If you are interested in esports, you may have seen or heard the term ‘IAP’ being used by players, developers, or fans. But what does it mean, and how does it affect the gameplay and economy of different esports titles? In this article, we will explain the meaning of ‘IAP’, its origin, and some examples of how it is used in esports.
What is ‘IAP’ in esports?
‘IAP’ is an acronym for ‘In-App Purchase’, which is a common term used in esports to describe a feature or a service that allows users to buy additional content or benefits within a game or an app. ‘IAP’ usually refers to the items, currency, or subscriptions that users can purchase using real money or in-game currency. The type, quality, and price of the ‘IAP’ may vary depending on the game and the platform. ‘IAP’ is a crucial factor in esports, as it can influence the revenue, popularity, or balance of a game or an app.
The term ‘IAP’ comes from the mobile gaming industry, where it is used as a business model or a monetization strategy for games or apps. The term ‘IAP’ was popularized by the mobile game Candy Crush Saga, which was released in 2012 and is considered as one of the pioneers of the genre. In Candy Crush Saga, the term ‘IAP’ was used to refer to the boosters, lives, or gold bars that users could buy to enhance their gameplay or progress faster. The term ‘IAP’ soon became a universal term in gaming, and it is still widely used today.
How is ‘IAP’ used in different esports genres?
While the term ‘IAP’ originated from mobile gaming, it has since been adopted by various esports genres, such as Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA), First-Person Shooter (FPS), or Real-Time Strategy (RTS) games. However, the meaning and usage of ‘IAP’ may vary depending on the game and the context. Here are some examples of how ‘IAP’ is used in different esports genres:
In MOBA games, such as League of Legends, Dota 2, or Heroes of the Storm, ‘IAP’ is used to describe the cosmetic or aesthetic items that users can buy to customize their characters or their game experience. In MOBA games, ‘IAP’ is typically a feature of every game, but it does not affect the gameplay or the balance of the game. ‘IAP’ is also a factor of preference and expression, as some users may choose to buy ‘IAP’ to support their favorite game, team, or player, or to show off their style or personality. Some examples of ‘IAP’ items in MOBA games are skins, emotes, or announcer packs.
In FPS games, such as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), Valorant, or Overwatch, ‘IAP’ is used to describe the weapons or abilities that users can buy to improve their performance or their strategy in the game. In FPS games, ‘IAP’ is typically a feature of some games, but not all. ‘IAP’ may affect the gameplay or the balance of the game, depending on the design and the implementation of the game. ‘IAP’ is also a factor of skill and competition, as some users may choose to buy ‘IAP’ to gain an edge or an advantage over their opponents, or to challenge themselves or their peers. Some examples of ‘IAP’ weapons or abilities in FPS games are cases, skins, or agents.
In RTS games, such as StarCraft, Age of Empires, or Warcraft, ‘IAP’ is used to describe the expansions or updates that users can buy to access new content or features in the game. In RTS games, ‘IAP’ is usually a feature of every game, but it may be optional or mandatory depending on the game and the platform. ‘IAP’ may affect the gameplay or the balance of the game, depending on the quality and the quantity of the new content or features. ‘IAP’ is also a factor of interest and loyalty, as some users may choose to buy ‘IAP’ to support the development or the maintenance of the game, or to enjoy the latest or the best version of the game. Some examples of ‘IAP’ expansions or updates in RTS games are StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, or Warcraft III: Reforged.
What are some examples of ‘IAP’ games or controversies in esports?
To illustrate the concept of ‘IAP’ further, here are some examples of famous ‘IAP’ games or controversies in esports:
In League of Legends, one of the most successful ‘IAP’ games is Teamfight Tactics, which is a game mode that was released in 2019 and is considered as one of the pioneers of the auto battler genre. In Teamfight Tactics, the term ‘IAP’ is used to refer to the Little Legends, which are the avatars that users can buy to represent themselves in the game. The Little Legends are purely cosmetic and do not affect the gameplay or the balance of the game. The Little Legends are also a source of revenue and popularity for the game, as they are highly sought-after and collectible by the users.
In CS:GO, one of the most notorious ‘IAP’ controversies is the skin gambling scandal, which occurred in 2016 and involved several prominent players, streamers, and websites. In CS:GO, the term ‘IAP’ is used to refer to the skins, which are the cosmetic items that users can buy to customize their weapons in the game. The skins are also tradable and have real-world value, which led to the creation of third-party websites that allowed users to gamble their skins on the outcome of CS:GO matches or other games of chance. The skin gambling scandal exposed the unethical and illegal practices of some of these websites, as well as the involvement and deception of some of the players, streamers, and owners of these websites.
In StarCraft, one of the most controversial ‘IAP’ controversies is the free-to-play transition, which occurred in 2017 and involved the change of the game’s business model and pricing. In StarCraft, the term ‘IAP’ is used to refer to the expansions, which are the major updates that users can buy to access new content or features in the game. The expansions are also essential and mandatory for the game, as they provide the latest and the best version of the game. The free-to-play transition made the game and its first expansion, StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, free for everyone, but required users to pay for the second and the third expansions, StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm and StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void, respectively. The free-to-play transition sparked mixed reactions from the users, as some welcomed the change and praised the game’s generosity and accessibility, while others criticized the change and questioned the game’s quality and sustainability.
Final Thought
The term ‘IAP’ is an acronym for ‘In-App Purchase’, which is a common term used in esports to describe a feature or a service that allows users to buy additional content or benefits within a game or an app. The term ‘IAP’ comes from the mobile gaming industry, where it is used as a business model or a monetization strategy for games or apps. The term ‘IAP’ was popularized by the mobile game Candy Crush Saga, which was released in 2012 and is considered as one of the pioneers of the genre. The term ‘IAP’ has since been adopted by various esports genres, such as MOBA, FPS, or RTS games, where it may have different meanings and usages depending on the game and the context. The term ‘IAP’ is often used to analyze or evaluate a game’s revenue, popularity, or balance.