2017 seemed to be the year that all eyes were on microtransactions. From companies doing it the wrong way all the way to those who succeeded, these post-release paid additions to games have been quite the cause for concern over recent months. However, some have thrived in the conditions, and with the release of an earnings report, it would appear that Activision Blizzard microtransactions were all the rage last year.

The report, which the company recently provided to the world, outlines how much the Activision Blizzard microtransactions brought in during 2017. While these add-ons raked in $4 billion for the entertainment juggernaut, half of it came from King (Candy Crush), which they acquired just before 2017. This was pointed out by analyst Daniel Ahmad on Twitter:

It's worth noting that around $2 billion of that is indeed from King's mobile games such as Candy Crush.

But that still leaves another $2 billion from console and PC games add on content.

— Daniel Ahmad (@ZhugeEX) February 8, 2018

With $2 billion coming from the likes of Candy Crush, that means the other half came from titles such as Overwatch, Hearthstone, Call of Duty: WWII, World of Warcraft, and more. They usually appear in these games as loot boxes that contain cosmetic items, DLC packs with maps and weapons, and other goodies.

It is also important to note that Overwatch is often held up to a standard on how to do the loot box trend right. They have them set at a cosmetic only level, whereas other companies started to take a more forced pay-to-win approach. With games like Blizzard’s hit FPS, you can earn everything buyable through grinding, or you could opt into purchasing them at a random rate. That being said, not all developers/publishers take that approach:

Another form that they have taken in other companies’ games is more along the lines of pay-to-win gear, items that give players the upper hand in battle. This is what led to the massive controversy that surrounded EA and Star Wars: Battlefront II back in November. Thankfully, many publishers are learning from what has happened over recent months, which should hopefully create a better environment for gamers moving forward. Keep it tuned to Don’t Feed the Gamers as this story develops, and for other gaming news going on right now, check out the following:

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What say you, gamers? Can you believe that Activision Blizzard microtransactions pulled in $4 billion last year? Do you think they are handling the paid add-ons in the correct way, or is there work to be done? Sound off in the comments section below, and be sure to follow DFTG on Twitter for live gaming and entertainment news 24/7!