Popular Japanese smartphone games have introduced external payment systems

Scope of the Change (Japan gacha games & revenue concentration)

• Survey says ~70% of top-selling domestic smartphone games in Japan now use external payment sites.
• Some note the sample (top 30 titles) is small by count but likely covers the vast majority of revenue because mobile game income is heavily concentrated in a few “big winners.”
• Commenters stress most of these are gacha / long-running service games optimizing the “wallet → company” funnel.

30% Platform Cut: Tax, Fee, or Rent-Seeking?

• Strong disagreement over whether 30% is “just a platform fee” or an exploitative tax from gatekeepers.
• Historical context raised: consoles and even physical retail often took ~30–40%; mobile stores largely copied that.
• Others argue the cost basis doesn’t justify it; Epic reportedly found break-even near 9%, and some see 15–18% as more reasonable.
• Defenders say store owners built the market and can set terms; critics counter that bundling app stores with OS + device lock-in makes this de facto price-fixing.

Walled Gardens, Competition, and Regulation

• Some call for DOJ/FTC-style intervention, viewing Apple/Google as controlling “the internet” for most people and installing comprehensive paywalls.
• Others reply that Android allows sideloading and third‑party stores, and the web remains open; consumers choose locked-down platforms for security.
• Debate over whether Android’s scary warnings and deep settings make alternative stores a real option or just theoretical.
• Comparison to consoles: walled gardens are acceptable where platforms are optional (games), but phones are now basic infrastructure.

Gacha, Microtransactions, and User Harm

• Many see gacha games as digital casinos or “begware,” manipulating addicts, including children, via psychological tricks.
• Others note that casinos at least dangle monetary rewards; gacha yields only virtual items and frustration.
• Several argue that cutting out Apple/Google simply shifts more profit to already-predatory designs; players don’t necessarily benefit.
• Some wish for filters or store policies that favor “pay once, no abusive IAP” games, but doubt platforms will sacrifice gacha revenue.

External Payments, Safety, and User Experience

• External billing is seen as mainly viable for big titles with “whales”; it won’t save a shrinking gacha market.
• Concerns voiced about trusting random payment processors versus app‑store refunds and protections.
• Others highlight that app stores themselves miss policy violations and host shady apps, undermining their safety narrative.