Tech, Games & Sport

How in-game currencies became the new pocket money for Gen Z

How in-game currencies became the new pocket money for Gen Z

Remember when pocket money meant a crumpled note from parents or a few coins dropped into a piggy bank? Charming. Gen Z viewed that and said, “No thanks, premium currency instead.” For this generation, physical cash is essentially a relic – comparable to floppy disks or writing in cursive.

Now, allowances have gone digital. It revolves around gems, credits, diamonds, V-Bucks, and UC – those in-game currencies that unlock skins, passes, and items that do nothing for performance yet create an unmistakably elite appearance.

Why Gen z doesn’t want “real” money

Hand a teenager a £20 bill, and they’ll stare at it like it’s a vintage artifact. But ask them if they want to buy PUBG UC, and they’ll light up like they just won a drop crate.

Why? Because in-game currencies provide instant gratification within the worlds that matter most. A £10 note cannot be flaunted in PUBG, but the newest outfit, emote, or parachute skin purchased with UC can. In short – real-world money is adequate, yet virtual clout holds greater appeal.

Microtransactions = microfreedom

To adults, in-game purchases may appear trivial. Yet for Gen Z, they represent a form of personal expression. These are not merely item purchases – they are acts of customisation within the digital spaces that define them. Whether adjusting appearances in PUBG Mobile or unlocking an emote that communicates superiority, such choices hold significance.

And it is worth remembering that earlier generations did much the same with stickers on binders and patches on denim jackets. The difference is simply that it has become far more pixelated.

The new ask: Not cash – currency

Parents have noticed as well. Birthday? Digital currency. Good grades? Digital currency. “Just because”? Still digital currency.

Topping up an account has become the modern equivalent of handing over lunch money. The difference is that, instead of being spent on chips, it now goes towards skins and crates. That is where top-up tools and gift cards come into play.

To keep the process quick and simple, purchase PUBG UC, load it, and allow the recipient to manage the rest. It is faster, cleaner, and does not require handing over a credit card each time a new pan skin catches the eye.

Whole marketplace of pocket money

And here’s the key point – Gen Z is astute. They are no longer topping up solely through in-game stores. Instead, they are turning to digital marketplaces to purchase PUBG UC at better rates, often with added bonuses or discounts. Platforms such as Eneba have become the new digital mall – without the food court or awkward encounters.

These platforms provide a means to make that allowance go further, which matters when the next must-have skin is always just around the corner. Or releasing tomorrow. Or available for a limited time only.

Digital pockets, digital power

Gen Z does not carry cash. They carry balance. And that balance exists within their preferred games, apps, and digital spaces, where in-game currencies such as UC hold more value than spare change ever did.

So, when a teenager dismisses cash but brightens at the opportunity to purchase PUBG UC, it is not a matter of being difficult. It is simply life in a world where digital pocket money has become the new norm – and, in truth, it makes perfect sense.

The editorial unit

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