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Darth Vader chokehold fuels fear over US$370b rally

While monetising, the game industry may, unwittingly, be driving users away

Published Fri, Nov 17, 2017 · 09:50 PM
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FREE, it turns out, can be a great business. When Shigenori Suzuki played video games in high school, he spent a few hundred dollars a year on titles like Final Fantasy. Now the 42-year-old Tokyoite plays free games including Sony Corp's Fate/Grand Order - but spends more overall: He forks over thousands of dollars a year for in-game extras like rare characters and special outfits.

Players like Suzuki have transformed the video game industry in recent years, giving companies from Sony to Electronic Arts Inc new wa…

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