Pricing virtual items

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Prices players trust

Course 1 set prices for in-app purchases. At studio size, there are dozens of items, coin packs and bundles in many countries. Each price needs a reason.

More price points

In December 2022, Apple announced that "all developers will have the ability to select from 900 price points". Prices "start as low as $0.29", with steps of "every $0.10 up to $10; every $0.50 between $10 and $50."

Developers can price "in 45 currencies throughout 175 storefronts."

Quick check

Theo wants a pot to cost US$1.50 on the App Store. Is that a price point?

  1. Yes: there is a step every $0.10 up to $10
  2. No: only prices ending in .99 are allowed
  3. No: the lowest price is $5
Show the answer

Yes: there is a step every $0.10 up to $10

Under US$10, Apple has a price point every 10 cents.

Local prices

Apple lets developers use local conventions, including prices "that begin with two repeating digits (e.g., ₩110,000)", and round endings like "X.00 or X.90".

Show the real price

Coins hide real money. Theo's shop shows each coin pack's price in the player's own currency, and never sells packs that leave a few coins left over that are too few to buy anything.

Spot the trap

shop
Golden pot        550 coinsCoin pack (US$5)  500 coins

What is wrong with this shop?

  1. One pack is never enough, so players must buy two
  2. Nothing
  3. The pot is too cheap
Show the answer

One pack is never enough, so players must buy two

A pot that costs just more than a pack pushes players to buy twice and keep leftover coins. Shard Garden prices items to match its packs.

Bundles that add up

A bundle should say what is inside and cost less than the parts bought one by one. If a bundle is worse value, players feel tricked when they notice.

Quick check

A bundle can cost more than buying its items one by one, as long as it looks exciting.

Show the answer

False

Players compare. A bundle that costs more than its parts breaks their trust.

Where the money goes

A coin sold today isn't all earned today.

Bolt says: Next: coins on the books.

Fact-checked 12 October 2026