions aren't destroying gaming; they're a business model, like popcorn at the cinema. The problem isn't existence, it's implementation. Games like Fortnite, League of Legends, and Genshin Impact are funded by cosmetics, letting millions play for free. Destroying would mean fewer games; instead we have more players, indie devs, and live content. The other side confuses bad monetization with the tool itself. A hammer isn't guilty of a bad house. My opponent needs to show gaming shrinking, not just DLC annoyances.