Högskolan i Skövde

This study examines how Genshin Impact and Wuthering Waves communicate guarantee systems and real-money cost structures in their player-facing monetisation design. The study focuses on three areas: guarantee communication, price transparency and currency conversion, and urgency-based or purchase-pressure cues. A comparative case study design was used, and official in-game monetisation materials were analysed through qualitative content analysis.

The results show that the two games share important structural similarities, since both rely on banner systems, premium currencies, guarantee mechanics and limited-time promotional design. At the same time, the comparison reveals meaningful differences in how clearly these systems are communicated in practice. Genshin Impact appears to communicate guarantee systems and real-money costs more explicitly, while Wuthering Waves places greater responsibility on the player to interpret the practical meaning of the monetisation system. In contrast, the games are more similar in their use of urgency-based and purchase-pressure cues.