Warframe is a free-to-play cooperative third-person shooter video game developed by Digital Extremes. In it, you control a space ninja called a Tenno.

Tenno doing space ninja things

But we're not here to talk about badassery. We're here to discuss how a free-to-play game made one of the best in-game economies. It is not perfect by any means. But with all the controversy with Destiny 2 and Battlefront 2's microtransactions, I thought I'd discuss why players don't mind microtransactions in Warframe. Aside from the fact that it is free-to-play of course.

TRADITIONAL MICROTRANSACTION PROCESS

In video games, there is almost always two types of in-game currencies. One is a currency you earn by simply playing a game, for now, let's call this coins. The other one can only be obtained by purchasing it with real-world currency. This is known as premium currency.

Coins are used to buy basic items and characters. Premium currencies, on the other hand, are used to purchase rare items and characters. They are also used to purchase loot boxes. Loot boxes give you a random chance to drop legendary items. For the non-gamers out there, legendary items are the video game equivalent of steroids.

The suspense of opening a loot box

HOW WARFRAME DOES IT

In Warframe there are 3 types of currencies. There are two currencies you earn in-game called Credits and Ducats. The third currency called Platinum is purchased using real-world currency. And ow yeah, you can also earn it in-game. In other words, you can play the entire game and get 99% of all items without spending a single dime. The 1% you purchase with real currency are premium cosmetic items only.

Players have the option to either purchase platinum from the store using real currency or trading rare items known as Prime to other players. Prime items are NOT sold in the store. Only other players can sell them. In other words, it is a player run economy. Although occasionally the developers shake up the economy by "vaulting" prime items. This means that certain prime items can no longer be obtained in-game until after a year later.

There must be a catch right? I mean, the game won't really give you these items without them earning a dime. The only catch is that you have to grind for them. That's pretty much it, to be honest.

They also have their own version of loot boxes called relics. Every time you finish a mission, you have a chance of earning a relic. You can also obtain them by trading with other players. The best part is that every time you open a relic you earn void traces. Void traces are used to "refine" relics. Doing so gives you a significantly higher chance of obtaining rare items.

WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT

Loot boxes have been the center of controversy lately since these are technically equivalent to gambling. You pay money for a CHANCE to win something. You might even have to purchase it 10 times until you get the item you want. In fact, US legislators are planning to file a bill prohibiting loot boxes in premium games(games you have to pay to play) or simply limiting them to people above the age of 21 since it is gambling in nature.

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Let me end by providing you more space ninja action: